IBM is working on 17-qubit quantum processor

IBM is working on two new quantum processors. The most powerful of these is a 17-qubit processor, which should form the basis for future commercial IBM Q systems. In addition, there is a 16-qubit model that will be made available to researchers.

The 17-qubit processor is a prototype that has been significantly modified in terms of material and architecture compared to its other quantum processors. The company does not provide details about the processor, but it speaks of a doubling of the computing power compared to the current offering via the IBM Cloud.

The company emphasizes that the computing power depends on more than just the number of qubits and that error correction also plays a major role. The company uses the ratio between the two as a benchmark for computing power. IBM calls this Quantum Volume. The 17-qubit chip is to be integrated into the upcoming IBM Q systems that the company plans to bring to the market. In time, IBM hopes to develop a processor of fifty qubits.

IBM has also developed a 16-qubit processor. The computing power of this will be made available via an SDK to developers, programmers and scientists, who can use it to run quantum algorithms. A year ago, IBM unveiled its 5 qubit processor to interested parties.

In a quantum processor, the quantum state of particles is superimposed so that they can partly represent a 1 as well as a 0. With a limited number of algorithms, huge speed gains can be achieved with this, such as when searching in huge databases and in cryptography.