"Zu Chongzhi" is online! China's 176-bit quantum computing cloud platform is open to the world

Xinhua News Agency, Hefei, May 31 (Reporters Xu Haitao and Chen Nuo) The reporter learned from the Institute of Quantum Information and Quantum Technology Innovation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences that on the evening of May 31, the 176-bit "Zu Chongzhi" quantum computing cloud platform was officially launched and opened to global users. This has refreshed the record of the number of bits of superconducting quantum computers on my country's cloud platform, and will further promote the development of quantum computing software and hardware and ecological construction.

This is a superconducting quantum computer photographed on May 31. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Nuo

The roar was coming from a corner of the first floor hall of KUST Guodun Quantum Technology Co., Ltd. The reporter saw a white metal can extending from the ceiling, connected to several control system chassis through countless wire harnesses, and on the other side a screen was jumping with temperature and other data... This is a running superconducting quantum computer, and the metal can contains the core of the quantum computer - the quantum chip. It is reported that the cloud platform launched this time connects users with quantum computing devices through cloud technology, supporting users to conduct quantum computing experiments and development remotely.

Zhu Xiaobo, professor at the University of Science and Technology of China and chief designer of quantum computing for the Zu Chongzhi, told reporters that the number of bits is an important indicator for measuring the computing power of quantum computers. The research and development team of the University of Science and Technology of China has made improvements based on the original 66-bit chip of the Zu Chongzhi II, adding a control interface of 110 coupling bits, so that the number of quantum bits that users can manipulate has reached 176 bits. In addition to the bit scale, in terms of key indicators such as connectivity, fidelity, and coherence time related to the performance of quantum computers, the design indicators of the new generation of quantum computers connected to the Zu Chongzhi cloud platform are also aimed at the international advanced level, and the performance is continuously debugged and improved.

This is the graphical experimental interface demonstrated at the launch ceremony of the quantum computing cloud platform on May 31. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Nuo

It is reported that the threshold for quantum computer research and development is extremely high, the operating environment is harsh, and the auxiliary equipment is complex. The Institute of Quantum Information and Quantum Technology Innovation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Software of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Kuangdong Guodun Company have cooperated to develop core devices, programming languages, and software, and jointly built a 176-bit superconducting quantum computer cloud platform.

Peng Chengzhi, executive deputy commander of the "Zu Chongzhi" quantum computing and chairman of the Kuangdong Guodun Company, told reporters that the cloud platform is open to users around the world, and the general public can use the quantum computing cloud platform to personally experience simple quantum computing programming and image experiments. For industrial users, remote access to quantum computers can further explore new applications.

"The more users the cloud platform has, the more application and development experience it will have, which will drive the entire field forward. We welcome more people to use and experience it." Peng Chengzhi said that in the future, the "Zu Chongzhi" quantum computing cloud platform plans to connect to multiple high-performance quantum computers to back up each other, iterate and update them, and maintain international advanced levels.