Physicist Pan Jianwei and his team have simulated an exotic new state of matter with 'quantum armour' against errors and noise. This achievement marks the first experimental realisation of non-equilibrium higher-order topological phases. It offers a new way to store quantum information that does not easily break down, addressing a major challenge for quantum computers.
Chinese scientists have achieved a major breakthrough in quantum computing. Physicist Pan Jianwei and researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and Shanxi University published a paper in Nature, demonstrating a method to simulate and detect a strange and extremely complex state of matter with super stable corners or hinges instead of surfaces or edges.
This new kind of matter, known as non-equilibrium higher-order topological phases, does not exist in nature. It marks the first experimental realisation of such phases, offering a way to store quantum information that resists breakdown—a key challenge for quantum computers. Quantum bits, or qubits, the fundamental units of quantum information, are highly sensitive to their environment, limiting current machine complexity due to errors and noise.
The team's simulation shows this 'quantum Lego block' could enable quantum computers to function correctly even amid errors or noise. Pan Jianwei, dubbed the 'father of quantum,' has led projects like the Zuchongzhi 2 quantum computer and the Micius satellite. The work highlights the role of topology and superconductors in providing stability for quantum information storage. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has recognized Pan's contributions. This advance opens new paths to overcoming noise challenges in quantum computing.