Rigetti and Riverlane have demonstrated real-time, low-latency quantum error correction on Rigetti’s 84-qubit Ankaa™-2 quantum processing unit (QPU), a critical advancement towards fault-tolerant quantum computing. By embedding Riverlane’s quantum error decoder directly into Rigetti’s control system, the demonstration achieved error correction with processing times under one microsecond—crucial for avoiding the data backlog often encountered in quantum error correction.

This experiment leveraged the high gate speeds of Rigetti’s superconducting qubits, with active durations between 60-80 nanoseconds, enabling faster feedback than alternatives like ion traps. Real-time error correction is essential for maintaining coherent qubit states in quantum processors, directly supporting fault tolerance—a core requirement for reliable, large-scale quantum computing.

The project is part of Rigetti’s ongoing collaboration with Riverlane, which includes developing quantum error correction on a 24-qubit system at the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre. The integration of fast quantum hardware with real-time error correction technologies is a strategic step towards building commercially viable, error-resistant quantum systems.

For additional information, refer to Rigetti’s press release here.

November 3, 2024