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Prototype sets record for optical quantum information technology

Phys · · 346 words · By Chen Na

Researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China have developed a quantum computing prototype called Jiuzhang 4.0. According to a study in Nature, the system achieved a record in optical quantum information technology by solving a specific sampling problem significantly faster than traditional supercomputers.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-05-prototype-optical-quantum-technology.html

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10%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 95%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

12 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

check_circle Corroborated 7
help Insufficient Evidence 2
schedule Pending 2
report Misleading 1
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“Chinese scientists have developed a programmable quantum computing prototype called Jiuzhang 4.0”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent news sources (Xinhua, China Daily, scio.gov.cn) confirm the development of the Jiuzhang 4.0 programmable quantum computing prototype.
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web search NEUTRAL — HEIFEI, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists have developed a programmable quantum computing prototype called "Jiuzhang 4.0" that has set a new world record for optical quantum information technology…
https://en.ustc.edu.cn/info/1007/5168.htm
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web search NEUTRAL — A team of Chinese scientists has developed the world's fastest quantum computer prototype, named Jiuzhang 4.0, capable of solving complex mathematical problems in less than the blink of an eye...
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202605/15/WS6a0659aca310d686…
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web search NEUTRAL — Chinese scientists have developed a programmable quantum computing prototype called "Jiuzhang 4.0" that has set a new world record for optical quantum information technology, according to a study publ…
http://english.scio.gov.cn/chinavoices/2026-05/14/content_11…
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“a study published May 13 in the journal Nature”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources, including Xinhua, explicitly state that the study was published in the journal Nature on Wednesday, May 13.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Liang Wenfeng (Chinese: 梁文锋; pinyin: Liáng Wénfēng; born 1985) is a Chinese entrepreneur and businessman who is the co-founder of the quantitative hedge fund High-Flyer, as well as the founder and CEO…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liang_Wenfeng
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — In quantum computing, quantum supremacy or quantum advantage is the goal of demonstrating that a programmable quantum computer can solve a problem that no classical computer can solve in any feasible …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_supremacy
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art is a Chinese mathematics book, composed by several generations of scholars from the 10th–2nd century BCE, its latest stage being from the 1st century CE. This…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nine_Chapters_on_the_Mathe…
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“Led by the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), the team used the prototype to solve the Gaussian boson sampling problem at a speed more than 1054 times that of the world's most powerful supercomputer”
MISLEADING
The claim states the speed is 'more than 10^54 times' that of a supercomputer. However, the evidence from Xinhua and other sources explicitly states the supercomputer would require 'more than 10 to the 42nd years' to calculate the result. 10^42 years is a measure of time, not a speed multiplier of 10^54. The claim misrepresents the quantitative metric provided in the evidence.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Jiuzhang (Chinese: 九章) is the first photonic quantum computer to claim quantum supremacy. Previously quantum supremacy has been achieved only once, in 2019, by Google's Sycamore; however, Google's com…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiuzhang_(quantum_computer)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A quantum computer is a real or theoretical computer that exploits quantum phenomena like superposition and entanglement in an essential way. It is widely believed that a quantum computer could perfor…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_computing
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — In quantum computing, quantum supremacy or quantum advantage is the goal of demonstrating that a programmable quantum computer can solve a problem that no classical computer can solve in any feasible …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_supremacy
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“The researchers said they manipulated and detected quantum states of up to 3,050 photons”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources (Xinhua, other web results) confirm the manipulation and detection of up to 3,050 photons.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Jiuzhang may refer to: Jiuzhang suanshu, or The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art, Chinese mathematics book, composed from the 10th–2nd century BCE Shu shu Jiuzhang, or Mathematical Treatise in N…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiuzhang
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Jiuzhang (Chinese: 九章) is the first photonic quantum computer to claim quantum supremacy. Previously quantum supremacy has been achieved only once, in 2019, by Google's Sycamore; however, Google's com…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiuzhang_(quantum_computer)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Zhao Jiuzhang (simplified Chinese: 赵九章; traditional Chinese: 趙九章; pinyin: Zhào Jiǔzhāng; Wade–Giles: Chao Chiu-chang; 15 October 1907 – 26 October 1968), also known as Jeou Jang Jaw, was a Chinese met…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhao_Jiuzhang
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“the previous Jiuzhang 3.0 [achieved] 255 photons”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm that the previous version, Jiuzhang 3.0, achieved 255 photons.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — As minor planet discoveries are confirmed, they are given a permanent number by the IAU's Minor Planet Center (MPC), and the discoverers can then submit names for them, following the IAU's naming conv…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meanings_of_minor-planet_names…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A quantum computer is a real or theoretical computer that exploits quantum phenomena like superposition and entanglement in an essential way. It is widely believed that a quantum computer could perfor…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_computing
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Many significant developments in the history of science and technology in China took place during the Han dynasty (202 BCE – 220 CE). The Han period saw great innovations in metallurgy. Following the …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_technology_of_the_…
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“Current mainstream quantum computing technological routes include superconducting, ion trap, photonic, and neutral atom systems.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent sources, including a general hardware comparison guide and China Daily, list superconducting, ion trap, photonic, and neutral atom systems as the mainstream routes.
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web search NEUTRAL — Current mainstream quantum computing technological routes include superconducting, ion trap, photonic, and neutral atom systems. The Jiuzhang series, photonic quantum computers, encodes information in…
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202605/15/WS6a0659aca310d686…
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web search NEUTRAL — A neutral, developer-focused comparison of superconducting, ion trap, photonic, and neutral atom quantum hardware tradeoffs.Why ion traps are compelling. Ion trap systems confine charged atoms using e…
https://qubit365.com/quantum-hardware-platforms-explained-su…
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web search NEUTRAL — That means comparing trapped ion, superconducting, photonic, and neutral atom systems as full stacks, not just as qubit counts on a press release. If you are mapping a pilot program, a research sandbo…
https://upqubit.com/choosing-a-quantum-stack-in-2026-trapped…
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“The Jiuzhang series of prototypes encodes quantum bits using photons and performs quantum computation through the manipulation and measurement of these photons.”
CORROBORATED
Confirmed by Wikipedia (Jiuzhang quantum computer) and multiple news reports that the series uses photons to encode qubits and perform computation.
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web search NEUTRAL — The "Jiuzhang" series of prototypes encodes quantum bits using photons and performs quantum computation through the manipulation and measurement of these photons.
http://english.scio.gov.cn/chinavoices/2026-05/14/content_11…
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web search NEUTRAL — The "Jiuzhang" series of prototypes encodes quantum bits using photons and performs quantum computation through the manipulation and measurement of these photons.
https://en.gmw.cn/2026-05/14/content_38764170.htm
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web search NEUTRAL — Jiuzhang is the first photonic quantum computer to claim quantum supremacy. Previously quantum supremacy has been achieved only once, in 2019, by Google's Sycamore; however, Google's computer was base…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiuzhang_(quantum_computer)
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“Since its successful construction in 2020, the series has undergone several upgrades”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm the series began in 2020 (Jiuzhang 1.0) and has undergone subsequent upgrades (2.0, 3.0, 4.0).
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Jiuzhang (Chinese: 九章) is the first photonic quantum computer to claim quantum supremacy. Previously quantum supremacy has been achieved only once, in 2019, by Google's Sycamore; however, Google's com…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiuzhang_(quantum_computer)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A number of significant scientific events occurred in 2020.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_in_science
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — IBM Eagle is a 127-qubit quantum processor. IBM claims that it can not be simulated by any classical computer. It is two times bigger than China's Jiuzhang 2. It was revealed on November 16, 2021, and…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_Eagle
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“the research team developed a high-efficiency optical parametric oscillator light source and a spatiotemporally hybrid-coded interferometer.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding the specific development of a 'high-efficiency optical parametric oscillator light source' or a 'spatiotemporally hybrid-coded interferometer'.
help
“By integrating 1,024 high-efficiency squeezed-state optical fields into an 8,176-mode spatiotemporally hybrid-coded circuit, the team was able to manipulate and detect up to 3,050 photons.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
While the 3,050 photons figure is confirmed, the specific technical details regarding '1,024 high-efficiency squeezed-state optical fields' and an '8,176-mode spatiotemporally hybrid-coded circuit' were not present in the provided evidence.
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“the most complex data sample generated by Jiuzhang 4.0 takes only 25 microseconds to produce”
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“the world's most powerful supercomputer would require more than 1042 years to calculate the same result”
PENDING
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.