Introduction
Quantum computers leverage the strange properties of quantum physics to perform calculations fundamentally differently than classical computers. By encoding information in quantum bits or “qubits”, they can solve complex problems with real-world applications in cryptography, artificial intelligence, drug discovery, and more. However, building functioning quantum computers involves overcoming immense technological hurdles from fragile qubits to quantum errors.
While the practical application of quantum computers remains early stage, leading technology companies, research institutions, and startups worldwide are racing to develop more powerful quantum systems. Key benchmarks used for evaluating these systems include:
- Qubit Count – The number of qubits. More qubits means increased processing capacity.
- Qubit Quality – Measured through error rates and coherence times. Higher-quality qubits produce more accurate results.
- Connectivity – How easily qubits can interact with each other. Better connections allow more complex computations.
- Quantum Volume – A holistic benchmark estimating computational power based on qubit number, quality, connectivity, and more.
Given those metrics, here is an overview of 10 cutting-edge quantum computers at the forefront of the quantum computing revolution in 2024:
1. IonQ Aria
IonQ’s trapped ion quantum computer utilizes 393 individual ytterbium ions suspended in electromagnetic fields as qubits. It boasts industry-leading fidelities enabling deep quantum circuits. With an expected quantum volume exceeding 4 trillion in 2024, IonQ maintains the most powerful quantum computer in the industry.
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| IonQ Aria’s Unique System Architecture (Image Credit: IonQ Aria) |
Highlights:
- Trapped ion qubits with record fidelities
- Current qubit count – 393
- 2024 quantum volume – 4 trillion+
- Targeting broad enterprise & national security applications
2. USTC Jiuzhang II
An upgraded photonic quantum computer from China’s University of Science and Technology of China. It harnesses 200 photons propagating in photonic waveguides as qubits. As bosons, photons rarely interact, reducing errors. It could reach a quantum volume of 1 trillion in 2024.
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| USTC Jiuzhang Project Image |
Highlights:
- Photonic qubits in linear optical architecture
- Current qubit count – 200
- 2024 quantum volume – 1 trillion
- Potential applications in quantum chemistry, AI, and cryptography
3. Xanadu Borealis II
The next-generation photonic quantum computer from Canada’s Xanadu utilizes 256 photonic qubits. Xanadu’s architecture allows for one million+ qubit systems and built-in error correction. It also plans to incorporate boson sampling algorithms in its systems.
Highlights:
- Photonic qubits allow high-efficiency linear optical quantum computing
- Current qubit count – 256
- 2024 quantum volume – 1 trillion
- Hardware extensions to over 1 million qubits
4. IBM Osprey
In 2023, IBM released its newest quantum processor, Osprey, featuring 433 superconducting qubits in a modular architecture optimized for connectivity. With quantum volume exceeding 4 billion, it offers major performance gains over IBM’s previous systems.
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| (Image Credit: IBM) |
Highlights:
- 433 superconducting qubits in modular architecture
- 2023 quantum volume – 4 billion
- Enhanced qubit connectivity performance
- 2024 roadmap includes 1121+ qubit system
5. Google Sycamore
In 2019, Google’s Sycamore quantum processor grabbed headlines for demonstrating “quantum supremacy” on specialized random number sampling. The next iteration aims for practical quantum advantage in application domains like quantum chemistry.
Highlights:
- Achieved widely-publicized quantum supremacy
- Next version may have ~70 qubits
- Architecture optimized for quantum hardware experiments
- Focus on practical quantum advantage applications
6. Intel Horse Ridge III
Intel’s latest spin qubit test chip, Horse Ridge III, packs an industry-leading 1,152 qubits onto a small silicon chip. While error rates remain high, it signifies meaningful progress tapping into spin qubits’ promise of easier scalability.
Highlights:
- Record 1,152 spin qubits on a single chip
- Spin qubits operate at higher temperatures than competitors
- Current lower gate fidelities than leading systems
- Significant progress toward scalable spin qubit platforms
7. Rigetti Advantage 2
Rigetti’s next-gen superconducting quantum computer will feature 256 qubits in a modular, multi-chip architecture for straightforward upgrades. With quantum volume expected to reach 25 billion in 2024, the Advantage 2 system targets near-term commercial quantum advantage.
Highlights:
- 256 superconducting qubits
- 2024 quantum volume – 25 billion
- Multi-chip modular architecture enables scaling
- Focused on achieving commercial quantum advantage
8. D-Wave Advantage2
D-Wave Systems specializes in quantum annealing technology leveraging over 5,000 superconducting flux qubits designed for optimization. While more limited than gate-model quantum computers, the Advantage2 system excels at finding optimal solutions among many combinations.
Highlights:
- 5,640 superconducting qubits specialized for optimization
- Unique quantum annealing approach
- NISQ-era performance gains for combinatorial optimization
- Potential applications in logistics, machine learning, and more
9. Alibaba Cloud Platform
Alibaba Cloud’s quantum development platform allows accessing simulated 30-60 qubit quantum computers via the cloud. The simulator access provides an easy entry point for software teams to start experimenting with quantum algorithms before true quantum advantage.
Highlights:
- Cloud platform for simulator access up to 60 qubits
- Enables testing quantum algorithms and programs
- Lower hardware performance than competitors
- Quantum education and development focus
10. Fujitsu Digital Annealer Unit 3
While not a true quantum computer, Fujitsu’s latest quantum-inspired Digital Annealer rivals NISQ device performance for combinatorial optimization problems. It leverages ultra-high-speed ASIC/FPGA hardware design for blazingly fast optimization applied to scheduling, delivery routing, and more.
Highlights:
- 3rd generation Digital Annealer system
- Quantum-inspired hardware architecture
- Specialized for high-speed combinatorial optimization
- Outperforms classical computers in optimization benchmarks
Conclusion
In conclusion, quantum computing momentum is accelerating exponentially fast, as evidenced by these highly sophisticated quantum systems coming online. With qubit counts and quantum volume metrics rising each year, we inch closer to practically demonstrating quantum advantage. However, realistically overcoming ongoing obstacles around qubit stability, error correction, coherence times, and manufacturability remains critical before unlocking quantum computers’ full potential. Yet if the exponential progress holds steady, we stand at the precipice of the quantum computing age starting to unfold by the latter half of this decade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do IonQ, Rigetti, Xanadu, and other startups compete with tech giants like Google, IBM, and Intel in the quantum computer race?
A: Startups often compete by specializing in newer qubit modalities like trapped ions or photonics. This allows focusing innovation on architecture optimized for scalability. Some also outpace larger competitors in iterating rapidly to increase qubit counts yearly.
Q: When will quantum computers meaningfully impact daily lives instead of lab experiments?
A: Experts estimate achieving broad quantum advantage for highly valuable applications remains 5-10 years away. 10-15 years remain realistic for direct consumer or commercial applications to emerge. However, the pace of progress makes this hard to predict accurately.
Q: Which company is closest today to building a commercial quantum computer achieving quantum advantage?
A: Based on projected timelines to milestone qubit counts and error rates required, analysts suggest IonQ and Rigetti currently lead in the race toward commercially viable quantum computers, with Google and IBM also contenders. However, rapid innovation makes ranking speculative.
References:
- IonQ. “IonQ Kraken could be the world’s most powerful quantum computer in 2023.” IonQ Newsroom, IonQ, 9 Feb. 2023
- Wang, K. et al. Optical quantum computation over 120 modes on a programmable photonic quantum processor. Nature Photonics 15, 346-351 (2021)
- IBM. “Quantum Volume.” IBM, 29 Oct. 2021
- Fujitsu “Digital Annealer Architecture” Technology Report, Fujitsu Limited, May 2022
- D-Wave. “Technology.” D-Wave Systems
