GoKawiilQuantinuum's Helios trapped-ion quantum computer reaches 98 qubits
Quantinuum has unveiled Helios, a trapped-ion quantum computer using 98 qubits, the largest such system built to date. The machine relies on a new four-way X junction hardware design paired with Helios runtime software, allowing it to move and process data across multiple paths simultaneously rather than in a single line, as earlier machines required.
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The combined hardware-software advance lets Helios run certain calculations that would take classical supercomputers impractical amounts of time and energy, marking a genuine engineering milestone in scaling quantum machines. Still, its current feats are limited to benchmark tests rather than real-world problems, and experts say quantum computers need roughly a million qubits before they can deliver practical scientific or commercial breakthroughs.
- Helios is the largest trapped-ion quantum computer yet, at 98 qubits.
- A four-way X junction and new control software let it process multiple data paths at once, unlike earlier linear systems.
- Despite outperforming classical supercomputers on benchmarks, practical applications require scaling to roughly a million qubits.
Quantum Computing for Everyone" by Chris Bernhardt — If headlines about 98-qubit trapped-ion machines and QCCD junctions leave you wanting the actual concepts behind them, this MIT Press book builds up qubits, entanglement and quantum algorithms from basic math. It's a readable on-ramp for following news like Quantinuum's Helios without a physics degree.
See Quantum Computing for Everyone" by Chris Bernhardt on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: tech.slashdot.org — Posted, 2026-08-23
Published there as: “The Global Race To Make a Practical Quantum Computer Just Took a Big Leap Forward”
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