Researchers from the University of Innsbruck have entangled two qubits distributed over several quantum objects and successfully transmitted their quantum properties. This marks an important milestone in the development of fault-tolerant quantum computers.
For their experiment, the physicists use an ion-trap quantum computer with ten ions. Into these ions the logical qubits are encoded. Using a technique that scientists refer to as lattice surgery, two logical qubits encoded on a lattice can be ‘stitched together’.
A large logical qubit can be separated into two individual logical qubits by lattice surgery. In contrast to the standard operations between two logical qubits, lattice surgery only requires operations along the boundary of the encoded qubits, not on their entire surface.
Lattice surgery is considered one of the key techniques for the operation of future fault-tolerant quantum computers. (Phys.org)
The work has been published in Nature.