New Breakthrough In Quantum Computers Could Completely Change How Much They Cost

Researchers at Caltech and ETH Zurich have reported advances that could reduce the number of qubits needed for practical quantum computers and improve error resistance, according to findings described in a recent announcement. The Caltech team, working with the startup Oratomic, said neutral-atom qubits trapped by laser tweezers can form a logical qubit from as few as five physical qubits instead of the roughly 1,000 previously required. That could lower the total qubit count for a workable machine to 10,000 to 20,000 from the millions once thought necessary, making platforms easier to develop and less expensive to manufacture. Separately, ETH Zurich researchers said they achieved highly stable quantum logical operations using a geometric phase effect that depends only on the geometry of atomic motion, reducing sensitivity to laser timing and intensity variations. The developments bring Shor's algorithm for factoring large integers closer to reality, raising implications for current encryption methods. Caltech's approach remains theoretical, though the team has produced arrays of over 6,000 neutral-atom qubits.