Google validated magic state cultivation on its Willow quantum processor, reducing specific quantum-state errors approximately 40-fold and achieving 99.99% accuracy.

Google announced that its Quantum AI team experimentally validated magic state cultivation on the Willow quantum processor. The reported results were an approximately 40-fold reduction in errors for particular quantum states and 99.99% accuracy in the prepared states, with the research published in Science.

The announcement addresses the resource-intensive preparation of special quantum states needed for complex calculations. The report cites estimates from some research that traditional preparation methods can consume as much as 95% of a quantum computer’s computing capacity; it does not identify that percentage as measured overhead for this Willow experiment.

The technique improves preparation by detecting and discarding erroneous quantum states. The accuracy and error-reduction figures apply to this state-preparation result, not to all Willow operations or complete quantum applications, and Google said applicability to larger-scale systems still requires further validation.