Quantum Startup Atom Computing Breaks the 1000-Qubit Barrier

Quantum Startup Atom Computing Breaks the 1000-Qubit Barrier

Atom Computing has announced the creation of a 1,225-atom array in its next-generation quantum computing platform, which currently houses 1,180 qubits.

This marks the company’s first foray beyond the 1,000-qubit threshold for gate-based quantum systems, with plans for the system to be released next year.

It represents a significant milestone in the quantum computing industry’s quest for fault-tolerant quantum computers capable of addressing large-scale problems.

Quantum Startup Atom Computing Breaks the 1000-Qubit Barrier

CEO Rob Hays emphasized that rapid expansion is a key advantage of Atom Computing’s unique atom array technology. Hays stated, “The magnitude of this leap—from 100 qubits to over 1,000 qubits within a generation—indicates that our atom array system is rapidly surpassing more mature qubit architectures. Expanding to a large number of qubits is crucial for fault-tolerant quantum computing, which has been our focus from the outset. We are working closely with partners to explore near-term applications of these larger systems.”

Paul Smith-Goodson, Vice President and Chief Analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, noted that the milestone of over 1,000 qubits positions Atom Computing as a strong competitor in the race for fault-tolerant systems.

He said, “Impressively, Atom Computing, which is just five years old, is competing with larger companies with more resources and maintaining its advantage. The company has been focused on expanding its atom array technology and is making rapid progress.”

Fault-tolerant quantum computers capable of overcoming errors in computations and delivering accurate results will require tens of thousands or even millions of physical qubits, as well as other critical capabilities, including:

1. Long Coherence Times: The company has achieved a record-breaking coherence time, demonstrating that its qubits can store quantum information for 40 seconds.

2. In-Circuit Measurement: Atom has demonstrated the ability to measure the quantum state of specific qubits during computations without disturbing other qubits, enabling error detection.

3. High Fidelity: The ability to sustain precise control over qubits, reducing errors during computations.

4. Error Correction: Real-time error correction capabilities.

5. Logical Qubits: Implementing algorithms and controls to combine a large number of physical qubits into “logical qubits” that can produce correct results even in the presence of errors.

Hays noted that Atom Computing will continue to harness these capabilities with its next-generation system, offering new opportunities to its partners.

Guenter Klas, Head of Vodafone Quantum Research Cluster, said, “We welcome innovative approaches like Atom Computing’s use of neutral atoms to build quantum computers. Ultimately, we hope quantum algorithms will bring economic changes and new opportunities, and for this, scalable hardware, high fidelity, and long coherence times are very promising factors.”

Tommaso Demarie, CEO of Atom Computing’s strategic partner, Entropica Labs, stated, “Achieving over 1,000 qubits in quantum technology is a remarkable milestone for the Atom Computing team and the entire industry. With enhanced computational power, we can now delve into the complex realm of error correction solutions, design and implement various strategies to pave the way for a more reliable and scalable quantum computing system. Entropica is enthusiastic about collaborating with Atom Computing because our software can fully leverage the advantages of its large-scale quantum computer.”

Atom Computing is currently collaborating with enterprises, academia, and government users to develop applications, with the system slated for deployment in 2024.

For more information about Atom Computing, please visit: [Atom Computing](https://atom-computing.com).