The Aspen-M-3 represented the pinnacle of Rigetti's Aspen-M series, offering 80 superconducting transmon qubits for advanced quantum research and algorithm development.
The Rigetti Aspen-M-3, designated as system_id 'Rigetti_Aspen-M-3', emerged as a significant milestone in the landscape of superconducting quantum computing. Launched by Rigetti, a prominent vendor in the quantum space, this processor was the final and most powerful iteration within their Aspen-M series. With a core metric of 80 physical qubits, specifically transmon qubits, the Aspen-M-3 was engineered to push the boundaries of what was achievable in terms of qubit count while striving to maintain high fidelity, a critical balance in the pursuit of practical quantum advantage.
From a data analyst's perspective, the Aspen-M-3's introduction in late 2022, following its announcement in August of the same year, marked a period of intense innovation in quantum hardware. Its design incorporated tunable couplers, a feature crucial for enhancing scalability and control over qubit interactions, allowing for more complex circuit designs and potentially more efficient error mitigation strategies. The system was primarily intended for advanced algorithm development and fundamental quantum research, providing a robust platform for exploring the capabilities of intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices. Its availability through the Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services (QCS) platform meant that researchers and developers worldwide could access this powerful hardware remotely, accelerating the pace of discovery.
The Aspen-M-3's operational lifespan, though relatively brief as it was retired in 2023, underscores the rapid evolutionary pace of quantum hardware. Its retirement paved the way for subsequent generations, such as the Ankaa series, which aimed to build upon the lessons learned and technological advancements achieved with the Aspen-M-3. This continuous cycle of innovation is characteristic of the quantum computing industry, where new architectures and improved performance metrics are constantly being developed. The Aspen-M-3, therefore, serves as an important historical benchmark, showcasing the state-of-the-art in superconducting quantum computing at its time of deployment and highlighting Rigetti's commitment to scaling qubit counts while refining control and coherence.
The strategic tradeoff inherent in the Aspen-M-3's design was to balance scale with fidelity. Achieving 80 qubits while maintaining competitive error rates for both single- and two-qubit operations was a considerable engineering feat. For users, this meant a platform capable of executing more complex quantum circuits than previous generations, albeit with the inherent noise characteristics of NISQ devices. Understanding these tradeoffs is paramount for any data analyst evaluating quantum hardware, as the raw qubit count alone does not fully capture a system's utility. The Aspen-M-3 provided a valuable environment for exploring the limits of what could be achieved with a larger number of noisy qubits, contributing significantly to the collective knowledge base of quantum algorithm design and error correction research.
Despite its retirement, the legacy of the Aspen-M-3 endures in the advancements it enabled and the data it generated. Its specifications, particularly its qubit count, connectivity, and gate fidelities, offer a concrete reference point for comparing the progress of superconducting quantum processors. For those studying the trajectory of quantum hardware development, the Aspen-M-3 represents a critical step in the journey towards fault-tolerant quantum computing, demonstrating the challenges and successes of scaling superconducting architectures in a competitive and rapidly evolving technological landscape. Its role in fostering quantum research through cloud access further solidified its impact on the broader quantum ecosystem.
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| System ID | Rigetti_Aspen-M-3 |
| Vendor | Rigetti |
| Technology | Superconducting |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary metric | Physical qubits |
| Metric meaning | Transmon qubits |
| Qubit mode | Tunable couplers for scalability |
| Connectivity | Square lattice |
| Native gates | XY, CZ, RX, RZ |
| Error rates & fidelities | Single-qubit: 99.9% (2022) | Two-qubit CZ: 94.7% | XY: 95.1% |
| Benchmarks | Not specified |
| How to access | QCS | Partners |
| Platforms | Rigetti QCS |
| SDKs | PyQuil |
| Regions | us-west-1 |
| Account requirements | Signup |
| Pricing model | Pay-per-task |
| Example prices | Similar to series |
| Free tier / credits | None |
| First announced | 2022-08-01 |
| First available | 2022-12-02 |
| Major revisions | Final Aspen-M |
| Retired / roadmap | Retired 2023 |
| Notes | T1/T2 confirmed |
Qubit Architecture and Connectivity: The Rigetti Aspen-M-3 was built around 80 physical qubits, specifically utilizing transmon qubits, which are a type of superconducting charge qubit known for their relatively long coherence times and ease of control. The 'metric_meaning' of 'Transmon qubits' indicates a mature and widely adopted technology in superconducting quantum computing. A key feature highlighted by 'qubit_mode_explanation' was the inclusion of tunable couplers. These couplers are critical for enabling dynamic control over qubit-qubit interactions, allowing for selective entanglement operations and potentially reducing crosstalk, which is vital for scaling up qubit counts without a proportional increase in error rates. The 'connectivity_topology' was a 'Square lattice', a common and well-understood architecture that offers a balance between local connectivity and the ability to route quantum information across the chip. While not fully connected, a square lattice allows for efficient implementation of many quantum algorithms and error correction codes, provided that qubit mapping and routing are optimized.
Gate Set and Fidelity: The native gate set for the Aspen-M-3 included 'XY, CZ, RX, RZ' gates. These gates form a universal set, meaning any quantum operation can be decomposed into a sequence of these fundamental gates. The 'error_rates_fidelities' provided crucial insights into the system's performance: a single-qubit fidelity of 99.9% (as of 2022) is highly competitive, indicating excellent control over individual qubits. For two-qubit operations, the CZ gate achieved 94.7% fidelity, and the XY gate achieved 95.1%. These two-qubit fidelities, while lower than single-qubit operations, were representative of the state-of-the-art for multi-qubit gates on larger superconducting systems at the time. For data analysts, these fidelity numbers are paramount, as they directly impact the achievable circuit depth and the overall success probability of quantum algorithms. Higher fidelities mean more reliable operations and a greater potential for running complex computations before errors accumulate beyond recovery.
Coherence Times: Although listed under 'single_source_only' for confirmation, the T1 (energy relaxation time) of 22 microseconds and T2 (dephasing time) of 24 microseconds are important indicators of qubit quality. T1 represents how long a qubit can hold its energy in an excited state before relaxing to its ground state, while T2 represents how long a qubit can maintain a coherent superposition before losing its phase information. These values, while not exceptionally long compared to some other quantum modalities, were respectable for superconducting transmons of that era and directly influenced the 'limits_depth_duration' of the system. A longer T1 and T2 allow for more gate operations within the coherence window, enabling deeper circuits and more complex computations.
Operational Limits and Benchmarks: The Aspen-M-3 offered 'Unlimited' shots, which is a significant advantage for researchers requiring extensive data collection for statistical analysis, error characterization, or algorithm validation. The 'limits_depth_duration' was specified as 'Depth 300', meaning quantum circuits could consist of up to 300 sequential gate operations. This depth, combined with the coherence times and fidelities, defined the practical complexity of algorithms that could be reliably executed. A 'Queue <5 min' indicated efficient access to the hardware, minimizing waiting times for users. The 'benchmarks' were 'Not specified', which is common for rapidly evolving hardware. In the absence of standardized benchmarks like Q-score or quantum volume, users typically relied on their own application-specific benchmarks or published research results to assess the system's practical utility. The absence of specified benchmarks necessitates a more empirical approach to performance evaluation for new users.
Overall Performance Context: The Aspen-M-3's 80-qubit count placed it among the leading superconducting processors of its time, demonstrating Rigetti's capability to scale their architecture. The balance between qubit count and fidelity was a critical design consideration, reflecting the 'tradeoffs' of 'Balance scale/fidelity'. While the system is now 'Retired', its specifications provide a valuable historical reference point for understanding the progression of quantum hardware. Its performance metrics, particularly the fidelities and coherence times, were competitive for a system of its scale, making it a powerful tool for the research and development of quantum algorithms before the advent of more advanced, error-corrected systems. The ability to access such a system via the cloud through 'Rigetti QCS' in regions like 'us-west-1' democratized access to cutting-edge quantum computing resources, fostering innovation across the global quantum community.
| System | Status | Primary metric |
|---|---|---|
| Rigetti Ankaa-2 | Retired | Physical qubits: 84 |
| Rigetti Ankaa-3 | Active | Physical qubits: 84 |
| Rigetti Aspen-M-1 | Retired | Physical qubits: 80 |
| Rigetti Aspen-M-2 | Retired | Physical qubits: 80 |
| Rigetti Aspen-11 | Retired | Physical qubits: 40 |
| Rigetti Cepheus-1 | Active | Physical qubits: 36 |
The Rigetti Aspen-M-3, a pivotal system in the evolution of superconducting quantum processors, followed a rapid development and deployment timeline characteristic of the nascent quantum computing industry. Its journey from announcement to retirement provides a clear illustration of the accelerated innovation cycles in this field.
The timeline of the Aspen-M-3 reflects a period of intense competition and innovation in quantum hardware. Its rapid deployment and subsequent retirement illustrate the dynamic nature of quantum technology development, where systems are brought online to push the boundaries of current capabilities, and then quickly superseded by more advanced designs. For data analysts, understanding this timeline is crucial for contextualizing performance metrics and appreciating the rapid obsolescence cycle inherent in this field. The Aspen-M-3's brief but impactful tenure provided invaluable data and experience that undoubtedly informed the design and optimization of subsequent quantum processors.
Verification confidence: High. Specs can vary by revision and access tier. Always cite the exact device name + date-stamped metrics.
The Rigetti Aspen-M-3 was a superconducting quantum processor developed by Rigetti, featuring 80 physical transmon qubits. It was the final and most advanced system in the Aspen-M series, designed for quantum algorithm development and research.
The Aspen-M-3 was first made available on December 2, 2022, after being announced in August 2022. It was retired in 2023, meaning it is no longer publicly accessible for running quantum computations.
Key metrics included 80 physical transmon qubits, a single-qubit fidelity of 99.9%, two-qubit CZ gate fidelity of 94.7%, and XY gate fidelity of 95.1%. It also featured T1 coherence times of 22 microseconds and T2 coherence times of 24 microseconds, with a maximum circuit depth of 300.
Users accessed the Aspen-M-3 through the Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services (QCS) platform. Interaction with the system was primarily done using Rigetti's open-source PyQuil SDK, and an account signup was required.
The Aspen-M-3 utilized superconducting transmon qubits. These qubits were equipped with tunable couplers, which allowed for dynamic control over qubit interactions and enhanced scalability, arranged in a square lattice connectivity topology.
The pricing model for the Aspen-M-3 was 'Pay-per-task', with costs primarily driven by the complexity of the quantum task and the number of shots executed. Public pricing details were not explicitly disclosed, and there was no free tier or credits offered.
The rapid retirement of the Aspen-M-3 in 2023, approximately a year after its launch, is indicative of the fast-paced innovation cycle in quantum hardware. Rigetti retired the system to focus on developing and deploying next-generation processors, such as the Ankaa series, which aimed to offer further advancements in qubit count and performance.