Pasqal has achieved a major milestone by manipulating neutral atoms using a photonic chip, paving the way for scalable quantum computing.
Pasqal, a French quantum computing firm, has achieved a breakthrough by successfully manipulating neutral atoms using laser light generated on a photonic integrated circuit. This development is heralded as the first instance of such control in neutral-atom quantum computing.
In the experiment, a single photonic chip was able to create four independently controlled optical traps that held four rubidium atoms. This marks a significant advancement as neutral-atom computers typically rely on bulky external optical components, making scalability a challenge.
Advancing Optical Systems with Integrated Photonics
Neutral-atom quantum computers use focused laser beams, or optical tweezers, to capture and manage individual atoms, which function as qubits. The traditional setup requires considerable space and resources, complicating the scaling process as the number of atoms increases.
Pasqal's recent experiment demonstrated that the performance of the integrated photonic chip matched that of the conventional optics previously employed, with the atoms remaining stable for approximately 27.5 seconds.
Future Prospects: Scaling Up to Thousands of Atoms
While the demonstration involved only four atoms, it highlights the potential bottlenecks in the optical infrastructure that could hinder the expansion of neutral-atom technology. Pasqal aims to incorporate integrated photonics into future systems capable of managing over 10,000 atoms and 100 logical qubits, which would simplify the optical components of the processor and enhance scalability.
The photonic chip was developed using technology from Pasqal’s subsidiary, Aeponyx, acquired in 2025 to facilitate the integration of photonic circuits into their hardware. This strategic move aims to accelerate the journey toward fault-tolerant quantum computing.
Additionally, Pasqal has partnered with Saudi Aramco to launch the first quantum computer in Saudi Arabia, marking a significant milestone in the region's technological landscape.
