Quantum computing has become a booming industry over the past few years. Although a lot of research still has yet to be conducted, there have been some interesting breakthroughs already. Researchers at the University of Tokyo have come up with a loop-based quantum computing technique to allow smaller hardware to perform millions of calculations in quick succession.

A Different Quantum Computing Solution

It is evident that the way we think about quantum computing may be in need of revision. More specifically, most people envision a quantum computer as a large machine drawing a ton of electricity to complete tasks. While that may still be the reality in a few years, University of Tokyo researchers have come up with a different solution. Their loop-based technique performs a much larger number of calculations in a more efficient manner.

By using multiple pulses of light, each of which carries information, the researchers were able to achieve more calculations in the same amount of time as before. They utilized a new technique allowing the pulses of light to go around in a loop circuit indefinitely. This circuit performs multiple tasks and can even switch from one task to another rapidly as the pulses are manipulated. This is a pretty interesting breakthrough that will change the future of quantum computing as a whole.

While this concept is pretty interesting, it is not something one can perform with existing hardware, by the looks of things. Rather, the researchers will need to develop the necessary hardware, although it is unclear how long this process will take. The team’s first objective was to solve all problems which could potentially occur. That has been successful so far, with the exception of correcting calculation errors. Rest assured this last hurdle will be overcome regardless.

Having a single circuit play the role of many different systems which make up the quantum computer of the future is a breakthrough that shouldn’t be ignored whatsoever. Whether or not this will lead to smaller quantum computers in the future remains to be seen. One can’t deny the prospect is pretty significant regardless, even though it remains to be seen how the hardware will perform. Just because something seemingly works on paper and has been tested in a controlled environment once doesn’t mean the success can be replicated per se.

The current expectation is that a single circuit of this type will be able to process over 1 million qubits. That would be a substantial accomplishment, to say the least, as current forms of quantum computing hardware – such as those using superconducting circuits – can only process a few dozen qubits simultaneously.  All of this goes to show the new technology has a lot of expectations to live up to, although it remains to be seen how the circuit will perform in the future.

Quantum computers may come in many different shapes and sizes, for all we know. The use of loop-based quantum computing will certainly shake things up quite a bit, assuming the researchers can effectively deliver on their promises. For the time being, there is no official timeline for development, but rest assured a lot of people will be waiting to see if such a large amount of computing power can be obtained from one single circuit.