China Unveils Jiuzhang 4.0: The Photonic Quantum Computer Defying the Laws of Speed

"Jiuzhang 4.0 achieved a breakthrough in the sector, increasing the number of photons manipulated to 3,050, up from the 255 mark achieved with Jiuzhang 3.0 in 2023. While the development of photonic quantum computers has been hampered by photon loss, the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) developed a special optical light source and an interferometer that allowed the system to increase its source efficiency to 92% and its overall efficiency to 51%."

"Lu Chaoyang, a professor at the USTC, stated that the most complex data sample generated by Jiuzhang 4.0' takes only 25 microseconds to produce—shorter than the blink of an eye. This shows a remarkable improvement compared to the most powerful computer in the world, which would take more than 10 to the 42nd years to calculate the same result, said Lu."

"Lu highlighted that this manufacturing breakthrough opens the possibility to further advance photonic quantum computing development, enabling the construction of trillion-qubit-mode three-dimensional cluster states. While quantum computing is rapidly advancing, Bitcoin developers have yet to determine how they will prepare and face this looming threat."

"While several proposals have arisen, including BIP-360, the community is divided on the timing and relevance of the fix, with many questioning the quantum threat as purely theoretical. Recently, the bitcoin community also faced a wake-up call, as IBM hardware cracked a 15-bit ECC."

Jiuzhang 4.0 is a photonic quantum computing system that manipulates 3,050 photons, increasing photon manipulation from 255 in 2023. A special optical light source and an interferometer improve source efficiency to 92% and overall efficiency to 51%, addressing photon loss that has limited photonic quantum computers. Complex data samples are generated in 25 microseconds, far faster than classical computation for comparable results. The manufacturing breakthrough supports further advances toward trillion-qubit-mode three-dimensional cluster states. Quantum computing progress raises concerns for Bitcoin security, where developers must consider how to respond to a growing quantum threat. Proposals such as BIP-360 face debate over timing and whether the threat is practical, while recent hardware issues have added urgency.

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