Scientists Break 3 World Records With Giant Atoms Built for Quantum Computing

Supersized atoms could help quantum computers run longer with fewer errors after scientists broke three records without the costly cooling these experiments usually require.

Scientists at the University of Stuttgart’s 5th Institute of Physics have set three records for circular Rydberg atoms: their lifetime, their size, and how long they can be held in laser traps. The findings, published in Nature Communications, could help researchers build more capable quantum simulators and, eventually, quantum computers.

Quantum simulators recreate quantum systems that scientists want to investigate. They also provide a way to develop and test techniques for future quantum computers. Rydberg atoms are promising components for both, but their sensitivity to the surrounding environment limits how long researchers can use them.

“One major challenge in developing high-performance quantum simulators was that Rydberg atoms are highly sensitive and remain stable for only a short time. We overcame this challenge and increased the stability of the atoms by a factor of 20,” says Prof. Dr. Tilman Pfau, head of the 5th Institute of Physics.

Why Giant Atoms Matter for Quantum Computing

A Rydberg atom has an electron excited into a state far from its nucleus, making the atom several thousand times larger than an ordinary atom. That expanded size allows neighboring atoms to interact across unusually large distances, a useful property for controlling quantum systems.