Scientists at Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Russian Quantum Center unveiled Russia’s first 50-qubit neutral atom quantum computer prototype on December 19, 2024. The device was developed as part of the Quantum Computing Roadmap coordinated by Rosatom, delivering on the government-backed target of a 50-qubit system before year-end.
According to The Quantum Insider, the prototype used single neutral rubidium atoms held in place by “optical tweezers,” or highly focused laser beams, housed on an optical table with ultra-high vacuum chambers. Stanislav Straupe, head of the quantum computing sector at the MSU Quantum Technologies Center, led the development and stated that the team understood how to scale from tens of qubits to hundreds and thousands.
Combined with the 50-qubit ion-based system announced in September, Russia now had two 50-qubit quantum processors on different platforms. Ruslan Yunusov, Rosatom adviser, stated that Russia planned to scale to 75 qubits by 2025 as part of its roadmap toward quantum computers capable of surpassing classical supercomputers by 2030.