上周《科學》雜誌發表研究稱,量子計算機「九章」於中國問世,再創「高斯玻色取樣」求解速度新高,這也意味著中國繼美國去年憑藉53比特量子計算機取得同樣突破之後,成為全球第二個實現「量子優越性」的國家。
Chinese scientists have created the world’s first light-based quantum computer, called Jiuzhang, that can reliably demonstrate 「quantum computational advantage」, a milestone in which a quantum machine can solve a problem no classical supercomputer can tackle within a reasonable amount of time, according to a study published in the journal Science on Friday. It is the second time that humanity has reached this milestone, after Google declared its 53-qubit quantum computer had achieved such a breakthrough last year.
圖源:新浪江蘇
圖源:快資訊
量子計算機是
用量子力學原理製造的計算機,與我們現在用的經典計算機在計算形式上有所不同。中國科學技術大學微尺度物質科學國家實驗室副研究員袁嵐峰受訪時表示,「兩者的計算形式不一樣,電腦通過電路的開和關進行計算,
而量子計算機則是以量子的狀態作為計算形式。」我們日常使用的電腦,不管是屏幕上的圖像還是輸入的漢字,這些信息在硬體電路裡都會轉換成1和0,每個比特要麼代表0,要麼代表1,這些比特就是信息,然後再進行傳輸、運算與存儲。
正是因為這種0和1的「計算」過程,電腦才被稱為「計算機」。而量子計算,則是利用量子天然具備的疊加性,施展並行計算的能力。
中科大教授陸朝陽 圖源:快資訊
「量子力學允許一個物體同時處於多種狀態,0和1同時存在,就意味著很多個任務可以同時完成,因此
具有超越計算機的運算能力。」中科大教授陸朝陽講道,「每個量子比特,不僅可以表示0或1,還可以表示成0和1分別乘以一個係數再疊加,隨著係數的不同,這個疊加的形式可能性會很多很多。」「Quantum machines』 astronomical computing power arises from their basic building blocks, called quantum bits, or qubits,」 Lu Chaoyang, another key researcher behind Jiuzhang, said, adding that unlike bits of classical computers that present data as either 0s or 1s, similar to the on and off of a light switch, qubits can harness the strange property of quantum mechanics known as superposition and exist as 0s, 1s or everything in between, like the increments on a control knob.
圖源:新華社
「量子優越性」(quantum computational advantage)或「量子霸權」(quantum supremacy),由物理學家約翰·裴斯基於2019年提出,是指在某個特定問題上,量子計算機的計算能力遠超傳統計算機。
正是因為
具備傳統計算機不可比擬的超強模擬程序運行能力,科學家們認為,量子計算機未來可在材料科學、人工智慧和醫藥等領域大展拳腳。Quantum computers excel at running simulations that are impossible for conventional computers, leading to breakthroughs in materials science, artificial intelligence and medicine.相比此前美國谷歌「懸鈴木」,
「九章」的優越性除了體現在提升計算速度,填補技術漏洞上,還包括對環境適應性的優化。「九章」除了探測部分需要零下269.1℃的環境外,其他部分可以在室溫下運行。而谷歌 「懸鈴木」由於採用超導體系,必須全程在零下273.12℃的超低溫環境下運行,才能確保材料導電不受阻。Moreover, most components of the light-based quantum machine can operate at room temperature, aside from its sensory equipment, which must be kept at -269.1 C. This makes it significantly easier to make and maintain than superconducting quantum computers, the bulk of which must be kept at ultra-cold temperatures to ensure the materials can conduct electricity without any resistance.
「九章」的成果牢固確立了我國在國際量子計算研究中的第一方陣地位(the feat cements China’s position in the first echelon of nations in quantum computing),為未來實現可解決具有重大實用價值問題的規模化量子模擬機奠定了技術基礎。
讓我們保持期待,
繼續超越!
參考:新華社、詞都網、快資訊、新浪江蘇
本文編輯:Minister