Devices boasting over 6000 qubits are setting new records and represent the initial phase of constructing the largest quantum computer ever.

At present, there isn’t a universally accepted design for creating quantum computers. However, researchers assert that these machines need to incorporate at least tens of thousands of qubits to be truly functional. The current record holder is a quantum computer utilizing 1180 qubits, with Hannah Manetsch from the California Institute of Technology and her team endeavoring to build a 6100 qubit system.

These qubits are made from neutral cesium atoms that are chilled to near absolute zero and manipulated using a laser beam, all arranged neatly on a grid. According to Manetsch, they have fine-tuned the properties of these qubits to enhance their suitability for calculations, although they have yet to carry them out.

For instance, they modify the laser’s frequency and power to help the fragile qubits maintain their quantum state, thus ensuring the grid’s stability for more precise calculations and extended runtimes of the quantum machine. The research team also assessed how efficiently the lasers could shift qubits around within the array, as noted by Ellie Bataille at the California Institute of Technology.

“This is a remarkable demonstration of the straightforward scaling potential that neutral atoms present,” he remarks. Ben Bloom from Atom Computing also employs neutral atoms in their technologies.

Mark Suffman from the University of Wisconsin-Madison emphasizes that new experiments are vital, providing proof that neutral atomic quantum computers can achieve significant sizes. However, further experimental validation is necessary before considering these setups as fully developed quantum computers.

Research teams are currently investigating optimal methods for enabling qubits to perform calculations while employing error-reduction strategies, mentions Kon Leung at the California Institute of Technology. Ultimately, they envision scaling their systems to 1 million qubits over the next decade, he states.