{"slug":"atoms-and-ions","topic":"atoms-and-ions","title":"Neutral-Atom & Trapped-Ion Quantum Computing: State of the Field (October 2026)","summary":"Neutral-atom and trapped-ion processors are two prominent atomic platforms for quantum computing. This dossier compares their gate and readout records, register sizes, error-correction experiments, interconnect work and architectural proposals as of late October 2026. The main takeaway is a split lead: the Helios ion processor reports the lowest two-qubit error figure covered here, though as a system average, while atom arrays hold the largest trapped registers and the logical-level demonstrations covered here.","version":1,"published_at":"2026-10-30","updated_at":"2026-10-30","stats":{"words":4839,"citations":42,"claims":28,"timeline":17,"benchmarks":21,"open_problems":7,"key_papers":15,"glossary":16},"verification":{"status":"verified","method":"independent AI fact-check against cited sources (evidence pack + web checks); automated citation resolution","claims_checked":28,"issues_fixed":24,"verified_at":"2026-10-30"},"ai_assisted":true,"price":{"usd":"0.20","protocol":"x402","network":"eip155:84532","asset":"USDC"},"url":"https://space-kitty.com/dossiers/atoms-and-ions","preview_url":"https://space-kitty.com/api/v1/dossiers/atoms-and-ions/preview","purchase_url":"https://space-kitty.com/api/v1/dossiers/atoms-and-ions","toc":[{"level":2,"text":"Executive summary","anchor":"executive-summary"},{"level":2,"text":"Background and core concepts","anchor":"background-and-core-concepts"},{"level":2,"text":"Timeline of key milestones","anchor":"timeline-of-key-milestones"},{"level":2,"text":"State of the art","anchor":"state-of-the-art"},{"level":3,"text":"Trapped ions: system benchmarks and QCCD hardware","anchor":"trapped-ions-system-benchmarks-and-qccd-hardware"},{"level":3,"text":"Neutral atoms: gate fidelity and encodings","anchor":"neutral-atoms-gate-fidelity-and-encodings"},{"level":3,"text":"Arrays, assembly and tweezer control","anchor":"arrays-assembly-and-tweezer-control"},{"level":3,"text":"Logical qubits, readout and error correction","anchor":"logical-qubits-readout-and-error-correction"},{"level":3,"text":"Interconnects and modular architectures","anchor":"interconnects-and-modular-architectures"},{"level":3,"text":"Quantitative benchmarks","anchor":"quantitative-benchmarks"},{"level":2,"text":"Open problems and active debates","anchor":"open-problems-and-active-debates"},{"level":2,"text":"Major programs and players","anchor":"major-programs-and-players"},{"level":2,"text":"Outlook: what to watch (next 12-18 months)","anchor":"outlook-what-to-watch-next-12-18-months"},{"level":2,"text":"Key papers","anchor":"key-papers"},{"level":2,"text":"Glossary","anchor":"glossary"}],"sample_claims":["Helios reports average infidelities of 7.9(2)×10^-4 for two-qubit gates, 2.5(1)×10^-5 for single-qubit gates and 4.8(6)×10^-4 for state preparation and measurement, each averaged over all operational zones of a 98-qubit trapped-ion processor.","Parallel two-qubit gates reached 99.5% fidelity on up to 60 atoms; the method uses optimal-control pulses and dark states to limit scattering."],"includes":["markdown","claims","timeline","benchmarks","open_problems","key_papers","glossary","bibliography"],"citation_count":42,"how_to_buy":"GET https://space-kitty.com/api/v1/dossiers/atoms-and-ions with an x402 client ($0.20, USDC on Base Sepolia (testnet))."}