News Quantum Physics

A quantum computer corrected its own errors, improving its calculations 

It’s a step in the right direction for reliable quantum computing 

A rainbow-hued quantum computing processor

Scientists used Quantinuum’s H2 quantum computer (chip shown) to demonstrate a new milestone in quantum error correction.

By Emily Conover

For the first time, a quantum computer has improved its results by repeatedly fixing its own mistakes midcalculation with a technique called quantum error correction.

Scientists have long known that quantum computers need error correction to meet their potential to solve problems that stump standard, “classical” computers (SN: 6/22/20). Quantum computers calculate with quantum bits, or qubits, which are subject to quantum physics but suffer from jitters that result in mistakes.