On November 6, Xanadu Quantum Technologies Inc. announced it has advanced to Stage B of DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI). This progress positions the company alongside a select few organizations who are demonstrating a credible path toward utility-scale quantum computing and reinforces Xanadu’s photonic quantum computing approach.
QBI aims to determine which quantum computing approach will reach utility-scale, and which modalities can deliver value on realistic budgets and real-world timelines. Stage B marks a critical phase in this program, where DARPA will conduct an intensive, year-long examination of organizations’ comprehensive development, scaling, and cost control strategies. During this phase, Xanadu will present its plans that outline how to realize a fault tolerant, utility-scale quantum computer, detail associated risks and mitigation strategies, and set forth the steps needed to address any technical challenges.
“Advancing to Stage B is a testament to our team’s ability to execute on our practical path to commercially useable quantum computing and validates not only the photonic modality, but also our commitment to creating fault tolerant quantum computers by 2029,” said Christian Weedbrook, CEO of Xanadu. “This phase allows us to demonstrate our near-term capabilities and our vision for building quantum computers that can help enterprises solve real-world problems at scale. We’re excited to enter the next stage and contribute to the broader quantum computing ecosystem.”
According to the company, Xanadu’s photonic quantum computing architecture offers distinct advantages over traditional quantum systems, including minimal cooling requirements due to room-temperature operations, enhanced qubit connectivity that enables more efficient fault tolerant operations, and a modular, networkable design that is critical for achieving practical quantum computing. Xanadu’s latest photonic quantum computer, Aurora, serves as a proof-of-concept for this approach, providing the fundamental building blocks needed for large-scale, error-corrected quantum computing.
Source: Xanadu
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