Despite the numerous important functions that quantum computers can perform beyond the capabilities of classical computers, unlocking their full potential remains a significant challenge.
A groundbreaking study conducted by a team of researchers from JPMorganChase, Quantinuum, Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the University of Texas at Austin has successfully demonstrated the generation of certified randomness using a 56-qubit quantum computer. This achievement represents a major milestone in the field of quantum computing.
Scott Aaronson, the Schlumberger Centennial Chair of Computer Science and director of the Quantum Information Center at UT Austin, expressed his excitement, stating, “The experimental demonstration of my certified randomness protocol is a significant step forward in utilizing quantum computers to produce certified random bits for practical cryptographic applications.”
While Google researchers achieved quantum supremacy last year, the challenge of leveraging this power for solving real-world problems remained unresolved.
The researchers in this study tackled this challenge by utilizing random circuit sampling (RCS) to generate certified randomness. This method ensures that the output remains unaltered even if someone gains control of the quantum computer, preserving the certification of “randomness.”
Accessing a 56-qubit Quantinuum quantum computer over the internet, the team successfully generated verified random bits using a protocol based on Random Circuit Sampling (RCS), which generates more random bits than it starts with.
Reliable quantum bits
The protocol involves two main steps. The first step entails presenting the quantum computer with challenges to solve quickly by randomly selecting one of the potential solutions. In the second step, the randomness is mathematically certified using classical supercomputers.
The team demonstrated that classical methods are unable to replicate quantum randomness. They utilized high-performance supercomputers with a combined processing power of 1.1 ExaFLOPS to verify this, successfully certifying 71,313 entropy bits and confirming the authenticity of the random bits.
Marco Pistoia, Head of Global Technology Applied Research and Distinguished Engineer at JPMorganChase, emphasized the significance of this work, stating, “This achievement represents a major milestone in quantum computing, showcasing a solution to a real-world challenge using a quantum computer that surpasses the capabilities of today’s classical supercomputers.”
“The development of certified randomness not only demonstrates progress in quantum hardware but also holds importance for further research, statistical sampling, numerical simulations, and cryptography.”
Journal Reference
- Liu, M., Shaydulin, R., Niroula, P. et al. Certified randomness using a trapped-ion quantum processor. Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08737-1
