IonQ reaches important milestone in achieving faster quantum gates for quantum computing and networking

IonQ reaches important milestone in achieving faster quantum gates for quantum computing and networking

IonQ has confirmed a significant milestone in the development of high-speed, mixed-species quantum logic gates for trapped-ion quantum computing and networking.

Detailed in a new paper written by IonQ scientists and co-authored with Australian National University, Canberra, the research shows a novel approach to achieving an orders-of-magnitude increase in physical gate speed of two-qubit gates between different atomic species.

Dean Kassmann, SVP of Engineering and Technology, IonQ, said: “Developing high-speed, high-fidelity mixed-species gates with fewer errors is essential for building large-scale quantum networks. This research not only drives faster and more efficient entanglement but also lays the foundation for delivering scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computing.”

IonQ’s research demonstrates a practical method for executing high-speed, mixed species entangling operations, a key step in linking computational qubits across separate quantum processing nodes via photonic connections.

The research introduces an industry-first approach using ultrafast state-dependent kicks (SDKs) from nanosecond laser pulses, expected to enable quantum logic gates to operate at much faster megahertz (MHz) speeds.

“In addition to being an important milestone for quantum computing, achieving high-speed mixed-species quantum gates is also a crucial step toward scalable and modular quantum networks,” said Dr. Ricardo Viteri, Staff Physicist, IonQ.

“This research paves the way for architectures that can more efficiently interconnect and process information.”

IonQ has filed for patent protection on the underlying invention. Forthcoming experimental work will determine when and how these techniques may be incorporated into IonQ’s commercial systems.