Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 11 hrs ago
Quantinuum quantum computer sets record for error-corrected qubits
Quantinuum researchers used error correction on its Helios quantum computer to make stored quantum information more reliable.
Helios contains 98 qubits, which are based on electrically charged atoms called ions.
Because qubits can change state unexpectedly, researchers combine several physical qubits into a logical qubit that is less likely to make errors.
In tests, a logical qubit made as few as five errors per million uses, while larger logical qubits saw their error rates fall about twelve-fold as they grew from seven to 19 and then 37 physical qubits.
This progress matters because reliable qubits are needed for useful quantum calculations, including a proposed “megaquop” machine capable of one million reliable operations.
The experiment tested only a single logical qubit at that lowest error rate, and error rates were higher for a simple operation involving two logical qubits.
Researchers must now find out whether the low error rates hold for more complex operations and scale the system to many logical qubits; a megaquop machine could require about 50 to 100.
Quantinuum’s Helios-1 quantum computer achieved a record-low error rate for a logical qubit, making as few as five errors per million uses.
The computer contains 98 physical qubits, each based on an ion.
Researchers reduced errors by combining physical qubits into logical qubits using quantum error correction.
A 37-physical-qubit logical qubit made five errors per million operations, but the test involved only one logical qubit.
The result is a step toward a “megaquop” computer capable of one million reliable quantum operations, though scaling up and testing more complex operations remain challenges.
- Who
- Researchers at Quantinuum, including David Hayes, conducted the work.
- What
- They used error correction on Helios-1 to demonstrate logical qubits with as few as five errors per million uses.
- When
- The research was posted on October 19, 2026.
- Where
- The work was conducted using Quantinuum’s Helios-1 quantum computer. The sources do not state where the experiment took place.
- Why
- To improve the reliability of quantum computing and move toward scalable computers capable of useful, complex calculations.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Google reported an error-correction demonstration with a lambda of about 2, meaning errors were cut in half each time logical qubits were scaled up.
Quantinuum’s research was posted on the company’s website and arXiv.org.
- Computer
- Helios-1
- Physical qubits
- 98
- Lowest reported error rate
- 5 errors per million uses
- Largest tested logical qubit
- 37 physical qubits
- Error reduction
- Twelve-fold as logical-qubit size increased from 7 to 19 physical qubits, and again from 19 to 37
- Target milestone
- 1 million reliable quantum operations
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What people are saying
These statistics are consistent with this being a good building block for that megaquop machine
That’s a huge savings in the overall number of qubits you would need. So that’s what’s exciting.
This is definitely an impressive technical advance
a major step towards scalable fault-tolerant quantum computing