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Beyond quantum supremacy: the hunt for useful quantum computers

Researchers search for ways to put today’s small noisy quantum systems to work.
  1. Michael Brooks

    1. Michael Brooks is a freelance writer based in the United Kingdom.

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View of Google's cryostat used to cool their NISQ processors to 10 millikelvin

A cryostat used to cool Google quantum computing hardware. Credit: Erik Lucero

Just occasionally, Alán Aspuru-Guzik has a movie-star moment, when fans half his age will stop him in the street. “They say, ‘Hey, we know who you are’,” he laughs. “Then they tell me that they also have a quantum start-up, and would love to talk to me about it.” He doesn’t mind a bit. “I don’t usually have time to talk, but I’m always happy to give them some tips.”

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Nature 574, 19-21 (2019)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-019-02936-3

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