Atom Computing, a company based in Boulder, CO, has announced the creation of a 1,225-site atomic array, populated with 1,180 qubits, in its next-generation quantum computing platform. This is the first time a company has crossed the 1,000-qubit threshold for a universal gate-based system, marking a significant industry milestone towards fault-tolerant quantum computers capable of solving large-scale problems. The company’s unique atomic array technology allows for rapid scaling, a critical factor for fault-tolerant quantum computing. Atom Computing is working with partners to explore applications that can benefit from these larger-scale systems. The company’s next-generation system is set to be available in 2024.
The company’s CEO, Rob Hays, highlighted the rapid scaling of their unique atomic array technology. Paul Smith-Goodson, vice president at Moor Insights & Strategy, noted that Atom Computing is a serious contender in building a fault-tolerant system. The company is working with partners like Vodafone and Entropica Labs to develop applications for its next-generation system.
Quantum Computing Milestone: 1,000-plus Qubit System
Atom Computing, a quantum computing company, has created a 1,225-site atomic array, currently populated with 1,180 qubits, in its next-generation quantum computing platform. This is the first time a company has achieved over 1,000 qubits for a universal gate-based system, a significant industry milestone towards fault-tolerant quantum computers capable of solving large-scale problems. The system is planned for release in 2024. Previously, only quantum annealers have exceeded the 1,000 qubit limit.
The rapid scaling of qubits is a key advantage of Atom Computing’s atomic array technology. The leap from 100 to over 1,000 qubits within a generation indicates that these atomic array systems are quickly advancing. The company is working with partners to explore applications that can benefit from these larger-scale systems.
Atom Computing: The race toward massive-scale quantum computers
Paul Smith-Goodson, vice president and a principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, stated that achieving the 1,000-plus qubit milestone positions Atom Computing as a serious contender in the race to build a fault-tolerant system. Despite being a relatively young company, Atom Computing is making rapid progress in scaling its atomic array technology.
Fault-tolerant quantum computers, which can overcome errors during computations and deliver accurate results, will require hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of physical qubits along with other key capabilities.
Critical Capabilities for Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing
Atom Computing has demonstrated several key capabilities required for fault-tolerant quantum computing. These include long coherence times, with the company achieving record coherence times by demonstrating its qubits can store quantum information for 40 seconds.
The company has also demonstrated mid-circuit measurement, the ability to measure the quantum state of specific qubits during computation and detect certain types of errors without disturbing other qubits. High fidelities, the ability to control qubits consistently and accurately to reduce the number of errors that occur during a computation, and error correction, the ability to correct errors in real time, are also key capabilities demonstrated by Atom Computing.
The Future of Quantum Computing
Atom Computing is working towards implementing algorithms and controls to combine large numbers of physical qubits into a “logical qubit” designed to yield correct results even when errors occur. This next-generation system provides new opportunities for its partners.
Guenter Klas, leader of the Quantum Research Cluster at Vodafone, welcomed the neutral atom approach to building quantum computers from Atom Computing. He stated that scalable hardware, high fidelity, and long coherence times are promising ingredients for making quantum algorithms economically viable and opening up new opportunities.
Collaboration and Application Development
Tommaso Demarie, CEO of Entropica Labs, a strategic partner of Atom Computing, praised the achievement of developing a 1,000-plus qubit quantum technology. He stated that with expanded computational capabilities, they can now delve deeper into the intricate realm of error correction schemes, designing and implementing strategies for more reliable and scalable quantum computing systems.
Atom Computing is working with enterprise, academic, and government users to develop applications and reserve time on the systems, which will be available in 2024.
“CEO Rob Hays said rapid scaling is a key benefit of Atom Computing’s unique atomic array technology. “This order-of-magnitude leap – from 100 to 1,000-plus qubits within a generation – shows our atomic array systems are quickly gaining ground on more mature qubit modalities,” Hays said. “Scaling to large numbers of qubits is critical for fault-tolerant quantum computing, which is why it has been our focus from the beginning. We are working closely with partners to explore near-term applications that can take advantage of these larger scale systems.”
“Paul Smith-Goodson, vice president and a principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, said the 1,000-plus qubit milestone makes Atom Computing a serious contender in the race to build a fault-tolerant system. “It is highly impressive that Atom Computing, which was founded just five years ago, is going up against larger companies with more resources and holding its own,” he said. “The company has been laser focused on scaling its atomic array technology and is making rapid progress.”
“Guenter Klas, leader of the Quantum Research Cluster at Vodafone said, “We welcome innovations like the neutral atom approach to building quantum computers as from Atom Computing. In the end, we want quantum algorithms to make an economic difference and open up new opportunities, and for that goal scalable hardware, high fidelity, and long coherence times are very promising ingredients.”
“Tommaso Demarie, CEO of Entropica Labs, a strategic partner of Atom Computing, said, “Developing a 1,000-plus qubit quantum technology marks an exceptional achievement for the Atom Computing team and the entire industry. With expanded computational capabilities, we can now delve deeper into the intricate realm of error correction schemes, designing and implementing strategies that pave the way for more reliable and scalable quantum computing systems. Entropica is enthusiastic about collaborating with Atom Computing as we create software that takes full advantage of their large-scale quantum computers.”
Quick Summary
Atom Computing has developed a next-generation quantum computing platform with a 1,225-site atomic array, populated with 1,180 qubits, marking the first time the 1,000-qubit threshold has been crossed for a universal gate-based system. This significant advancement brings the industry closer to fault-tolerant quantum computers capable of solving large-scale problems, with the systems expected to be available in 2024.
- Atom Computing has developed a 1,225-site atomic array populated with 1,180 qubits, marking the first time a company has exceeded the 1,000-qubit threshold for a universal gate-based system.
- The company’s CEO, Rob Hays, highlighted the rapid scaling of their atomic array technology as a key advantage.
- Paul Smith-Goodson, vice president and principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, acknowledged Atom Computing’s achievement as a significant step in building a fault-tolerant system.
- The company has also demonstrated record coherence times, mid-circuit measurement, high fidelities, error correction, and logical qubits, all crucial for fault-tolerant quantum computing.
- Guenter Klas, leader of the Quantum Research Cluster at Vodafone, and Tommaso Demarie, CEO of Entropica Labs, praised Atom Computing’s advancements and expressed enthusiasm for future collaborations.
- Atom Computing is currently working with various enterprise, academic, and government users to develop applications and reserve time on the systems, which are set to be available in 2024.