Quantum computers have long been hindered by their inherent instability, with information often vanishing from their processing units without warning. A research team led by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) has now developed a method to track this data loss nearly in real time, a breakthrough that could finally make quantum systems practical.
At the core of a quantum computer are qubits, the quantum version of traditional bits. While these units are essential for complex calculations, they are notoriously fragile.
"In quantum computers, information is transmitted and stored using so-called qubits. But quantum information can quickly be lost," said Jeroen Danon, a professor at NTNU’s Department of Physics.
Solving the mystery of qubit decay
Previously, scientists struggled to understand exactly how quickly information disappeared because measurement tools were slow and unreliable. According to Danon, while the average lifespan of information in superconducting qubits is reasonable, the actual duration fluctuates randomly.
To address this, the team collaborated with researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen to create a faster diagnostic tool. The new method allows scientists to measure information decay in approximately 10 milliseconds.
This represents a speed increase of more than 100 times compared to existing methods, which typically required a full second to capture data. By narrowing this window, researchers can observe the degradation process as it happens rather than analyzing it after the fact.
"We managed to do it in approximately 10 milliseconds, i.e. more than 100 times faster. And more or less in real time," Danon said. "This will in turn make it easier to identify the underlying causes that make the information disappear."
Identifying these underlying causes is a critical step toward stabilizing quantum processors. The researchers believe that by pinpointing the specific mechanisms that trigger data loss, engineers can better fine-tune hardware to prevent errors before they occur. This advancement moves the field closer to building reliable machines capable of performing complex computations that are currently beyond the reach of traditional computers.
