The company claims this new processor is 25,000 times faster than its predecessor, marking a significant leap in quantum computing capabilities.
The Advantage2 QPU showcases remarkable advancements. It is designed for complex applications such as artificial intelligence (AI), materials science, and optimisation tasks.
Company representatives said the new chip exhibited "substantial performance gains" over the existing 5,000-qubit Advantage device, enhancing speed and accuracy.
"Recent performance benchmarks demonstrate that the 4,400+ qubit Advantage2 processor is computationally more powerful than the current Advantage system, solving a range of problems — including 3D lattice problems common in materials science — 25,000 times faster," the company stated.
"The processor also delivers five times better solutions on problems requiring high precision. Furthermore, it surpasses the current Advantage system in 99 per cent of tests on satisfiability problems, highlighting its capabilities across a wide range of quantum applications."
3D lattice problems are frequently used in materials science to model atomic interactions. Faster solutions to these problems enable researchers to conduct simulations more quickly, facilitating the rapid development and testing of new materials. Boolean satisfiability (SAT) problems, which test a system's ability to handle complex decision-making tasks with multiple possible solutions, serve as benchmarks for the processor’s efficiency in applications like cryptography and logistics, where rapid problem-solving is crucial.
In addition to performance improvements, D-Wave's new processor boasts advancements in three critical areas: coherence time, energy scale, and qubit connectivity. Coherence time, the duration qubits can maintain their quantum state without interference has been doubled, offering more stable and accurate calculations.
The Advantage2 also delivers a 40 per cent increase in energy scale, enhancing its ability to handle complex calculations with better stability. Qubit connectivity has been improved, with each qubit now able to connect with 20 others, up from 15, allowing the Advantage2 to address more significant and intricate problems.
Trevor Lanting, D-Wave's chief development officer said: "Our strategic decision to focus development efforts on enhancing the connectivity and coherence of our next annealing quantum computing system has proven successful. We’re thrilled with the performance of our recently calibrated processor, and we believe this technology will deliver amazing results for our customers, solving bigger and more complex problems."
