Harvard physicists build first continuous quantum computer
The breakthrough machine ran for more than two hours, far surpassing the previous record of 13 seconds.
Harvard physicists have developed the first continuously operating quantum computer, running for more than two hours without interruption and potentially indefinitely.
Until now, most quantum machines lasted milliseconds, with the longest recorded runtime about 13 seconds. The Harvard team overcame the problem of qubit loss by replenishing atoms in real time using an optical lattice conveyor belt and optical tweezers.
The system contains 3,000 qubits and can inject 300,000 atoms per second, allowing information to be preserved as older particles escape. The findings were produced with MIT collaborators and mark a turning point in quantum research.
Researchers say machines capable of running indefinitely could arrive within two to three years, accelerating progress in medicine, finance, and cryptography. Harvard has heavily invested in the field, launching one of the first PhD programmes in quantum science.
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