Amazon Web Services (AWS) has unveiled its inaugural quantum computing chip, named 'Ocelot', marking a significant advancement in the quest for practical, fault-tolerant quantum computers.
Developed by the AWS Centre for Quantum Computing at the California Institute of Technology, Ocelot aims to reduce the costs associated with quantum error correction by up to 90% compared to existing methods.
What sets Ocelot apart?
Quantum computers rely on qubits, which exist in a delicate quantum state and are highly susceptible to external disturbances such as electromagnetic interference, temperature fluctuations, and cosmic rays. These disruptions can introduce computational errors, requiring complex error-correction techniques that increase the hardware overhead. Ocelot incorporates cat qubits, a unique approach inspired by Schrödinger's cat paradox, where quantum states are superimposed to suppress certain types of errors at a fundamental level.
Unlike conventional superconducting qubits, which require a large number of redundant qubits for error correction, cat qubits inherently stabilise themselves against specific types of noise. This reduces the number of physical qubits required for error correction by up to 90%, according to AWS researchers. The Ocelot chip features an array of these qubits, demonstrating AWS’s ability to integrate them into a scalable quantum computing architecture.
Oskar Painter, AWS Director of Quantum Hardware, stated: "With the recent advancements in quantum research, it is no longer a matter of if, but when practical, fault-tolerant quantum computers will be available for real-world applications. Ocelot is an important step on that journey."
AWS's quantum strategy
AWS has been steadily expanding its quantum computing efforts through its Braket Cloud service, which provides access to various quantum hardware platforms, including those from IonQ, Rigetti, and D-Wave.
This announcement positions AWS alongside other tech giants, such as Microsoft and Google, in the competitive landscape of quantum computing innovation. Microsoft recently introduced its 'Majorana 1' quantum chip, while Google unveiled its 'Willow' quantum chip, each aiming to enhance the stability and scalability of quantum computations.
AWS aims to accelerate the timeline for error-corrected quantum computing by leveraging Ocelot’s architectural innovations. If successful, this could bring fault-tolerant quantum computing closer by up to five years, according to AWS estimates.
