Chinese scientists put quantum chaos in ‘slow motion’

South China Morning PostEN 1 min read 100% complete by Zhang TongFebruary 19, 2026 at 11:00 PM

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Chinese scientists have achieved a breakthrough in quantum physics by directly observing and manipulating prethermalisation, a transitional state in quantum systems, using the "Chuang-tzu 2.0" 78-qubit superconducting processor. Published in Nature on January 28, the research from the Institute of Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences details the observation of this intermediate stage during a quantum system's return to equilibrium after disturbance. This prethermalisation stage is relatively stable and controllable, offering a potential method for preserving quantum information, which is crucial for quantum computing. The ability to control the speed of quantum decoherence addresses a major challenge in quantum computing, where rapid system changes can compromise computational results. The study provides a vital tool for managing complex quantum environments by allowing researchers to "tune" the speed of this process.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Xinhua 40% Nature 50% Institute of Physics 70% Chuang-tzu 2.0 ×270% Chinese Academy of Sciences 80% China 90%

Keywords

prethermalisation 90% quantum chaos 90% quantum systems 80% quantum computing 70% quantum decoherence 70% quantum information 60% superconducting processor 60% 78-qubit 50% chuang-tzu 2.0 50% institute of physics 40%