Quantum computing scientists reach an unprecedented error rate of 0.000015%, breaking the world record and paving the way for smaller, faster devices.
Breakthrough in Quantum Error Correction Paves Way for More Efficient Quantum Computers
In a groundbreaking study submitted for peer review in August 2025, researchers from Alice & Bob and Inria, a French digital science institute, have developed an innovative method for hardware-efficient magic state preparation. This advancement, known as the "unfolded code" scheme, could significantly reduce the infrastructure required for error correction and bring us closer to achieving universal fault-tolerant quantum computing.
The study focuses on preparing high-fidelity magic states, which are essential for implementing a complete set of fault-tolerant quantum gates beyond the Clifford group. This method leverages the noise bias in cat qubits to protect against bit-flip errors and unfolds a complex 3D distillation code into a more practical 2D layout. This innovation reduces the number of required qubits by approximately 8.7 times compared to previous methods and speeds up the process around fivefold on superconducting quantum hardware.
The quantum computer used in the team's experiment relied on a bespoke platform that uses qubits made of "trapped ions" instead of photons. By reducing the noise generated by the computer's architecture and control methods to almost zero, the researchers achieved a record-low quantum computing error rate of 0.000015%. This equates to one error per 6.7 million operations, an improvement of nearly an order of magnitude over the previous record set by the same team in 2014.
The reduction in error rate not only reduces the number of qubits required and the cost and size of the quantum computer but also simplifies the setup required to integrate this technology into a working quantum computer, as the study was conducted at room temperature.
Molly Smith, a graduate student in physics at the University of Oxford and co-lead author of the study, stated that this work significantly reduces the infrastructure required for error correction. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient quantum computers in general.
However, it's important to note that this achievement doesn't address all of the "noise" problems inherent in complex multigate qubit systems. The error rate in two-qubit gate functions is still roughly 1 in 2,000. The new method allows for the creation of more quantum gates with greater precision than photon-based methods, but further research is needed to address the challenges posed by noise in more complex quantum operations.
This development aligns with other 2025 breakthroughs in quantum error correction, such as Google's progress with surface code error correction and IBM’s introduction of new error correction codes like the barista bicycle codes. As we continue to make strides in quantum error correction, we are one step closer to realizing the potential of quantum computers for solving complex problems that are beyond the reach of classical computers.
[1] For more details about the study, please refer to the paper submitted for peer review in August 2025.
- Science has made a significant stride with the development of an innovative "unfolded code" scheme for quantum error correction, a key step towards achieving universal fault-tolerant quantum computing, as demonstrated in the study conducted by researchers from Alice & Bob and Inria.
- The breakthrough in quantum error correction, revealed in the study, has potential implications for technology, as it could lead to more efficient quantum computers in general, thereby opening new avenues for tackling complex problems that classical computers cannot solve.
