NISQ to Fault-Tolerance

Quantum computing has held immense potential for decades, promising breakthroughs across various fields. Despite this, developing practical quantum computers has proven challenging, primarily due to the delicate nature of quantum states and the difficulties of building scalable and robust systems. Here’s a look at the state of quantum computing today and its future trajectory.

The Rise of NISQ Devices

In recent years, the development of Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) devices has marked significant progress. These systems, which contain relatively small numbers of qubits, can perform some computations beyond the reach of classical computers. A few companies even claim to have demonstrated quantum advantage using NISQ-era devices, yet these devices face limitations.

Limitations of NISQ Devices

Due to noise and decoherence, NISQ devices are highly susceptible to errors. This restricts their practical applications, as the errors make it challenging to maintain reliable results for complex tasks. Thus, NISQ devices offer limited commercial value, which has prompted a shift toward the development of fault-tolerant quantum computers.

The Move Towards Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing

Fault tolerance is a concept rooted in classical computing, where redundancy and error correction help maintain system reliability. In quantum computing, it’s even more crucial, as quantum states are much more vulnerable to errors. Fault-tolerant quantum computing aims to build devices capable of correcting these errors, allowing for highly accurate computations.

Key Challenges in Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing

While promising, the path to fault-tolerant quantum computing is still in its infancy. Some of the primary obstacles include:

    •    Qubit Count: Fault-tolerant devices may require millions or even billions of qubits. Current quantum devices only have a few hundred at most.

    •    Qubit Quality: High-quality qubits that can maintain their states for extended periods are essential. Today’s qubits are prone to errors from noise and decoherence, hampering their use in error correction.

A New Phase in Quantum Computing

The shift towards fault-tolerant quantum computing marks an exciting new chapter in the field. As advancements continue, we can anticipate the emergence of new applications and technologies that leverage quantum power to tackle complex scientific and engineering challenges.

Discuss Your Quantum Computing Hiring Needs

If you’d like to explore this topic further or discuss your hiring requirements within the quantum space, reach out to Conor Johnston today.

Conor Johnston, Recruitment Consultant

Phone: +44 1293 776644