IonQ Aria is available on the Azure Quantum Platform. An agreement has also been signed with Airbus for the use of quantum computers

IonQ announced the availability of Airhis new quantum computer, via Azure Quantum Platform. This is relevant news not only because it pushes the performance bar a little higher, but also because in this way IonQ disproves Scorpion Capital’s report that generated so much noise in the quantum computer world. IonQ also announced the launch of a collaboration with Airbusaimed at exploring the use of quantum computers in aerospace.

IonQ Aria available through Azure Quantum Platform

IonQ Aria, which promised the announcement to make available 32 qubits with very high fidelity, landed exclusively on the Azure Quantum Platform. The qubits actually available to programmers are actually 23 at the moment, therefore, the full potential computing capacity of the device is not yet available.

for an important milestone, however, and not only for IonQ, because Aria uses ion traps to create her own physical qubits and therefore offers a very high level of fidelity (i.e. absence of errors), higher than that of competitors who use superconductors such as IBM and Google. It opens us up to more complex calculations and better quality results than in the past.

According to IonQ, Aria’s public availability will accelerate the development of algorithms and simulations capable of delivering superior results compared to the previous generation of quantum computers.

IonQ and Airbus collaborate to use quantum computers in the aerospace sector

The second announcement made by IonQ is about a new one collaboration agreement signed with Airbus. IonQ has recently established the first European offices and is starting several collaborations with public and private realities in the Old Continent. The collaboration with Airbus revolves around a project called “Quantum Aircraft Loading Optimization & Quantum Machine Learning” (“quantum optimization of aircraft cargo and quantum machine learning”), which aims to study for 12 months how quantum computers can help model and optimize cargo aircraft loading operations.

Such optimizations would lead to better load distribution and, consequently, to better flight conditions. Airbus said it plans to use quantum technology to optimize other areas as well, such as fuel economy, aerodynamics and trajectories.