Chinese scientists at the University of Science and Technology of China have made a breakthrough in the field of quantum error correction (QEC) based on superconducting quantum circuits, contributing to the development of quantum computing.
Using the 107-qubit Zuchongzhi 3.2 processor, which can achieve a high-fidelity readout with an error rate of only 0.95 percent within around 300 nanoseconds, the scientist team has successfully implemented an all-microwave leakage suppression architecture on a distance-7 surface code, achieving a significant decrease in the logical error rate by effectively suppressing the leakage of quantum information as the surface code distance increases.
The experimental result also proves that the system is operating below the error correction threshold, and has successfully improved accuracy with corrective measures.
"Just like when many people come to vote, only when each person's judgment is accurate can the vote cast be accurate; otherwise, as the number of voters increases, the vote cast become even less accurate. Therefore, only when the accuracy of each person's vote exceeds a certain threshold can the team's advantage be brought into play. In other words, as the number of qubits increases, the more error corrections are performed, the more accurate the result become," Zhu Xiaobo, a professor with the University of Science and Technology of China, explained.
Achieving "below-threshold" quantum error correction is a long-sought core goal in the global quantum computing field and one of the key milestones to verify whether quantum computing systems can move from prototypes to practical applications. The new technique also provides a more advantageous solution for building million-qubit quantum computers in the future.
Chinese scientists achieve breakthrough in quantum error correction
U.S. stocks sank on Thursday as an escalating conflict in the Middle East and a renewed surge in oil prices weighed heavily on Wall Street.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.61 percent to 47,954.74. The S and P 500 sank 0.56 percent to 6,830.71. The Nasdaq Composite Index shed 0.26 percent to 22,748.99.
Eight of the 11 primary S and P 500 sectors ended in the red, with consumer staples and materials leading the laggards by dropping 2.43 percent and 2.27 percent, respectively. Energy and technology led the gainers by adding 0.59 percent and 0.39 percent, respectively.
Oil prices jumped significantly after Iran announced it had struck an oil tanker with a missile. U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude futures for April delivery surged 8.51 percent to settle over 81 U.S. dollars per barrel, reaching their highest level since July 2024. International benchmark Brent crude futures for May delivery advanced 4.93 percent, trading above 85 dollars per barrel. These sharp upward movements in energy markets drove major swings across equities throughout the trading session.
As Iran is the fourth-largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, concerns are mounting that the conflict's impact on production capabilities could have wide-ranging effects across global commodities. The soaring energy prices have also sparked fears among investors that persistent inflationary pressures might force the Federal Reserve to re-evaluate its anticipated interest rate cuts in an already volatile market environment.
In the bond market, the yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note climbed to near 4.14 percent, up from Wednesday's close of approximately 4.1 percent. The yield, which heavily influences consumer borrowing costs across the broader economy, has risen consecutively every day this week after ending the previous week at 3.95 percent.
In corporate developments, Advanced Micro Devices lost 1.3 percent following a report that the U.S. government drafted rules restricting AI chip shipments without its approval.
Conversely, telecommunications equipment provider Ciena dropped 12.88 percent, and StubHub retreated 12.39 percent. Costco Wholesale, which is scheduled to report its quarterly results after the market closes, fell 2.4 percent during regular trading hours.
On the economic calendar, Friday features a highly anticipated monthly jobs report, offering investors another read on the labor market's health.
U.S. stocks sink as Middle East tensions trigger oil price surge
