Advances in Technology Driven by Quantum Measurements

The last two days have seen two extremely interesting breakthroughs announced in quantum computing. There is a long path ahead, but these both point to the potential for dramatically upscaling ambitions for what's possible in relatively short timeframes. The most prominent advance was Microsoft's announcement of Majorana 1, a chip powered by "topological qubits" using a new material. This enables hardware-protected qubits that are more stable and fault-tolerant. The chip currently contains 8 topologic qubits, but it is designed to house one million. This is many orders of dimension larger than current systems. DARPA has selected the system for its utility-scale quantum computing program. Microsoft believes they can create a fault-tolerant quantum computer prototype in years. The other breakthrough is extraordinary: quantum gate teleportation, linking two quantum processes using quantum teleportation. Instead of packing millions of qubits into a single machine—which is exceptionally challenging—this approach allows smaller quantum devices to be connected via optical fibers, working together as one system. Oxford University researchers proved that distributed quantum computing can perform powerful calculations more efficiently than classical systems. This could not only create a pathway to workable quantum computers, but also a quantum internet, enabling ultra-secure communication and advanced computational capabilities. It certainly seems that the pace of scientific progress is increasing. Some of the applications - such as in quantum computing - could have massive implications, including in turn accelerating science across domains.

Quantum Breakthrough: Diamond Spin Qubits Achieve Gate Error Rate Below 0.1% A Major Milestone in Building Reliable, Scalable Quantum Computers In a significant advancement for quantum computing, researchers at QuTech, in collaboration with Fujitsu and Element Six, have demonstrated a full set of quantum gate operations with error rates below 0.1% using diamond-based spin qubits. Published in Physical Review Applied on March 21, 2025, the result marks a critical step toward practical, large-scale quantum computation by meeting a key threshold for fault-tolerant quantum processing. Key Innovations and Technical Achievements • Record-Breaking Gate Precision • The experiment achieved quantum gate error probabilities below 0.1%, surpassing the minimum requirement for implementing quantum error correction protocols. • This level of fidelity is essential for maintaining coherence over the many operations required in real-world quantum algorithms. • Use of Diamond Spin Qubits • The system uses electron and nuclear spins in diamond, particularly nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers, which are known for their long coherence times and stability at room temperature. • These spin qubits are manipulated with high precision using advanced control techniques, offering a promising platform for modular and distributed quantum computing. • Collaborative Effort and Industrial Readiness • The work represents a partnership between academic and industrial players—QuTech, a leading quantum research center; Fujitsu, known for quantum hardware investment; and Element Six, a synthetic diamond producer. • This collaboration underlines the growing momentum in transitioning quantum technology from lab-scale research to scalable commercial systems. Why It Matters: Paving the Way for Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing Achieving error rates below the 0.1% threshold is a cornerstone in the roadmap toward universal, fault-tolerant quantum computing. With such precision, quantum gates can be effectively used alongside error correction codes to perform long and complex computations without significant fidelity loss. The use of diamond spin qubits adds another robust and scalable architecture to the expanding toolkit of quantum hardware options. This breakthrough not only advances fundamental science but also strengthens the commercial viability of next-generation quantum processors—bringing the promise of solving real-world problems in chemistry, logistics, and cryptography closer to reality.

Physicists have created "hotter" Schrödinger cat states, which are quantum states that exist in multiple conditions at once, by maintaining quantum superpositions at higher temperatures than previously possible. This breakthrough, achieved at temperatures up to 1.8 Kelvin—or about 60 times hotter than the previous record—demonstrates that quantum phenomena can persist in warmer, less ideal conditions. This could significantly lower the cost and complexity of quantum technology, making quantum computers more practical and easier to build. The breakthrough What they are: A "Schrödinger cat state" is a quantum system in a superposition of two distinct states simultaneously, a concept named after the famous thought experiment. The challenge: Normally, these states are so fragile they must be maintained at temperatures near absolute zero to prevent the superposition from collapsing. The new achievement: A research team created these states at temperatures up to 1.8 Kelvin, which is much warmer than the previous limit. How they did it: They adapted experimental protocols to generate and maintain the quantum states at these higher temperatures, using a specialized microwave resonator and carefully designed microwave pulses. Significance for quantum technology Reduced costs: The ability to perform experiments at higher temperatures means less need for extremely expensive and complex cooling equipment. New possibilities: It shows that quantum interference can persist even in less-than-ideal conditions, opening new opportunities for quantum computing and other technologies. More practical quantum computers: By proving that quantum effects are more robust, this research moves quantum technology closer to practical applications that could run in less controlled environments. More info: https://lnkd.in/e8YfDxyb

Quest - ION Everything Scientists are turning light into multidimensional quantum shapes. Light has always been strange. But scientists are now shaping it in ways that were once pure theory — turning simple photons into powerful tools. A review outlines a rapidly growing field called quantum structured light, where researchers manipulate several properties at once: polarization, spatial patterns, and frequency. By controlling these “degrees of freedom,” they create high‑dimensional quantum states that go beyond the simple on/off bits used in traditional computing. In most quantum systems, information is stored in qubits. These are two‑state quantum objects, like a photon that can be horizontal or vertical in polarization. But structured light uses qudits — quantum states with more than two levels. One qudit can carry far more information than a qubit, and doing this with a single photon means you can send more data without needing more particles. For quantum communication, this expansion means stronger security. Each high‑dimensional photon can carry more information and resist noise and interference better than conventional light signals. That’s critical when data is encrypted or sent across networks where eavesdropping must be minimized. In quantum computing, structured light simplifies circuit designs and makes it easier to build complex quantum states needed for advanced simulations. Instead of stringing together many qubits, researchers can encode more information in fewer, richer quantum objects. Structured light is also opening new doors in imaging and measurement. Holographic quantum microscopes, for example, use these techniques to image delicate biological samples without damaging them. And quantum correlations in light waves are being used to build sensors with extraordinary sensitivity. But challenges remain. Scientists still struggle to maintain these states over long distances. But as on‑chip sources and compact control systems improve, quantum structured light is moving out of the lab and into real‑world applications. Read the study: "Progress in quantum structured light.” Nature Photonics, 2025.

Quantum Experiments Shrunk to a Palm-Sized Chip A team at the University of California, Santa Barbara has managed to compress an entire physics laboratory into the size of a microchip. Experiments with cold atoms — once spread across rooms filled with optical tables — now fit on compact silicon nitride chips. Cold atoms form the basis of the most precise measurements in the universe. Atoms are trapped with lasers, cooled almost to absolute zero, and their quantum properties are used to measure time with billionth-of-a-second precision, detect gravitational anomalies, and search for dark matter. The problem: traditional setups occupy entire rooms with optical tables, racks of lasers, and vibration isolation systems. The breakthrough came in 2023. Daniel Blumenthal’s team created PICMOT — a photonic integrated 3D magneto-optical trap. Silicon nitride waveguides deliver laser beams into a vacuum chamber filled with rubidium vapor. Three beams cross the atoms, reflect off mirrors, and return, forming an intersection region. Magnetic coils complete the trap. The system captured a million atoms and cooled them to –273 °C. Then came the next challenge: why not fit the entire optical table on a chip? Lasers, mirrors, modulators, stabilizers, frequency shifters — everything that manipulates light. In 2024, the team solved the problem of noisy lasers. Commercial lasers have broad, unstable linewidths — useless for quantum precision. They took an ordinary Fabry-Perot diode laser worth a few dollars and passed it through on-chip resonators and waveguides. The result: a stable single-frequency light source comparable to lab-grade systems. Moreover, the compact geometry provides faster feedback, reducing noise and improving stability. The potential applications extend far beyond the lab. Portable cold-atom systems could measure sea-level rise with centimeter accuracy, detect underground structures, and track glacier movement. Earthquakes might be detectable hundreds of kilometers away by sensing shifts in the gravitational field. The vacuum chamber and atom source remain bulky for now — miniaturizing them while maintaining large atom counts is still a challenge. But the team is working on it. Their goal: a palm-sized device capable of replacing an entire quantum laboratory.

ASML makes some of the most complex machines humans have ever built. Their extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems—used to print the most advanced microchips—are a synthesis of precision optics, nanometer-scale positioning, and ultrahigh vacuum engineering. Each EUV machine is so intricate and massive that shipping one involves four Boeing 747 freighters, each carrying modularized components that will later be reassembled on-site over several months. This level of technical choreography makes a fascinating company to watch. One way to track their strategic direction is through their patent filings, which often reveal the bleeding edge of where advanced manufacturing is heading. A recent example filed by ASML and automatically tracked on the The Quantum Insider platform offers a clear signal of where things are going. The patent (EP4589629A2) describes an assessment apparatus for semiconductor inspection that embeds quantum sensors—specifically nitrogen-vacancy (NV) diamond sensors and atomic vapor cells—within the electron-optical systems of scanning electron microscopes . In practical terms, these sensors are being used to measure local electromagnetic fields in real time inside the lithography tool. That’s critical: slight distortions in these fields can alter the trajectory of the electron beam used for defect inspection or metrology, compromising accuracy. By integrating quantum sensors—known for their high sensitivity and immunity to 1/f noise—ASML can dynamically detect and correct for these fluctuations, either during operation (feedback mode), in between scans (feedforward mode), or via post-processing to clean up the final image . So while most people still associate quantum tech with computing or cryptography, its real-world impact is already emerging in semiconductor yield enhancement, quietly embedded inside machines that build the digital future.

We may be standing at a moment in time for Quantum Computing that mirrors the 2017 breakthrough on transformers – a spark that ignited the generative AI revolution 5 years later. With recent advancements from Google, Microsoft, IBM and Amazon in developing more powerful and stable quantum chips, the trajectory of QC is accelerating faster than many of us expected.   Google’s Sycamore and next gen Willow chips are demonstrating increasing fidelity. Microsoft’s pursuit of topological qubits using Majorana particles promises longer coherence times and IBM’s roadmap is pushing towards modular error corrected systems. These aren’t just incremental steps, they are setting the stage for scalable, fault tolerant quantum machines.   Quantum systems excel at simulating the behavior of molecules and materials at atomic scale, solving optimization problems with exponentially large solution spaces and modeling complex probabilistic systems – tasks that could take classical supercomputers millennia. For example, accurately simulating protein folding or discovering new catalysts for carbon capture are well within quantum’s potential reach.   If scalable QC is just five years away, now is the time to ask : What would you do differently today, if quantum was real tomorrow ?. That question isn’t hypothetical – it’s an invitation to start rethinking foundational problems in chemistry, logistics, finance, AI and cryptography.   Of course building quantum systems is notoriously hard. Fragile qubits, error correction and decoherence remain formidable challenges. But globally public and private institutions are pouring resources into cracking these problems. I was in LA today visiting the famous USC Information Sciences Institute where cutting edge work on QC is underway and the energy is palpable.   This feels like a pivotal moment. One where future shaping ideas are being tested in real labs. Just as with AI, the future belongs to those preparing for it now. QC Is an area of emphasis at Visa Research and I hope it is part of how other organizations are thinking about the future too.

Breakthrough for the #quantum internet: For the first time a major telco provider has successfully conducted entangled photon experiments - on its own infrastructure. ➡️ 30 kilometers, 17 days, 99 per cent fidelity. Our teams at T-Labs have successfully transmitted entangled photons over a fiber-optic network. Over a distance comparable to travelling from Berlin to Potsdam. The system automatically compensated for changing environmental conditions in the network.   Together with our partner Qunnect we have demonstrated that quantum entanglement works reliably. The goal: a quantum internet that supports applications beyond secure point-to-point networks. Therefore, it is necessary to distribute the types of entangled photons. The so-called qubits, that are used for #QuantumComputing, sensors or memory. Polarization qubits, like the ones used for this test, are highly compatible with many quantum devices. But: they are difficult to stabilize in fibers.   From the lab to the streets of Berlin: This success is a decisive step towards the quantum internet. 🔬 It shows how existing telecommunications infrastructure can support the quantum technologies of tomorrow. This opens the door to new forms of communication.   Why does this matter for people and society?   🗨️ Improved communications: The quantum internet promises faster and more efficient long-distance communications. 🔐 Maximum security: Entanglement can be used in quantum key distribution protocols. Enabling ultra-secure communication links for enterprises and government institutions 💡Technological advancement: high-precision time synchronization for satellite networks and highly accurate sensing in industrial IoT environments will need entanglement.   Developing quantum technologies isn’t just a technical challenge. A #humancentered approach asks how these systems can be built to serve real needs and be part of everyday infrastructure. With 2025 designated as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, now is the time to move from research to readiness. Matheus Sena, Marc Geitz, Riccardo Pascotto, Dr. Oliver Holschke, Abdu Mudesir

For those tracking progress in Quantum… As my colleague Hartmut Neven has predicted, real-world applications possible only on quantum computers are much closer than people think – as near as five years, even though fully error corrected quantum computers may be further away.  Recently, my colleagues on our Quantum AI team at Google Research took another important step on that path with a new set of results we published last week in Nature that share a promising new approach to applications on today’s quantum computers. Our analog-digital quantum simulator using super-conducting qubits shows performance beyond the reach of classical simulations in cross-entropy benchmarking experiments. Simulations with the level of experimental fidelity in this simulator would require more than a million years on a Frontier supercomputer. The simulator brings together digital’s flexibility and control with the analog’s speed – and provides a path towards applications that cannot be accomplished on a classical computer. Along the way, my colleagues also made a scientific discovery – they observed the breakdown of a well-known prediction in non-equilibrium physics, the Kibble-Zurek mechanism - an important result in our understanding of magnetism, and also useful in various kinds of quantum simulations. Congratulations to Trond Andersen, Nikita Astrakhantsev, and the rest of the team on this exciting step – much more to come! You can read the Nature paper here: https://lnkd.in/gg2En5qe 

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang recently claimed that practical quantum computing is still 15 to 30 years away and will require NVIDIA #GPUs to build hybrid quantum/classical supercomputers. But both the timeline and the hardware assumption are off the mark. Quantum computing is progressing much faster than many realize. Google’s #Willow device has demonstrated that scaling up quantum systems can exponentially reduce errors, and it achieved a benchmark in minutes that would take classical supercomputers countless billions of years. While not yet commercially useful, it shows that both quantum supremacy and fault tolerance are possible. PsiQuantum, a company building large-scale photonic quantum computers, plans to bring two commercial machines online well before the end of the decade. These will be 10,000 times larger than Willow and will not use GPUs, but rather custom high-speed hardware specifically designed for error correction. Meanwhile, quantum algorithms are advancing rapidly. PsiQuantum recently collaborated with Boehringer Ingelheim to achieve over a 200-fold improvement in simulating molecular systems. Phasecraft, the leading quantum algorithms company, has developed quantum-enhanced algorithms for simulating materials, publishing results that threaten to outperform classical methods even on current quantum hardware. Algorithms are improving 1000s of times faster than hardware, and with huge leaps in hardware from PsiQuantum, useful quantum computing is inevitable and increasingly imminent. This progress is essential because our existing tools for simulating nature, particularly in chemistry and materials science, are limited. Density Functional Theory, or DFT, is widely used to model the electronic structure of materials but fails on many of the most interesting highly correlated quantum systems. When researchers tried to evaluate the purported room-temperature superconductor LK-99, #DFT failed entirely, and researchers were forced to revert to cook-and-look to get answers. Even cutting-edge #AI models like DeepMind’s GNoME depend on DFT for training data, which limits their usefulness in domains where DFT breaks down. Without more accurate quantum simulations, AI cannot meaningfully explore the full complexity of quantum systems. To overcome these barriers, we need large-scale quantum computers. Building machines with millions of qubits is a significant undertaking, requiring advances in photonics, cryogenics, and systems engineering. But the transition is already underway, moving from theoretical possibility to construction. Quantum computing offers a path from discovery to design. It will allow us to understand and engineer materials and molecules that are currently beyond our reach. Like the transition from the stone age to ages of metal, electricity, and semiconductors, the arrival of quantum computing will mark a new chapter in our mastery of the physical world.