Japan's first quantum computer online
The quantum computer developed by the Riken research institute went online on March 27, making it accessible to universities and companies.
Japan's first domestically developed quantum computer at the Riken laboratory in Wako, Saitama Prefecture. Photo: Sankei / Takumi Kamoshida
Japan's first quantum computer uses ultra-low-temperature cooled superconducting circuits to eliminate resistance - like the technology used by Google and IBM of the US - thereby creating quantum bits (qubit), the basic unit of information in quantum computing. With 64 qubits, it surpasses the speed of IBM's 27 qubit quantum computer coming into operation in 2021.
The Riken Research Institute will give many companies and universities online access to the new quantum computer, harnessing its blazing-fast computing power for a wide range of research projects. Startups can gain expertise in quantum computing applications.
Riken intends to gradually grant broader access to quantum computing and, hopefully, its use will help develop technology for devices and software, as well as train human resources in the field.
Unlike traditional computers, quantum computers use quantum mechanics, the field of physics that describes the behavior of microscopic particles such as electrons and atoms, to perform calculations. Because it can perform many calculations at the same time, sometimes quantum computers can easily solve problems that supercomputers cannot solve even if it takes tens of thousands or hundreds of millions of years.
"The launch of a computer is not a goal but a milestone. The race has only just begun," said Yasunobu Nakamura, director of the Riken Center for Quantum Computing, which led the development of quantum computers. Japan's domestic industry, said.
In April 2021, Japan set out a domestic quantum computer development strategy. Since then, the Riken Quantum Computing Center and several others have jointly developed the machine. In December 2022, Japan's first domestically produced quantum computer took a major step forward when it had a working prototype.
Quantum computers are expected to advance research in areas that require complex computations such as new materials development, medicine, finance and artificial intelligence (AI). Quantum computers will also make it easier to decrypt encrypted information currently used on the Internet and in the financial sector.
Japan aims to build a practically usable quantum computer by 2040 and beyond, but it's estimated to require around 1 million qubits. Only a few dozen to a few hundred qubits have been used in the world's quantum computers so far, so actual use is far away.