They manage to control thousands of atoms with precision: closer to the Q-Day?

A group of researchers managed to accurately manipulate «more than 6,100 neutral atoms through a matrix of optical tweezers.»

The experiment published on September 24 in Nature magazine represents a significant step towards the Scalability of quantum systemsone of the main challenges for the development of quantum computing.

According to the report, the technique used consisted of catching atoms using light matrices (known as “optical tweezers”) in around 12,000 different positions.

Optical tweezers are light beams capable of catching and manipulating tiny particles, such as atoms or molecules. In the context of this study, they allow to organize and move the atoms As if they were pieces of a boardcreating cubits that can interact with each other.

This type of arrangements has established itself in recent years as one of the most promising platforms for atomic physics and quantum computing.

Until now, according to what was said in the report, similar works managed to control tens or hundreds of atomic cubits (a type of ulna), and even some systems with about one thousand atoms, although without coherent control.

In this case, the researchers not only climbed the number of particles (6,100 neutral atoms), but also They reached metric considered essential For the viability of a quantum computer.

These are some of those metrics:

• The system reached a coherence time of 12.6 seconds, a record for hyperfin cubits (in English called hyperfine) In this type of arrangement.

• There was a useful life of entrapment of atoms of approximately 23 minutes at room temperature.

• The survival rate during observation was 99,98952%, with a loyalty of image greater than 99.99%.

These figures reflect advances both in stability and precision, two factors that are usually technical obstacles on the way to quantum practical.

Way to the correction of quantum errors

One of the points that the researchers stand out is that this experiment would lay basis for the so -called «universal quantum computing» and, especially, for error correction (QEC).

Current test systems usually handle dozens of cubits, which results Insufficient to implement correction schemes that allow executing complex algorithms.

The study also raises a zone -based computer model, which takes advantage of the ability to transport cubits without losing coherence.

In the tests, the scientists carried out operations of collection and release of atoms in large spatial distances, maintaining the quality of quantum information.

According to the authors, these results, along with other recent advances in the field, suggest that having thousands or tens of thousands of physical cubits could be a possibility in the short term.

The vision of a quantum computer specialist

Leeor Mushin’s observations, co -founder of Project Eleven, add to the vision that quantum computing is closer to consolidating of what seemed some years ago.

«A year ago, the feeling was much more bassist, but now it will happen faster than the majority thought. Not tomorrow, but soon, ”said Mushin. With his words, he refers to a sector that, after several «false auroras,» begins to show concrete maturation signs.

Mushin also highlighted a key difference with respect to artificial intelligence: in quantum there is no unique replicable model, but infrastructure respond to different and difficult physical principles to move between companies.

«As a investor, you can be right about the quantum, but if you choose superconductor cubits instead of neutral atoms, for example, you can lose,» he explained.

Project Eleven is an applied laboratory of developers and technologists focused on the intersection between quantum computing and cryptography. Its main mission is to protect digital assets, such as bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, from the potential quantum threat, which could be used to compromise your safety.