Two teams use neutral atoms to create quantum circuits

Gate-model quantum computers promise to solve currently intractable computational problems if they can be operated at scale with long coherence times and high-fidelity logic. Neutral-atom hyperfine qubits provide inherent scalability owing to their identical characteristics, long coherence times and ability to be trapped in dense, multidimensional arrays. Combined with the strong entangling interactions provided by Rydberg states all the necessary characteristics for quantum computation are available. An international team of researchers (USA – University of Central Florida,  Harvard University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, industry, MIT, UK, Austria,) demonstrated several quantum algorithms on a programmable gate-model neutral-atom quantum computer in an architecture based on individual addressing of single atoms with tightly focused optical beams scanned across a two-dimensional array of qubits –  quantum phase estimation for a chemistry problem, quantum approximate optimization algorithm for the maximum cut graph problem  and others. They highlight the capability of neutral-atom qubit arrays for universal, programmable quantum computation, and preparation of non-classical states of use for quantum-enhanced sensing…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE     1  , Open access  2  ,  3