Unlocking Quantum Magic

How Google's Willow Chip is Paving the Way for a New Era in Technology

On December 9, 2024, Google unveiled its latest quantum chip, named Willow, marking a significant advancement in quantum computing. This chip completed a complex benchmark much, much faster than traditional computers can. Also, Willow's design allows it to reduce errors exponentially as more components are added, paving the way for more stable quantum systems in the future.

Let’s have a closer look at the ever-promising field of quantum computing, so that we know what to be excited about here.

What’s quantum?

Quantum mechanics often feels like the closest thing we have to magic, and even renowned physicist Richard Feynman hinted at this notion. He famously said:

"If you think you understand quantum mechanics, you don’t understand quantum mechanics." — Richard Feynman

Just like a magician’s tricks that catch us off guard, quantum phenomena can feel strange and hard to grasp—like particles being in several states at once or influencing each other instantly over huge distances.

However, unlike magic, quantum mechanics is based on real experiments and (extremely complicated) mathematics. It’s a fascinating blend of mystery and science, revealing a universe that works differently from our everyday experiences.

Quantum theory, or quantum mechanics, came about in the early 20th century. It was created to explain the odd behaviors of very small particles, such as electrons and photons, which classical physics struggled to understand. One key idea here is that these particles can act like both particles and waves. This is known as “wave-particle duality.”

Another big concept is “superposition.” This means particles can be in multiple states at the same time until we observe them. A well-known thought experiment called Schrödinger's cat illustrates this: a cat in a box is both alive and dead until we take a peek inside.

Then there’s the “uncertainty principle,” introduced by German physicist Werner Heisenberg in 1927. It tells us that we cannot accurately know both where a particle is and how fast it’s moving at the same time. This highlights the limits of measuring things at the quantum level.

In the end, quantum theory has changed how we see the universe and has led to exciting advances in technologies like quantum computing and cryptography.

Why does this matter to us?

Quantum theory is behind a lot of modern technology and scientific understanding. It explains the behavior of the smallest particles, leading to innovations like semiconductors, lasers, and MRI machines. As quantum computing is developed, these principles are used to solve complex problems much faster than classical computers can. This has the potential to revolutionize fields such as cryptography, drug discovery, and AI.

Beyond computing, quantum technology has exciting applications in sensors and communications. Quantum sensors can measure things like magnetic fields, temperature, and chemical properties with incredible precision. For example, they can help detect diseases by analyzing the magnetic properties of cells or improve navigation systems for autonomous cars.

Google’s Willow chip

Back to Willow. What makes it so special? For starters, the chip has around 105 qubits (‘quantum bits’), making it bigger than previous attempts. In theory, each qubit doubles the system’s computational power, making Willow much more powerful than its predecessor, 72-qubit Sycamore.¹ But that’s not considered the main breakthrough…

…because that would be Willow’s ability to reduce errors exponentially as more qubits are added. This means that as larger quantum systems are built, they can become more reliable and efficient, which is crucial for practical applications, with experts promising a shift toward functional and scalable quantum computing in the future.

Another important breakthrough with Willow is its real-time error correction capability. This allows the chip to detect and fix errors as they happen during computations, rather than waiting until the process is complete. This allows calculations to remain accurate even in the presence of noise and disturbances, which are common in quantum systems. By demonstrating this real-time error correction, Willow has shown that quantum computers can be viable for solving complex, real-world problems in the future.

When can I buy it?

Just to be sure, Willow is not yet on the market. It is still in development, and will be for many years to come. While it has made significant advancements in error correction and performance, researchers need more time to refine the technology and ensure reliability at scale. (It’s also surprisingly hard to find real-world applications for mass-market quantum computers at this point.) Currently, quantum computers like Willow are used primarily for research rather than practical applications. Although there is ongoing progress in the field, even predicting when fully functional and commercially viable quantum systems will be available remains an impossible task.

The Future of Quantum Technology

The future of quantum technology looks very bright. Major advancements are expected across various fields. Researchers are working hard to create more reliable quantum processors. These processors need to perform computations with minimal errors to make quantum computing practical for daily use.

One exciting area is chemistry and materials science. Quantum computers can simulate complex chemical reactions. This could speed up the discovery of new drugs and materials. With these advancements, we might see breakthroughs in healthcare and innovative solutions in various industries.

As for artificial intelligence (AI), don’t expect too much in the short term. Experts claim that quantum computing could lead to breakthroughs in natural language processing, computer vision, and optimization problems, because of enhanced machine learning algorithms. Which is still a bit speculative.

Quantum communications do hold great potential. With ultra-secure channels, quantum technology can protect sensitive information from cyber threats, which is increasingly important in our digital world.

With governments and companies investing heavily in quantum research, we should expect a shift toward functional and scalable quantum systems at some point in the future. While immediate changes may not be visible, the advancements being made today will pave the way for transformative technologies that could address some of humanity's biggest challenges in the future.

Conclusion

Exciting things are on the horizon, so it's important to stay updated on the latest developments. These advancements could change many aspects of our lives and industries. Whether you're interested in tech or just curious, keeping an eye on this field will help you understand the exciting possibilities ahead.

1. Willow completed a complex computation using the random circuit sampling (RCS) benchmark in under five minutes, a task that would take the fastest classical supercomputers, like Frontier, an estimated 10 septillion years to finish. This stark difference illustrates the exponential advantage that quantum computing offers over classical systems. The RCS benchmark does not currently have known real-world applications.

Somewhat relatedly, Willow outperforms Sycamore by a factor of 5 regarding T1 coherence times, which measure how long qubits can maintain their quantum state before losing information. Willow's T1 times have improved to nearly 100 microseconds, compared to Sycamore's 20 microseconds. This enhancement in coherence time contributes to the chip's overall performance and reliability, allowing for more complex computations and better error correction as more qubits are added. Thus, both the benchmark performance and the T1 improvement highlight Willow's advancements in quantum computing capabilities.