The article discusses the challenges faced in quantum computing error correction, particularly with cat qubits and transmons. Cat qubits offer lower chances of bit flips but are still susceptible to errors, complicating logical qubit integrity. Companies like Amazon are exploring more reliable hardware solutions that could enhance error correction efficiency. However, current error rates remain insufficient for complex calculations. Achieving practical quantum computing will require significant advancements in hardware and error correction methods, with no clear alternative solutions presented at this time.
Achieving long logical bit-flip times is challenging because any single cat qubit bit flip event in any part of the repetition code directly causes a logical bit flip error.
The hardware still had to rely on less robust hardware qubits (the transmons) to do error correction, and the very low error rate was still not low enough to avoid having occasional bit flips.
Companies like Amazon are betting that using a less error-prone hardware qubit will allow them to get effective error correction using fewer total hardware qubits.
The underlying hardware isn't currently good enough to enable any sort of complex calculation, and it would need radical improvements before it can be.
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