Researchers in Broomfield, Colorado, work with 98 atoms suspended in a laboratory, held in place by electric fields and cooled to temperatures close to absolute zero. These tiny elements transport information in a unique way that is different from traditional physics.
The union of these atoms gave rise to Helios, an innovative quantum computer developed by the Anglo-American company Quantinuum. Quantum machines employ the principles of quantum mechanics, which describe the behavior of matter at atomic and subatomic levels. Helios, with its model of suspended atoms, is classified as a trapped ion computer.
A study published in the journal Nature details Helios as a 98-qubit processor that offers exceptional precision and performance, surpassing the simulation capabilities of conventional computers. Although the number of qubits is remarkable (the previous model, System Model H2, had 56), the crucial point is its effectiveness.
Quantum computers do not just represent a faster evolution of traditional machines. Qubits, their quantum bits, can assume multiple states simultaneously, unlike digital zeros and ones. This feature makes it possible to structure calculations that, in the future, could exceed the power of the most robust supercomputers. Potential applications include the development of novel materials, process optimization, advanced chemical simulations and new solutions for cryptography.
The main challenge, however, is the high fragility of the qubits. They are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, imprecise controls, unwanted environmental interactions and, in some cases, even data displacement within the system. Thus, progress in quantum computing is not only measured by the quantity of qubits, but by their quality and the ability to control them with the accuracy necessary for complex and relevant operations.
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The importance of Helios’ advancement for quantum computing
For this reason, the results of the Helios experiment are crucial. Quantum computing has held promises of transformation for decades, but most of the announcements still focus on the number of qubits. This is similar to judging a race by the number of participants at the start, without considering how many reach the finish and in what state. Helios addresses this duality seriously, offering 98 qubits which is not only a lot, but also maintains exceptionally low error rates for this scale.
The occurrence of errors is more frequent in quantum computers than in conventional ones, making fault correction one of the greatest challenges in this field.
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According to the Nature article, Helios records an average error rate of approximately 2.5 in 100,000 for single-qubit gates, which are the basic units of a quantum circuit. For two-qubit gates, which are more sophisticated and essential for practical calculations, the average is around 7.9 out of 10,000, a level comparable to the best demonstrated performances, which reach 5 out of 10,000.
Quantum operations accumulate, and a tiny error in one step can have a limited impact. However, complex quantum algorithms can involve thousands, millions or even more operations. Therefore, reduced error rates are crucial, as they allow more elaborate calculations to be performed before the coherence of quantum information is lost.
Another important differentiator of Helios is its complete connectivity. In several quantum computers, qubits can only interact with those closest to them, such as conversations restricted to neighbors. If distant qubits need to communicate, the information has to go through a series of intermediate steps, each one increasing time and the risk of errors. In Helios, however, any qubit can interact with any other, which is particularly useful for algorithms whose interaction patterns do not adapt to a fixed structure.
The architecture of Helios: a miniature quantum railway
The Helios hardware structure is equally fascinating. Trapped-ion quantum computers like him employ charged atoms as qubits. These ions are contained by electrical fields and controlled by laser pulses. This methodology is recognized for its high precision, although expanding it without losing this accuracy is a technical challenge. Helios uses barium ions in a Quantum Charge Coupled Device, or QCCD, which can be thought of as a small quantum railway.
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The ions are stored in memory sectors and physically moved to operating areas as needed by the program to perform calculations with specific qubits. In these zones, tightly controlled laser pulses perform the fundamental operations of quantum algorithms, so-called quantum gates. These gates modify the state of an ion or connect the states of two ions, enabling the computer to process data. In Helios, a ring storage space and junction help guide ions through the system.
This clear distinction between storage, movement and processing functions represents more than an engineering feat. It indicates that quantum computing is evolving to become an integral computational system, surpassing the phase of being a mere set of impressive laboratory components.
The system also has software that manages routing and control decisions throughout the execution of programs. In practice, this involves determining which physical ion will act as each qubit, which ions should be moved to the operating zones, and the sequence in which the quantum gates will be applied. This feature is vital for complex quantum algorithms, especially those where future steps depend on measurements taken during processing.
The study indicates that Helios is capable of executing random quantum circuits, the simulation of which would be extremely complex for classical computers. While this is a significant advance, it does not qualify it as a general-purpose quantum computer. Sampling random circuits serves to test the capacity and complexity of the machine, but does not, in itself, solve problems in the areas of medicine, climatology or engineering.
What, then, is the real magnitude of Helios’ progress? This is a considerable development, because, even though it is not the culmination of a quantum revolution, it integrates aspects such as scalability, precision, connectivity and programmability into a single machine. This achievement reinforces the idea that revolutionary technologies rarely emerge abruptly; they are built progressively, atom by atom, until what was considered impossible becomes a tangible reality.