D-Wave has unveiled a prototype of the Advantage 2 quantum computer. In a year or two the system will go on sale and will provide access to 7,000 qubits in the basic configuration, while the modern D-Wave Advantage system will provide access to 5,000 qubits. . Intel’s approach, known as Intel, helped accelerate the development of the new system. “Tick Tock”, when the development of architecture and the technical process are divided into two different phases. And it worked.

The Advantage 2 computer is based on a new qubit link topology called Zephyr. It changes the topology of Pegasus. The key improvements that will improve the performance of the Canadian developer’s quantum platforms lie in this change. Pegasus topology allows you to connect 15 qubits at a time, while Zephyr topology increases computing performance by connecting 20 qubits at a time.

Also, increasing the number of qubits connected simultaneously reduces the number of data entries and reduces transmitted data chains. Taken together, this reduces the number of errors and increases the probability of getting the correct answer. However, the Advantage 2 prototype only contains more than 500 qubits and is not fully comparable in performance to the Advantage machine running at 5,000 qubits. However, a number of tests confirm that Advantage 2 handles tasks faster and with less chance of error.

D-Wave has decided to provide early access to the Advantage 2 prototype through its cloud service. This was because: “The rapid development of a new platform”It will help the company’s customers get fully acquainted with the new vehicle when it goes on sale in 2023 or 2024. Moving to Intel’s widely publicized approach has helped accelerate development “Tick Tock”, when the introduction of a new architecture changes with the introduction of a new technical process. D-Wave admits that the transition has paid off “on the first try”.

It is worth remembering that D-Wave quantum computers rely on quantum annealing, or a method of finding the optimal solution for disordered data sampling. The company’s processors use semiconductor qubits at ultra-low temperatures. You cannot build universal quantum computers on this principle. For this purpose, schemes with quantum valves or gates are presented. In October last year, D-Wave acknowledged that it had begun developing a universal quantum computing platform based on valves, but no details yet. They may appear at Qubits 22 this fall. At the same time, the company will talk more about the Advantage 2 platform.