Grover's quantum algorithm was first demonstrated in Russia on superconducting qubits

Quantum technologies based on a superconducting element base have been developing in the world for over 20 years, and significant successes have already been achieved in this direction. The first Russian qubit was made in 2015 by the joint efforts of several laboratories under the leadership of Oleg Astafiev, Alexey Ustinov and Valery Ryazanov.

In 2016, the Advanced Research Foundation launched a global project to develop information-processing technology based on superconducting qubits, within the framework of which a specialized laboratory was created under the guidance of Professor Valery Ryazanov, Head of the superconductivity laboratory of the Institute of Physics and Technology of RAS. In less than three years, a technology was developed for creating superconducting two-qubit circuits (a prototype of a domestic quantum computer), and one-qubit and two-qubit operations were demonstrated that made it possible to create quantum entanglement and, in the future, implement any quantum algorithm.

The accuracy of single-qubit operations exceeded 99%, those of two-qubit operations exceeded 80%, which made it possible to demonstrate the Grover’s quantum algorithm for solving the enumeration problem on a two-qubit scheme. Grover's algorithm can become the basis for creating ultrafast databases that work with huge data arrays and are able to find the necessary information in a few moments.

One of the key characteristics of qubits that allowed us to demonstrate quantum operations is the coherence time and the “life time” of a qubit. Within the framework of the project, scientists and engineers of the FMN Laboratory developed the technology for creating superconducting qubits-transmons with characteristic coherence times of the order of 50 μs, which brings Russian developments in this area closer to the best world analogues.

At the next stage of the project, the FPI plans to demonstrate the possibility of creating quantum simulators based on arrays of more than 20 qubits and solving quantum-mechanical problems with their help. The aim of the project is to develop a technology that will allow creating a full-fledged quantum computer from dozens of qubits in the future.

It is assumed that the creation of a quantum computer will significantly accelerate the process of computer simulation and solve inaccessible tasks for modern supercomputers in such areas as, for example, quantum chemistry, artificial intelligence and materials science, which will significantly reduce the cost and speed up the development of new drugs and materials.