COLLEGE PARK, Md. - IonQ (NYSE: IONQ) has achieved a significant milestone in quantum computing by demonstrating the first known commercial ion-photon entanglement, a critical step towards enabling quantum computers to network and share information. The company's research team successfully generated and detected entangled photons with ions, a process essential for quantum communication and the development of more powerful computational systems.
This breakthrough was made outside of academic labs, showcasing the potential for such advanced quantum states to be used in practical, real-world applications. IonQ's Vice President of Research & Development, Pat Tang, highlighted the importance of this achievement in moving closer to commercial quantum advantage, which involves running deeper and more complex quantum circuits.
The demonstration involved the generation of single photons from an ion qubit and their routing to specialized optics for entanglement verification, paving the way for photonic interconnect protocols across multiple quantum processing units (QPUs). This contrasts with classical supercomputing, which relies on distributing workloads across multiple cores and processors without entanglement.
IonQ's progress in quantum networking builds on its previous efforts, including the acquisition of Entangled Networks and a partnership with the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), which included a $25.5 million deal to deploy quantum computing systems for research and development.
The company's quantum systems are accessible through major cloud platforms such as Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) Braket, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) Azure, and Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Cloud, and can also be accessed directly via an API. IonQ's current generation quantum computer, the IonQ Forte, features 35 algorithmic qubits and represents the forefront of the company's technology.
Despite the forward-looking nature of statements regarding the potential commercial advantage and increased quantum capabilities, the company acknowledges the risks and uncertainties inherent in such projections. These include competition, regulatory changes, and the ability to realize plans and partnerships.
This announcement is based on a press release statement.
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