Oxford physicists set new qubit accuracy record
Breakthrough slashes quantum error correction needs, paving way for compact quantum computers.
Physicists at the University of Oxford have achieved a ground‑breaking error rate in quantum logic operations, reducing it to just 0.000015 percent, one mistake in 6.7 million operations. The result marks nearly a ten‑fold improvement over their previous record set in 2014.
The team used a trapped calcium ion qubit controlled by microwave signals instead of lasers to achieve high stability at room temperature and eliminate the need for magnetic shielding. However, this method offers cheaper, more robust control that fits with ion‑trap chip technology.
Reducing the error rate helps shrink the infrastructure needed for error correction, meaning future quantum computers could be smaller, faster and more efficient. They still lag, with around one in 2,000 error rates, highlighting further challenges for full‑scale quantum systems.
The findings, published in Physical Review Letters, bring practical quantum computing a significant step closer. The Oxford researchers involved include Professor David Lucas, Molly Smith, Aaron Leu and Dr Mario Gely.
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