New Strides in Microsoft Azure Quantum Computing 

Microsoft and Atom Computing are joining forces to revolutionise the field of quantum computing. Quantum computing harnesses the unique properties of quantum mechanics, such as superposition and entanglement, to solve problems beyond the capabilities of classical computers. By combining their strengths, Microsoft and Atom Computing are working towards a breakthrough in building reliable quantum systems. This collaboration has the potential to accelerate scientific research and expand the applications of quantum technology across various industries. Let’s take a closer look at what’s latest in quantum computing and how these advancements are shaping the future.  

The Microsoft and Atom Computing collaboration  

At the heart of this groundbreaking partnership is the integration of Atom Computing’s advanced neutral-atom qubits with Microsoft’s cutting-edge qubit-virtualisation system. Neutral-atom qubits use neutral atoms—atoms with no net electrical charge—as quantum bits to store and process quantum information, manipulated with precise pulses of light. This method has several advantages, including the ability to tightly pack atoms in small spaces while maintaining connectivity between them, which is crucial for scaling quantum systems.  

Microsoft’s qubit-virtualisation system is designed to create logical qubits from physical ones by detecting and correcting errors during quantum computations. This system is essential for enhancing the reliability of quantum computations, which is vital for solving complex problems and scaling quantum systems. Together, these innovations lay the foundation for a more reliable, scalable, and powerful quantum computing solution.  

Hybrid quantum applications: what makes it work?  

Quantum computing tackles problems too complex for classical computers. At its core are qubits—quantum bits capable of existing in multiple states simultaneously due to quantum superposition. However, physical qubits are prone to errors, making them unreliable for solving real-world problems. Quantum error correction plays a crucial role in converting these noisy, error-prone physical qubits into stable, logical qubits.  

Microsoft’s qubit-virtualisation system addresses this challenge by integrating advanced error correction techniques. By leveraging this system, neutral-atom qubits from Atom Computing are transformed into logical qubits, enabling reliable quantum computations. These logical qubits, with their significantly reduced error rates, are ideal for tackling complex quantum operations.  

Neutral Atoms: A game-changer for quantum computing  

Neutral atoms are at the core of this collaboration. These atoms, unlike other qubit technologies, have a key advantage: they can be tightly packed together and manipulated using lasers. Atom Computing uses this ability to create large arrays of neutral atoms, each acting as a physical qubit, which can then be entangled and manipulated to perform quantum operations. This scalability is essential for achieving the large, robust qubit systems needed for practical quantum computing.  

In addition to their scalability, neutral atoms are relatively immune to the noise that plagues many other qubit technologies, making them an ideal candidate for quantum error correction. Atom Computing has achieved an impressive 99.6% two-qubit gate fidelity—one of the highest in the industry—enabling them to perform effective quantum error correction on their neutral-atom qubits. This fidelity is vital for the creation of logical qubits, as it allows for the detection and correction of errors during quantum computation. 

Jointly generating logical Qubits 

Together, Microsoft and Atom Computing have reached a significant milestone by generating and entangling 24 logical qubits. These logical qubits were created from Atom’s neutral-atom qubits and entangled into what’s known as a Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) state, which represents the highest number of entangled logical qubits on record. This achievement demonstrates the power of combining the scalability and stability of neutral-atom qubits with the error correction capabilities of Microsoft’s qubit-virtualisation system. 

This collaboration has proven successful in detecting and correcting errors and losses in neutral-atom qubits, leading to a dramatic reduction in error rates. For example, the logical qubits created from these atoms exhibited error rates significantly lower than those of their physical counterparts, proving that the qubit-virtualisation system can effectively manage and correct errors. This is a major step towards achieving reliable, large-scale quantum computation. 

A reliable quantum machine for the future 

Looking ahead, Microsoft and Atom Computing are unveiling a powerful new quantum machine built from these reliable logical qubits. Integrated with Microsoft’s Azure Quantum platform, this machine promises to be the most powerful quantum computer on record. It combines quantum computing with cloud high-performance computing (HPC) and AI, creating a comprehensive suite that accelerates scientific research in fields such as chemistry, materials science, and more. 

One of the key components of this offering is Azure Elements, which integrates AI and cloud HPC to provide advanced computational tools. These tools, such as Generative Chemistry and Accelerated DFT (Density Functional Theory), will significantly speed up scientific discovery, making it easier for researchers to explore quantum applications. 

Commercialising quantum for broader impact 

In addition to advancing scientific research, this new quantum machine has the potential to revolutionise sectors outside of academia. This state-of-the-art quantum technology is being made available for purchase by Microsoft and Atom Computing as part of the commercial offering; delivery is anticipated in 2025.This marks a major leap in the journey toward practical quantum computing. 

The partnership also creates exciting opportunities for quantum technology education and training, which is crucial given the growing need for quantum professionals. Microsoft and Atom Computing are working together to lay the foundation for a quantum revolution that has the potential to address some of the biggest challenges of the world- like supply chain optimisation, material discovery, and even medicine research. 

Distilled 

This collaboration represents a significant step in the long journey toward achieving “scientific quantum advantage”—the point at which quantum computers can consistently outperform classical computers on real-world problems. With reliable quantum machines built from neutral-atom qubits, quantum error correction, and the power of AI and cloud HPC, Microsoft and Atom Computing are paving the way for the next generation of quantum technologies that will have far-reaching impacts across a variety of sectors. 

As quantum computing evolves, partnerships like this one show that the future of computing isn’t just about faster computers—it’s about fundamentally transforming how we solve the world’s most complex challenges.