New algorithm solves quantum computer's speed-of-light problem

Researchers from the Niels Bohr Institute, MIT, NTNU, and Leiden University have developed a new algorithm called Frequency Binary Search that enables quantum computers to reduce noise in qubits in real time. Noise, or decoherence, is a major challenge for quantum computing because qubits are highly sensitive to tiny environmental changes, which cause errors and disrupt their coherent quantum states. Traditional noise mitigation methods involve extensive measurements and corrections that are often too slow, resulting in delayed noise cancellation and reduced accuracy. The Frequency Binary Search algorithm addresses this by estimating qubit frequency shifts instantly using a Quantum Machines controller equipped with a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), which processes data on the spot without sending it to a slower desktop computer. This real-time correction allows simultaneous calibration of many qubits with exponential precision using fewer than ten measurements, a significant improvement over the thousands typically required. By enabling immediate noise correction, this breakthrough brings quantum computers closer to reliable, large-scale operation, potentially unlocking their vast capabilities in fields like