Thursday, July 10, 2025

China’s Quantum Processor Outpaces Supercomputers by 1 Quadrillion


“U.S. Intelligence on Red Alert”: China’s Quantum Processor Outpaces Supercomputers by 1 Quadrillion—Google’s Willow Now Under Siege



In a groundbreaking development that could redefine the future of technology, Chinese researchers have unveiled the Zuchongzhi 3.0 quantum processor, boasting a speed 1 quadrillion times faster than the world's most advanced supercomputers, potentially surpassing even Google's acclaimed Willow chip.

Quantum computing has made a massive leap forward with the development of the Zuchongzhi 3.0 processor in China. This remarkable quantum processing unit (QPU) is reportedly 1 quadrillion times faster than the best supercomputers available today. With this breakthrough, the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) claims to have rivaled the achievements of Google’s Willow chip, a leader in the quantum computing field. As we explore the dramatic capabilities of Zuchongzhi 3.0, we delve into the implications of such advancements for the future of computing and technology.

Zuchongzhi 3.0 leverages the power of 105 transmon qubits arranged in a 15-by-7 rectangular lattice. These qubits are constructed using metals like tantalum, niobium, and aluminum, which help reduce sensitivity to noise. This configuration marks a significant advancement from its predecessor, which had 66 qubits. The use of superconducting qubits is crucial to achieving the quantum supremacy that researchers aim for, allowing quantum computers to outperform classical supercomputers in specific tasks.

One of the critical factors in quantum computing is coherence time, which measures how long a qubit can maintain its superposition. Longer coherence times enable more complex calculations, expanding the potential applications of quantum computing. Additionally, improvements in gate fidelity and quantum error correction are essential for building reliable quantum computers. In this regard, Zuchongzhi 3.0 has demonstrated impressive results, with a parallel single-qubit gate fidelity of 99.90% and a parallel two-qubit gate fidelity of 99.62%, closely rivaling Google’s Willow QPU.

Benchmarking Quantum Supremacy

To demonstrate its capabilities, the Zuchongzhi 3.0 processor completed a task on the quantum computing random circuit sampling (RCS) benchmark in just a few hundred seconds. This benchmark is a widely used test to evaluate quantum computer performance. The same task, executed using Google’s previous generation Sycamore chip, took considerably longer, showcasing the advancements made by USTC’s team.


Despite the remarkable results, it’s important to note that RCS benchmarks inherently favor quantum methods. As classical algorithms evolve, the gap between quantum and classical computing may narrow. Nonetheless, the achievements of Zuchongzhi 3.0 highlight the potential of quantum processors to tackle sophisticated real-world challenges, heralding a new era of computing.






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