At Google Quantum AI, our mission has always been clear: Build quantum computers for otherwise unsolvable problems. For more than a decade, we have pioneered the development of superconducting quantum bits (qubits), achieving milestones such as beyond classical performance, error correction, and verifiable quantum advantage that once seemed decades away. We are now increasingly convinced that commercially relevant quantum computers based on superconducting technology will become available by the end of this decade.
Today, we’re excited to announce that Google Quantum AI is expanding our quantum computing efforts to include neutral atom quantum computing, which uses individual atoms as qubits.
Two promising approaches to quantum computing
Google will accelerate our timeline to near-term milestones and expand our impact by leveraging the complementary strengths of two modalities. Superconducting qubits are already scaled to circuits with millions of gate and measurement cycles, each cycle taking only a microsecond. Neutral atoms, meanwhile, are scaled to arrays of about ten thousand qubits. They compensate for their slower cycle times—measured in milliseconds—with a flexible, all-to-any connectivity graph that allows for efficient algorithms and error-correcting codes. The way forward reflects these distinct starting points: a unique challenge for neutral atoms remains to demonstrate deep circuits with many cycles, while the next task for the superconducting modality is to demonstrate computing architectures with tens of thousands of qubits. In expert jargon, we often say that superconducting processors are easier to scale in the time dimension (circuit depth), while neutral atoms are easier to scale in the space dimension (qubit count). Investing in both approaches increases our ability to deliver on our mission faster. By promoting both, we cross-pollinate research and engineering breakthroughs and can provide access to versatile platforms tailored to different types of problems.
A complete research program
Our neutral nuclear program is built on three critical pillars:
- Quantum Error Correction (QEC): Adaptation of error correction to the connection between neutral atom arrays, resulting in low space and time costs for fault-tolerant architectures.
- Modeling and Simulation: Using Google’s world-class computing resources and model-based design to simulate hardware architectures, optimize error budgets, and refine component measurements.
- Experimental hardware development: Realizing the hardware capabilities to manipulate application-scale atomic qubits with fault-tolerant performance.
To lead the experimental task, we are pleased to invite Dr. Welcome Adam Kaufman to Google Quantum AI. Adam states, “I am excited to join Google’s world-leading program in quantum computing and extend that leadership to a new and very promising platform of neutral atoms.” Based in Boulder, Colorado – a global epicenter for atomic, molecular and optical (AMO) physics – Adam will lead a growing neutral atomic hardware team at Google. He will continue as a JILA Fellow and CU Boulder faculty, with an affiliation with the physics department at CU Boulder.
We also look forward to continued fruitful collaboration with our portfolio company, QuEra, whose researchers pioneered fundamental methods and are advancing advances in neutral atomic computing.
Insights from the quantum ecosystem
By leveraging the incredible talent of institutions like CU Boulder, JILA, and NIST Boulder, we are integrating our efforts into one of the most sophisticated physics and engineering ecosystems in the world. Executives at CU Boulder, NIST and Elevate Quantum all emphasize the opportunity for Adam and Google to build on longstanding relationships and further strengthen the Boulder and US quantum ecosystems.
“We are pleased that Google Quantum AI has engaged Adam Kaufman to lead this important work in Boulder,” said CU Boulder Senior Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation and Dean of Institutes Massimo Ruzzene. “Adam’s work reflects the vision and excellence of CU Boulder’s quantum ecosystem—from JILA and our physics department to initiatives such as the CUbit Quantum Initiative and the Colorado Quantum Incubator. This partnership strengthens Boulder’s nationally recognized quantum landscape, supported by major federal QSE investments, including the NSE National QSE Institutes Nanofab and the US EDA Quantum TechHub.” Director of the NIST Physical Measurement Laboratory, James Kushmerick, notes, “It is always sad to have a researcher with the creativity and impact of Adam leave [NIST]. But initiatives like this are one of the ways NIST helps strengthen American industry. While this is a loss for NIST, it is a gain for the quantum ecosystem in Boulder and the US quantum industry in general.” Both Massimo and James look forward to continued collaborative opportunities with Adam in his new role at Google.
The exciting road ahead
We are confident in our ability to solve the remaining problems in physics and engineering towards large-scale quantum computing, and we are humbled and excited by the scale of the challenge.