6,100-Qubit Giant Leap on the Road to Quantum Computers

Metaverse Planet October 1, 2025Last Updated: October 1, 2025

1 3 minutes read

Physicists have reached a new threshold in quantum computing by building a large qubit array consisting of thousands of atoms anchored by lasers. Although not yet performing computations, this system could be an important building block for future quantum computers. Quantum technologies have long claimed they will shape the future of the computer world. However, until today, most of these promises had not gone beyond the confines of the laboratory.

Now, another significant step has been taken in this field. Physicists have announced the creation of a large-scale qubit array made up of 6,100 neutral atoms stabilized by lasers. This development marks a significant threshold in the goal of scalability, which is necessary for quantum computers to become truly functional.

For the system to operate as a full-fledged quantum computer, these qubits must be made “entangled” with each other. Entanglement is a property fundamental to quantum computation, enabling the exchange of information between qubits. Although this stage has not yet been reached, this leap in the number of qubits provides a solid foundation for future experiments.

While data in classical computers is represented by definite states like “1” and “0,” quantum qubits can simultaneously carry multiple states. This theoretically allows for extraordinary speeds in processing certain specific problems. However, turning this potential into reality is not as easy as it might seem.

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A Big Step in a Slowly Starting Journey

Work on quantum computers has been ongoing for over 30 years. Yet, despite expectations, progress has been slow. One reason is that there are many different ways to produce qubits, and research is scattered among these methods. The other reason is the unstable nature of qubits. Each operates under very sensitive conditions and is easily affected by environmental factors.

One key fact learned in recent years is that a functional quantum computer will need far more qubits than we thought—perhaps hundreds of thousands. This is because, to correct errors that occur within the system, extra qubits are needed, not only for processing but also for monitoring and controlling these operations. Whereas in the past, creating a system with only 20 qubits was newsworthy, speaking today of a structure containing more than 6,000 qubits clearly demonstrates the point we have reached.

The team, which conducted the study at Caltech, used special lasers called “optical tweezers” to hold cesium atoms stable in a vacuum environment. Thanks to 12,000 optical tweezers operating at two different wavelengths, 6,100 atoms, each acting like a qubit, were stabilized and gathered into a single array.

This method is advantageous because it allows the atoms to interact not only with their immediate neighbors but also with different points within the array. Graduate student Hannah Manetsch, who visualized the internal structure of the system, emphasizes how impressive this visual scale is, stating, “we can see every qubit as a point of light on the screen.”

The structure, which might appear chaotic from the outside, is actually the product of an extremely precise order.

No Entanglement, No Computation

This impressive array is currently only capable of holding data; for computation to be performed, the atoms must be put into quantum entanglement with each other. While this sounds like science fiction, it is a method that has been successfully applied in smaller systems before. Therefore, the research team is expected to achieve similar success with this array.

However, the system is still far from the robustness we are accustomed to in commercial computers. Qubits can maintain their quantum states, called superposition, for very brief periods. Any external factor—i.e., heat, light, or vibration—can disrupt this delicate balance.

In this study, the team managed to preserve the superposition state for 12.6 seconds while moving the atoms within the array. This is a significantly advanced level compared to the typically sub-two-second durations found in similar systems.

The Balance of Quantity and Quality

The researchers state that they have made significant progress not only in the qubit count but also in processing accuracy. According to the data obtained, the qubits could be controlled with an accuracy of 99.99%. This challenges the general expectation that accuracy rates would drop in large-scale systems.

Graduate student Gyohei Nomura highlights the criticality of this balance, saying, “generally, as the system grows, accuracy drops. But in this study, we were able to provide both quantity and quality together.”

Quantum computers entering our daily lives may still be a distant goal. However, developments like this demonstrate that reliable, scalable, and fault-tolerant systems may be possible in the future.