New York: A new experiment using IBM’s commercially accessible Nighthawk r2 quantum processor has demonstrated a striking computational benchmark, with the quantum system generating one million samples in just 19 seconds—a task researchers estimate could require roughly 110 years on a powerful classical supercomputer under the simulation method they used.

Experiment Uses 61 Qubits

Researchers from BlueQubit conducted the experiment using 61 qubits from IBM’s 120-qubit Nighthawk r2 superconducting processor.

The team used a technique known as random-circuit sampling, in which increasingly complex sequences of quantum operations are applied to qubits and the resulting measurement patterns are collected.

At the selected benchmark point, the circuit reached 36 cycles and involved 918 two-qubit gates. The processor produced one million samples in approximately 19 seconds.

Why Random-Circuit Sampling Matters

Random-circuit sampling is designed to create highly complex quantum states that become increasingly difficult for conventional computers to reproduce as the number of qubits and operations increases.

A classical computer attempting to reproduce the same output distribution must perform an extremely large number of calculations. Researchers used tensor-network contraction methods to estimate the computational resources required for such a classical simulation.

Their estimate placed the workload at approximately 1.2 × 10²⁷ computational operations.

Quantum and Classical Computing Compared

The researchers compared the estimated workload with the capabilities of the Frontier supercomputer.

Based on the assumptions and simulation approach used in the study, reproducing the million quantum samples could take approximately 110 years on a system with Frontier’s performance characteristics.

However, the figure should not be interpreted as meaning that every classical computer would necessarily require 110 years to perform the task. It is an estimate based on a particular classical simulation technique and computational model.

No Special Experimental Hardware Required

One of the notable aspects of the experiment is that it was carried out on a processor accessible through IBM’s cloud platform rather than a machine built exclusively for the research experiment.

The researchers used the standard cloud workflow and did not apply special benchmark-specific calibration to the processor. The team has also made the circuits, measurement results and analysis resources available so that other researchers can examine the experiment.

What Is Quantum Advantage?

The experiment relates to the long-running effort to demonstrate quantum advantage—situations in which a quantum processor can perform a particular computational task substantially faster than practical classical approaches.

Earlier random-circuit sampling experiments, including Google’s 2019 Sycamore demonstration, helped establish the benchmark as an important test for quantum processors.

The latest result extends that research using commercially accessible quantum hardware.

Important Scientific Caveat

The 110-year estimate is not a permanent limit on classical computing.

Classical researchers have repeatedly developed more efficient algorithms for simulating quantum experiments, meaning future improvements could reduce the estimated computational cost.

The latest research therefore represents a benchmark comparison rather than proof that quantum computers are universally faster than classical supercomputers. The underlying research was released as a preprint and has not yet undergone peer review.

A Milestone for Accessible Quantum Computing

The experiment nevertheless highlights the rapid development of quantum processors and the growing ability to access advanced quantum hardware through cloud services.

If similar advantages can eventually be demonstrated for useful problems in areas such as chemistry, materials science, optimisation and cryptography, quantum computing could have applications beyond specialised research benchmarks.

For now, the Nighthawk r2 experiment provides another important data point in the continuing effort to determine where quantum processors can deliver practical advantages over classical machines.