New, improved 3,000-qubit neutral atom array system reloads atoms continuously for more than two hours

September 22, 2025 report The GIST New, improved 3,000-qubit neutral atom array system reloads atoms continuously for more than two hours by Krystal Kasal, Phys.org Krystal Kasal contributing writer Meet our staff & contributors Learn about our editorial standards edited by Lisa Lock, reviewed by Robert Egan Lisa Lock scientific editor Meet our editorial team Behind our editorial process Robert Egan associate editor Meet our editorial team Behind our editorial process Editors' notes This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread Atom array architecture for continuous reloading. Credit: Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09596-6 The neutral atom array architecture for quantum computing has been rapidly advancing over the last several years, and a recent study published in Nature has just revealed another step forward for this technology.

The team of Harvard researchers involved in this study have engineered a 3,000-qubit neutral atom array system capable of operating continuously for more than two hours, which goes far beyond typical trap lifetimes of only about 60 seconds. Typically, neutral atom array systems arrange neutral atoms, like rubidium, in an array using highly focused laser beams, called optical tweezers. The individual atoms are arranged and held under vacuum conditions and then used as qubits to perform quantum computing and other operations. However, the procedure results in the loss of some atoms. "An outstanding challenge associated with these systems involves atom loss, originating from errors in entangling operations, state-readout, and finite trap lifetime. Atom losses necessitate pulsed operation which limits the performance of these quantum systems, including the circuit depth of quantum computation, accuracy of atomic clocks, and the rate of entanglement generation in quantum networking protocols," the study authors explain.

The team's new system no longer requires pulsed operation. Instead, it uses a dual optical lattice conveyor belt–like system to transport cold atom reservoirs into a science region. There, the atoms are placed into the optical tweezers at a reloading rate of 300,000 atoms per second, then 30,000 qubits are initialized per second, which are used to continuously replenish the 3,000-atom array.

The team was able to maintain this rate for more than two hours, all while maintaining qubit coherence and polarization, including for qubits in superposition states. This system allows for information to be preserved, even as the atoms are replaced, because the information is transferred to the new array of atoms. While these new accomplishments are impressive, the team believes the system can be even further improved. Reloading rates can potentially be improved by optimizing readout and rearrangement with the help of AI and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), making them up to five times faster. They also say larger arrays and longer operation times are feasible with improved optics and stabilization. "In addition, while the present experiments demonstrate continuous operation for over two hours, achieving much longer operation would benefit from active stabilization of the SLM-AOD tweezer overlap or automated beam alignment procedures. "Finally, higher-power trapping lasers and high-efficiency diffractive optics, such as metasurfaces, can be immediately deployed to scale the storage and preparation zone size, supporting continuous operation of tens of thousands of atomic qubits," they say. Advancements, like this one, can enable faster, more reliable quantum networking and entanglement distribution, in addition to boosting the engineering of things like continuously operating atomic clocks and quantum sensors with higher stability and bandwidth. Written for you by our author Krystal Kasal, edited by Lisa Lock, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Egan—this article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you. More information: Neng-Chun Chiu et al, Continuous operation of a coherent 3,000-qubit system, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09596-6. On arXiv: DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2506.20660 Journal information: arXiv , Nature © 2025 Science X Network Citation: New, improved 3,000-qubit neutral atom array system reloads atoms continuously for more than two hours (2025, September 22) retrieved 24 October 2025 from https://phys.org/news/2025-09-qubit-neutral-atom-array-reloads.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Emission cuts before mid-century could prevent 0.6 meters of future sea-level rise 10 minutes ago Gene variant that protects against norovirus spread with arrival of agriculture, prehistoric DNA reveals 1 hour ago Flexible fitting method translates high-speed atomic force microscopy images into precise protein motion models 3 hours ago The search for neutrinoless double beta decay gets some noise cancelling headphones 11 hours ago Common crystal proves ideal for low-temperature light technology 11 hours ago Forests recovering from acid rain mine rocks for nutrients, long-term study reveals 12 hours ago Microscopic 'ocean' on a chip reveals new nonlinear wave behavior 12 hours ago First high-resolution structure of key herpes virus protein opens path to new antivirals 12 hours ago 'Molecular dam' stops energy leaks in nanocrystals to boost efficiency of light-driven reactions 12 hours ago A reusable, washable nanofiber membrane can filter water sustainably 12 hours ago Quantum register reaches 1,200 neutral atoms in continuous operation Oct 9, 2024 AI-enhanced technique assembles defect-free arrays with thousands of atoms Aug 25, 2025 Dual-species atomic arrays show promise for quantum error correction Oct 15, 2024 'Rosetta stone' of code allows scientists to run core quantum computing operations Aug 21, 2025 Cold-atom simulator demonstrates quantum entanglement between electronic and motional states Sep 3, 2024 Combining trapped atoms and photonics for new quantum devices Jul 23, 2024 Common crystal proves ideal for low-temperature light technology 11 hours ago Simulations hint at new strongly correlated states of matter in ultracold polar molecules 18 hours ago Microscopic 'ocean' on a chip reveals new nonlinear wave behavior 12 hours ago Scientists create a new form of light matter in a quasicrystal 20 hours ago Supersolid spins into synchrony, unlocking quantum insights Oct 23, 2025 Light particles prefer company: Photons exhibit collective behavior only after reaching certain threshold Oct 22, 2025