🏆 A quantum computer finally beats classical computers on a crucial point

Quantum computers have long promised to surpass their classical counterparts, but concretely demonstrating this advantage remains a major challenge. A team of researchers has just taken a significant step by experimentally proving quantum superiority in memory usage, opening new perspectives for this emerging technology.

In this study published on the arXiv preprint server, scientists designed an ingenious experiment featuring two virtual entities named Alice and Bob. Alice prepares a particular quantum state that she transmits to Bob, who must then measure it and identify its nature even before Alice has finished her preparation. This procedure was repeated more than 10,000 times to ensure the reliability of the results, thus demonstrating the ability of current quantum processors to manipulate sophisticated quantum states.


The thorough analysis of the data revealed spectacular differences between quantum and classical approaches. To accomplish this task with the same success rate, a traditional computer would need at least 62 bits of conventional memory. In contrast, the quantum device used only 12 qubits, these fundamental units of quantum information that can exist in multiple states simultaneously thanks to the principle of quantum superposition.

The researchers emphasize that this demonstration constitutes the most direct proof to date that existing quantum processors can generate and manipulate entangled states of sufficient complexity to exploit the exponentiality of Hilbert space. This abstract mathematical space represents the colossal memory resource of quantum computers, where information can be stored much more densely than in classical systems.

This breakthrough opens concrete perspectives for practical applications in various fields. In cryptography, it could enable the development of more secure communication systems, while in modeling, it would significantly accelerate the discovery of new drugs and the design of innovative materials. This demonstration thus marks an important step toward the real exploitation of quantum potential.

Qubits and quantum superposition

Qubits fundamentally differ from classical bits by their ability to exist in multiple states simultaneously. While a traditional bit can only be 0 or 1, a qubit can be in a superposition of these two states.

This unique property allows quantum computers to process exponential amounts of information compared to classical systems. When multiple qubits are combined, the number of possible states increases exponentially, thus creating computing power unmatched in conventional computing.

The manipulation of qubits relies on subtle quantum phenomena that require extreme environmental conditions, particularly temperatures close to absolute zero. Maintaining quantum coherence, meaning the preservation of superposition states, represents one of the major technical challenges in the development of industrializable quantum computers.

The potential applications of this technology extend far beyond simple calculation, touching domains such as molecular simulation, optimization, and cryptography, where the unique properties of qubits offer decisive advantages.