American multinational technology corp., IBM, in what it considers a big step towards achieving practical quantum computation, has reportedly announced the launch of its new 127-quantum bit (qubit) quantum processor, called Eagle. The company claims Eagle to be the first-ever processor that cannot be simulated by a classical supercomputer.

The company reports that in order to simulate the new processor chip, more classical bits will be needed than the number of atoms in the human body.

Crediting this breakthrough in technology to a new design, IBM stated that the controlling components of the processor will be put on multiple physical levels with the qubits being positioned on a single layer. According to the tech giant, this allows for a significant boost in computing power.

The company, however, has not provided any detail about the processor’s quantum volume, a metric coined by IBM itself in order to measure the performance of the quantum computer. Quantum volume considers the various parts of the machine, including the qubits and how they interact with one another.

It is believed that a higher quantum volume equals a better quantum computer at solving complex problems.

Jerry Chow, Director of Quantum Hardware System Development at IBM, explained that the Eagle processor will be available as an exploratory system on the IBM Cloud for select IBM Quantum Network members. Chow added that exploratory systems are still early access to its latest technologies, which does not allow the firm to guarantee uptime or a specific repeatable performance level, which is measured with the help of the quantum volume.

Eagle will be available to select members of IBM’s Quantum Network from next month onwards.

The company has also added that while the processor is a step forward towards quantum supremacy, the processor, cannot currently solve problems that classical computers cannot as well.

Source credit: https://www.engadget.com/ibm-eagle-processor-050133991.html