The goal of quantum error correction is to notice when things go wrong, which allows you to fix the problem and move on with whatever quantum calculation you were trying to perform. But quantum error correction adds in a more active kind of refrigeration that keeps an eye out for spoilage, kind of like opening a jar of something in the fridge to see if it's still good. Typically, qubits are also kept quite cold using specialized refrigeration techniques. In a fridge, chilly temperatures preserve food, at least for a little while. Quantum error correction is like a refrigerator that keeps things cold and also keeps an eye out for spoilage. And the solution has a lot in common with a household appliance. How in the world are we supposed to use them if nature is fighting to destroy the things that give these new-fangled devices their power?įear not! There are ways to protect quantum computers from the harmful whims of their surroundings. That all sounds pretty bad for quantum computers. There’s a name for this ruthless destruction of all things quantum: decoherence. This can erode a delicate superposition relatively quickly, and things only get worse the more atoms you add. So although one atom on its own is a pretty ideal quantum-y thing, as soon as you put it next to other atoms (like you would in a quantum computer), the whole mess starts jostling around. This heat, mild as it may be, makes quantumness melt away. Why not? Because our bodies, and basically everything we encounter, are sitting at the relative inferno that we call room temperature. You can’t really see a quantum superposition in action or grab hold of quantum entanglement. Our everyday experiences demonstrate this inherent fragility of quantum objects. A tiny bit of light here, a sporadic vibration there-pretty much anything is enough to disrupt the inner workings of a quantum computer. The problems get compounded when scientists try to sprinkle in superposition and entanglement, both of which are necessary for quantum computing. Unfortunately, they are kind of fussy, like pets that insist on ignoring your commands. Qubits (a mashup of quantum and bits), store and process information inside of a quantum computer. All of the quantum pieces they're made of are-how can we put this delicately?-extraordinarily fragile. Small prototypes already exist, but they all have a problem: They are really finicky.
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Quantum computers are special purpose machines full of promise and, these days, quite a bit of hype. Back to all entries Quantum Error Correction Quantum computers need some help when things go wrong.