IBM's next-generation quantum processor, 'Quantum Nighthawk,' was activated at Yonsei University's International Campus in Songdo, Incheon. The activation demonstration showed the transmission of computation results from Yonsei's quantum computer to Japan's RIKEN supercomputer, Fugaku.
On November 4, the activation ceremony for the quantum computer equipped with IBM's 'Quantum Nighthawk' was held at Yonsei University's Quantum Computing Center. This marks the first instance globally of Nighthawk being installed at a facility participating in a quantum network.
Yonsei University introduced IBM's 'Quantum System One' in 2024, which featured the 127-qubit IBM 'Quantum Eagle' processor. The latest upgrade now incorporates the Nighthawk processor.
With this upgrade, IBM plans to enhance the processing speed and connectivity of the quantum computer, expanding the development of quantum computing technologies applicable in real-world industries and research. The focus is shifting from merely increasing the number of qubits to securing technology that can perform complex quantum operations quickly and accurately.
Nighthawk is the fastest processor IBM has developed to date, featuring enhanced connectivity between qubits and reduced time to reset qubits to their initial state.
The Nighthawk processor includes 120 programmable qubits, supported by 218 couplers and 120 reset elements, totaling 458 physical quantum components. Instead of simply increasing the number of qubits used for computation, the hardware necessary for qubit connectivity and control has been strengthened.
In quantum computer development, the performance and connectivity of qubits are becoming more critical than just their quantity. Even with a large number of qubits, limitations arise in performing complex calculations if errors occur during operations or if connectivity between qubits is restricted.
Jerry Chow, IBM Fellow and Chief Technology Officer of Quantum-Centric Supercomputing, explained, "Nighthawk R2 has 120 programmable qubits, but the actual physical components total 458. This structure enables coupler gate operations that control connectivity between qubits and allows for rapid qubit initialization."
Connectivity between qubits has also improved. While the previous Eagle processor averaged 2.5 connections per qubit, Nighthawk employs a lattice structure that increases this average to four. Previously, multiple additional operations were required for distant qubits to compute together, but enhanced connectivity allows for more efficient execution of complex quantum circuits.
IBM plans to increase the number of programmable qubits to over 500 and connect multiple processors to create a quantum computer with more than 1,000 qubits.
Chow stated, "We aim to advance this technology within the next two years and implement an error-correcting quantum computer capable of fixing errors during operations by 2029."
Yonsei University intends to broaden the application of quantum computing across various industries through this upgrade. The university plans to utilize quantum computing technology in fields requiring complex calculations, including biopharmaceutical development, space exploration, climate change, energy, and artificial intelligence.
One promising area is drug development. Jeong Jae-ho, head of Yonsei University's Quantum Business Division, noted, "Drug development typically takes an average of 15 years and costs about 5 trillion won, but the success rate is only around 4%. By leveraging quantum computers to quickly process complex calculations in the early stages of drug development, we can shorten the development timeline."
Yonsei University is also collaborating with RIKEN. A hybrid computing environment has been established to connect Yonsei's quantum computer with RIKEN's Fugaku supercomputer, aimed at addressing complex problems that are challenging to solve with quantum computers alone.
IBM plans to enhance the industrial applicability of quantum computing based on these research outcomes. Chow remarked, "Quantum computing is already being applied to real scientific problems, and research institutions and companies are leveraging improved computational performance. In the future, we will expand the use of quantum computing across various fields, including chemistry, materials science, and biology."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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