Neutral Atom
256-qubit neutral atom processor. Analog quantum simulation and a landmark 48-logical-qubit error correction demonstration.
About QuEra
QuEra Computing was founded in 2020 as a spinout from Harvard and MIT, building on years of research into Rydberg atom arrays. The company is headquartered in Boston and has established itself as the leader in neutral atom quantum computing, a technology that uses individual atoms as qubits rather than fabricated superconducting circuits.
QuEra's Aquila processor holds 256 Rubidium-87 atoms, each trapped by a tightly focused infrared laser beam called an optical tweezer. The atoms can be arranged in arbitrary 2D geometries, giving the hardware a reconfigurable connectivity that no superconducting device can match. When two atoms are brought close enough together, a strong interaction called the Rydberg blockade prevents both from being excited simultaneously. This blockade is the physical mechanism behind both the analog Hamiltonian simulation and the digital entangling gates.
In 2023, QuEra, Harvard, and MIT demonstrated 48 error-corrected logical qubits using the transversal gate approach, the largest demonstration of error-corrected quantum computing at the time. This result validated neutral atoms as a leading platform for fault-tolerant quantum computing and established QuEra as a key player in the path toward practical quantum advantage.
Hardware Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Current systems | Aquila (256 qubits, analog; 60 logical qubits demonstrated 2026); Gemini (gate-based, in development) |
| Qubit technology | Rubidium-87 atoms in optical tweezers |
| Operating modes | Analog (Aquila, public) and digital gate-based (Gemini, coming) |
| Qubit count (Aquila) | 256 neutral atom qubits |
| Connectivity | All-to-all within coherence range (reconfigurable) |
| Analog programming | Rydberg Hamiltonian via drive and detuning pulses |
| Gate fidelity (digital target) | >99% with local addressing (Gemini roadmap) |
| Cloud access | Amazon Braket (Aquila), QuEra research partnerships |
| Primary SDK | Bloqade (Python and Julia) for Aquila; standard SDKs for gate-based |
256 qubits • Analog
Publicly available via Amazon Braket. Programs the Rydberg Hamiltonian directly using drive and detuning pulse sequences. Best for quantum simulation of spin models, optimization via Rydberg blockade, and studying many-body physics.
Gate-based • In Development
QuEra's digital gate-based neutral atom processor, originally targeted for 2025. Targets greater than 99% two-qubit gate fidelity with local addressing. Will support standard quantum circuit programming via common SDKs. Public access timeline not yet announced.
Use Cases
Aquila natively implements Ising and XY spin models via the Rydberg Hamiltonian. This is a direct analog simulation rather than a digital circuit approximation, making it highly efficient for condensed matter physics.
Neutral atom hardware maps naturally to maximum independent set (MIS) problems on unit-disk graphs. The Rydberg blockade enforces constraints physically, without software overhead.
QuEra's 2023 landmark result demonstrated 48 error-corrected logical qubits using the transversal gate approach. The reconfigurable atom array enables tailored stabilizer code layouts.
Analog Hamiltonian simulation can model frustrated magnets, topological phases, and strongly correlated systems that are intractable for classical methods.
Aquila supports parameterized pulse sequences that implement variational ansatze for optimization and chemistry. The large qubit count allows exploration of wide Hilbert spaces.
Aquila provides a clean testbed for studying quantum advantage in analog simulation tasks, with classical simulation complexity growing exponentially in system size.
Getting Started
The easiest way to access Aquila is via Amazon Braket. Create a free AWS account at aws.amazon.com. New accounts receive AWS Free Tier credits. Braket simulators are free within the first hour per month; Aquila QPU time is billed per shot.
pip install bloqadeBloqade is QuEra's native SDK for programming Aquila. It provides a high-level Python (and Julia) interface for specifying Rydberg Hamiltonian pulse sequences and atom geometries. You can also use the Amazon Braket SDK directly if you prefer.
pip install amazon-braket-sdkfrom bloqade import start
from bloqade.atom_arrangement import Square
# 3x3 square lattice, 5 micrometers spacing
geometry = Square(3, lattice_const=5.0)
# Build a simple adiabatic sweep program
program = (
start
.add_positions(geometry)
.rydberg.detuning.uniform
.linear(start=-10, stop=10, duration=4.0)
.amplitude.uniform
.constant(value=15.0, duration=4.0)
)This defines a 9-atom array with a detuning sweep and constant drive, implementing a basic adiabatic protocol. The Rydberg blockade enforces constraints that map to optimization problems.
# Emulate locally before spending QPU shots
batch = program.bloqade.python().run(100)
report = batch.report()
print(report.counts())Bloqade includes a fast Python-based emulator. Always test and tune your program locally before submitting to Aquila. The emulator is free and runs without AWS credentials.
# Submit to Aquila QPU via Amazon Braket
batch = program.braket.aquila().run_async(100)
report = batch.report()
print(report.counts())
Set your AWS credentials via aws configure before submitting. Each shot costs approximately $0.01. Start with small shot counts (100-200) to control costs while validating your program.
Academic researchers can apply for direct QPU access and collaboration through the QuEra Academic Research Program. This provides access to capabilities and systems not available via Braket, including early access to Gemini when it becomes available.
Pricing
Aquila is billed per shot via Amazon Braket. There is no subscription or reservation fee for standard Braket access. Research program access is free for qualifying academics.
Per shot
Approximately $0.01 per shot on Aquila via AWS Braket. Per-task fees may apply. AWS Free Tier provides 1 hour of free simulator time per month (simulator only, not QPU).
View pricing details →Free access for researchers
Academic researchers and students can apply for direct QPU access through QuEra's research partnership program. Includes access to advanced capabilities not yet available via Braket.
View pricing details →Learning Resources