A research collaboration between RIKEN Quantum Computing Center, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT), and Fixstars Amplify Inc. has developed the first general-purpose optical quantum computing platform. The system is an analog-based, measurement-induced quantum computer designed to perform continuous-variable quantum operations efficiently and at scale, which makes it a unique tool in advancing quantum computing applications across various sectors. Access to the platform is currently available via a cloud system.
This platform uses squeezed light and time-division multiplexing to create large-scale quantum entanglement, a core resource for performing complex calculations. Key optical components, developed by NTT, include a broadband optical parametric amplifier with a bandwidth of 6 THz, enabling high-speed quantum operations with an operating frequency of 100 MHz. These features allow the system to operate at room temperature while supporting scalable, real-time computations.
The system’s cloud-access design permits remote execution of multi-step quantum operations on about 100 continuous-variable inputs, creating new opportunities in optimization, neural networks, and other advanced computing applications. This approach builds on RIKEN’s previous superconducting quantum computer, enhancing Japan’s quantum industry capabilities.
For further details, you can access the original press release (in Japanese) here.
November 11, 2024
