A Sydney researcher’s “blueprint” for quantum computing error correction developed while on an industry placement at IBM has been adopted by the global tech giant.

In a paper published last week in Nature Physics, University of Sydney School of Physics’s Dr Dominic Williamson and IBM researcher Theodore Yoder outlined a new approach to quantum error correction that may speed up the journey to developing reliable quantum computers.

Williamson completed this research while on a sabbatical working with IBM’s Quantum Information Theory and Error Correction group in California.

The new approach has now been integrated into IBM’s long-term plan to build the world’s first large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2029.

‘Theory and experiment are beginning to align’

Quantum computing utilises the ‘superposition’ and ‘destructive inference’ of matter in a quantum state, allowing for new forms of computing to solve problems across industries, beyond the scope of classical computers.

Quantum computing promises huge advantages, but the fragile nature of quantum states mean that even the most minor issue can collapse a superposition into a classical state, removing the quantum advantage.

“Any unintended interaction with the environment can destroy the very quantum effects that give [quantum computers] their power,” Williamson said.

Williamson and Yoder’s research has detailed a new approach to error correction, which aims to overcome this fragility using so-called ‘gauge theory’.

This effectively allows a system to keep track of global activity, like across a “quantum hard drive”, without forcing specific quantum states to collapse at the individual qubit level.

“Gauge theory introduces additional degrees of freedom that track global properties without forcing the system into a definite local state,” Williamson said.

“We realised a similar idea could be used to process logical quantum information.

“A gauge is just a mathematical construct that provides a set of local coordinates for any defined system we are studying.

“What is useful for us is that gauge theory allows for transformations of the coordinate system at the local level, while physically significant global properties of the system remain invariant.

“We took this idea, and have applied it to quantum computers, offering an efficient pathway to reduce errors while using up less precious computing power.”


Dr Dominic Williamson (pictured) says his work with IBM creates 'a promising blueprint' for better error correction. Image: University of Sydney / Supplied

The research hopes to allow for error-tolerant quantum computation that maintains the next-generation powers of the technology while addressing its processing capability.

“We’re at a point where theory and experiment are beginning to align,” Williamson said.

“The big question now is how to design quantum computers that can be scaled efficiently to solve useful problems.

“Our work provides a promising blueprint.”

Aussies making waves in quantum computing

There have been several significant quantum breakthroughs and discoveries made by Australian researchers in recent years.

In early 2025 a breakthrough in error correction by researchers from the University of Sydney was used in Google’s quantum chip, Willow.

Scientists from University of Sydney also made a “major contribution” to tech giant Microsoft’s new ‘Majorana 1’ quantum chip.

In June 2025 a ’showstopper’ quantum breakthrough was demonstrated, with a scalable and more efficient new chip developed in Sydney shown to work at temperatures just above absolute zero.

The federal and Queensland governments previously announced plans to invest nearly $1 billion in US-based tech firm PsiQuantum in April 2024, for its attempt to build the world’s first utility-scale quantum computer in Brisbane.