Quantum computers promise extraordinary computing power, but they remain unreliable due to a fundamental issue: instability. Information inside these systems can vanish quickly, making it difficult to perform consistent calculations. Scientists around the world are working to address this challenge, including researchers in Norway.
“In quantum computers, information is transmitted and stored using so-called qubits (quantum bits). But quantum information can quickly be lost,” said Jeroen Danon, a professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Department of Physics.
One of the biggest obstacles has been determining how fast this information disappears. Without a precise way to measure it, improving quantum systems becomes much harder.
“In the widely used superconducting qubits, the time it takes for information to disappear is, on average, reasonable. But it seems to vary randomly over time,” explained Danon.
This unpredictability makes things even more difficult. Scientists have lacked a fast and reliable method to track how long qubits retain information. Solving this measurement problem is essential for making quantum computers more stable and practical.
Danon and his team have now developed a promising solution.
“In collaboration with an international team led by the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, we have developed a new measurement method. It enables us to measure the time it takes to lose information with unparalleled speed and accuracy,” Danon said.
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