Microsoft has introduced a family of four-dimensional (4D) error-correction codes designed to improve the performance and reliability of quantum computing. The new codes are now available on the Microsoft Quantum compute platform and are aimed at reducing the number of physical qubits needed to perform dependable quantum operations.
“By detecting and correcting errors during computation, the Microsoft Quantum compute platform creates logical qubits from high-quality physical qubits to enable reliable quantum computation,” the company said in a blog post.
Quantum computers often face challenges due to the fragile nature of physical qubits, which are prone to errors. Microsoft’s approach focuses on creating logical qubits, more stable units of quantum information, by applying error-correction techniques. Its qubit-virtualization system, a core part of the Microsoft Quantum platform, enables the transformation of physical qubits into logical qubits that can be entangled and used for more reliable computation.
In earlier work, Microsoft and Atom Computing created and entangled 24 logical qubits using neutral atoms. This setup allowed them to detect and fix errors as they occurred, ensuring accurate computations. Later, they extended this to 28 logical qubits with the same error-checking capability.
The new 4D geometric codes improve on this progress. These codes are compatible with quantum hardware that supports all-to-all connectivity, including neutral atoms, ion traps, and photonics. They require fewer physical qubits, achieving a fivefold reduction, and are able to perform logical operations efficiently. Their single-shot error-correction ability allows errors to be fixed quickly, helping maintain the stability of quantum circuits.
Microsoft said these codes can reduce error rates from 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 1 million operations. This capability enables lower-depth operations, reducing the steps needed to diagnose and correct issues. In turn, this contributes to more efficient computations and faster paths toward useful, large-scale quantum systems.
The 4D code family comes with a complete set of logical operations, making it suitable for compiling and executing various quantum algorithms. Microsoft expects this integration will enable the creation and entanglement of up to 50 logical qubits in the near future, with long-term goals of scaling to thousands.
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