IBM Heron: A Leap Forward for Quantum Computing
IBM has unveiled Heron, its most powerful quantum processor to date, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of quantum computing. This advancement, coupled with improvements to the Qiskit software platform, is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with quantum technology.
Heron: A Performance Powerhouse
Heron is capable of executing certain quantum circuits with up to 5,000 gate operations – nearly double the number accurately run in IBM’s 2023 demonstration of quantum utility. Qiskit, IBM’s open-source quantum software platform, further enhances Heron’s capabilities, making the 2023 utility demonstration 50 times faster to execute.
This remarkable performance translates to a 16-fold overall performance improvement and a 50-fold increase in speed compared to IBM’s previous quantum computers measured two years ago. Heron is now accessible to clients and installed in data centers in Poughkeepsie, New York, and Ehningen, Germany, marking IBM’s first quantum data center in Europe.
Qiskit: Unlocking the Power of Quantum
Qiskit is the world’s most popular quantum software platform, designed to extract the best performance from real quantum hardware. It empowers industries worldwide to build and uncover new quantum algorithms in the pursuit of “quantum advantage” – the point where a quantum computer surpasses classical methods in solving specific problems.
As reliable execution extends to increasingly complex quantum circuits, the scope of quantum computing applications expands. Qiskit provides the tools needed to drive this growth, fostering innovation across diverse industries.
Reaching the 5,000 Gate Milestone: A Quantum Leap
“The combined improvements across IBM Heron and Qiskit extend our users’ ability to reliably execute certain quantum circuits of up to 5,000 gates,” says Blake Johnson, explaining the significance of this breakthrough. “This achievement nearly doubles the number of gates accurately run in IBM’s 2023 demonstration of quantum utility. The Qiskit stack now incorporates a third-generation runtime that enables executing the 2023 utility experiment up to 50 times faster, reducing the execution time from 112 hours to just 2.2 hours.”
This milestone builds upon the broader quantum community’s progress in utility-scale experiments. “Our clients and partners are already exploring — and delivering — on capabilities operating at a similar scale,” adds Johnson. Algorithmiq’s tensor error network mitigation (TEM) method, available through the IBM Qiskit Functions Catalog, exemplifies this progress. TEM offers state-of-the-art error mitigation for circuits at the utility scale, supporting circuits with up to 5,000 entangled quantum gates.
The Importance of Security in the Quantum Era
While the advancement of quantum computing holds immense promise, it also raises concerns about security. “As users progress toward quantum advantage, we are also advancing toward potentially cryptographically relevant quantum computers, which could crack today’s encryption in the future,” explains Johnson.
“The good news is that today’s quantum computers are not cryptographically relevant, but we need to start preparing now. Quantum-safe cryptography exists today — including two IBM-developed PQC algorithms recently published by NIST as its first three algorithms as official post-
How close are we to achieving “quantum advantage” according to Dr. [Guest Name], and what implications will this have for various industries?
## IBM Heron: A Giant Leap for Quantum Computing
**Interviewer:** Welcome back to the show, today we’re discussing a groundbreaking advancement in quantum computing. With me is Dr. [Guest Name], a leading expert in the field. Dr. [Guest Name], IBM has just unveiled its most powerful quantum processor yet, Heron. Can you tell us what makes Heron so special?
**Dr. [Guest Name]:** Absolutely! Heron is a significant leap forward. It can execute certain quantum circuits with up to 5,000 gate operations, almost double what was possible before. [[1](https://newsroom.ibm.com/2024-10-01-first-ibm-quantum-data-center-in-europe-opens-will-include-ibms-most-performant-quantum-systems?sf202898511=1)]
This means we can now tackle far more complex problems than ever before.
**Interviewer:** That’s incredible! And IBM has paired Heron with updates to its Qiskit software platform. How does Qiskit complement Heron’s capabilities?
**Dr. [Guest Name]:** Qiskit is essential. It’s an open-source platform that’s specifically designed to help us get the best performance out of real quantum hardware like Heron. In fact, with the latest Qiskit updates, the 2023 demonstration of quantum utility is now 50 times faster to execute on Heron! [[1](https://newsroom.ibm.com/2024-10-01-first-ibm-quantum-data-center-in-europe-opens-will-include-ibms-most-performant-quantum-systems?sf202898511=1)]This kind of software optimization is crucial for unlocking the full potential of quantum computers.
**Interviewer:** So, what does this mean for the future? What kind of applications can we expect to see with this kind of processing power?
**Dr. [Guest Name]:**
The possibilities are truly exciting. We’re talking about advancements in materials science, drug discovery, financial modeling, artificial intelligence, and countless other fields. Heron and Qiskit are bringing us closer to achieving “quantum advantage,” where quantum computers can solve problems that are impossible for classical computers. [[1](https://newsroom.ibm.com/2024-10-01-first-ibm-quantum-data-center-in-europe-opens-will-include-ibms-most-performant-quantum-systems?sf202898511=1)]
**Interviewer:** Fantastic! Dr. [Guest Name], thank you so much for sharing your insights on this remarkable development.
**Dr. [Guest Name]:** My pleasure!
Please remember to replace “[Guest Name]” with the actual name of your interviewee.
