Michel H. Devoret, a Nobel laureate in Physics this year, was recognized for groundbreaking experiments conducted over four decades ago. During his postdoctoral work at the University of California, Berkeley, in the mid-1980s, Dr. Devoret demonstrated that the peculiar and potent aspects of quantum mechanics, typically associated with subatomic particles, could also be manifested in electrical circuits visible to the unaided eye.
This pivotal discovery, which laid the groundwork for modern technologies like cellphones and fiber-optic cables, holds even greater promise. In the years ahead, it could empower the creation of quantum computers far exceeding current capabilities, potentially leading to breakthroughs in medicine, vaccine development, and even advanced cryptography.
Recently, Dr. Devoret and his team at a Google laboratory in Santa Barbara, California, announced a significant achievement: their quantum computer successfully executed a novel algorithm. This algorithm is designed to dramatically speed up progress in areas such as drug discovery, innovative material design, and numerous other scientific disciplines.
This remarkable Google machine, harnessing the astonishing capabilities of quantum mechanics, processed the algorithm an astounding 13,000 times faster than a leading supercomputer performing a comparable task using classical physics. This was detailed in a paper published by the Google researchers in the esteemed journal Nature.
Dr. Devoret, who joined Google in 2023, expressed optimism: “In the future, with larger quantum computers, we will perform calculations that are currently insurmountable for classical algorithms.”
While quantum computing remains an experimental field, Google’s new “Quantum Echoes” algorithm demonstrates rapid advancements in techniques. These improvements could enable quantum computers to solve scientific challenges that are simply beyond the reach of any traditional computing device.
Prineha Narang, a professor at UCLA specializing in physical sciences and electrical and computer engineering, lauded the development: “This is a truly significant technological step forward. For a while, I was concerned that algorithmic progress wouldn’t match hardware developments in the quantum field, but this clearly shows that’s not the case.”
Google’s quantum research efforts are part of a global race, competing with major tech companies like Microsoft and IBM, numerous startups, academic institutions, and significant, fast-paced advancements from China. The Chinese government alone has invested over $15.2 billion in quantum research.
In a classical computer, such as your laptop or smartphone, silicon chips store information as “bits,” each representing either a 1 or a 0. Calculations are then performed by manipulating these bits through operations like addition and multiplication.
Quantum computers, however, operate on principles that challenge our conventional understanding of computing. Based on the rules of quantum mechanics – the physics governing the incredibly small – a single entity can simultaneously exist in multiple states. By harnessing this counterintuitive phenomenon, scientists can create “qubits,” which are quantum bits that can represent both 1 and 0 simultaneously.
This unique property allows a quantum computer’s processing power to grow exponentially with each additional qubit. In the mid-1980s, alongside fellow Berkeley researchers John M. Martinis and John Clarke, Dr. Devoret demonstrated that the bizarre behaviors of quantum mechanics weren’t exclusive to subatomic particles. These properties could also be observed in electrical circuits, paving the way for advanced computer chip designs.
As Dr. Devoret famously stated, “We proved for the first time that it was possible to construct atoms using electrical circuits.”
This foundational discovery led to the development of “superconducting qubits,” the building blocks for quantum computers used by Google, IBM, and many others. These qubits function by chilling specific metals to near-absolute zero temperatures, causing them to mimic the peculiar behavior of subatomic particles.
Current quantum computers still struggle with errors. However, recent breakthroughs in error correction, a method to minimize these inaccuracies, have many scientists confident that this technology will fulfill its potential by the end of the decade.
Last year, Google made headlines by announcing a quantum computer capable of completing an exceptionally complex mathematical calculation in under five minutes. This feat, designed to demonstrate technological progress, would have taken a conventional supercomputer an estimated 10 septillion years—a duration far exceeding the age of the known universe.
This milestone, dubbed “quantum supremacy,” confirmed that the technology was beginning to surpass the limits of classical computers. However, the specific calculation performed by Google’s machine, utilizing its “Willow” chip, lacked immediate practical application.
Google and its competitors are relentlessly pursuing the point where quantum computers can outperform classical systems on vital tasks in areas such as chemistry and artificial intelligence.
Dr. Narang from U.C.L.A. emphasized the ultimate goal: “The true potential of quantum computers will be realized when they enable us to discover a new drug that classical computing alone couldn’t have found. That’s when we can confidently say the investment was truly worthwhile.”
Google’s latest algorithm marks a significant stride toward this future. In a separate paper posted on the arXiv research site, the company detailed how its algorithm could enhance Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (N.M.R.), a technique crucial for deciphering the structure and interactions of minute molecules.
N.M.R. plays a critical role in developing new medications for diseases and engineering novel materials for various applications, from automotive to construction. Ashok Ajoy, an assistant professor of chemistry at Berkeley specializing in N.M.R., who collaborated with Google’s researchers on this paper, noted that it could deepen our understanding of conditions like Alzheimer’s disease or catalyze the invention of entirely new metallic compounds.
He concluded, “This clearly demonstrates the immense power of quantum computing. While we are still in the nascent stages, the future possibilities are incredibly exciting.”