Quantum technologies stand at the forefront of modern science, aiming to build practical quantum computers. Unlike classical machines that rely on bits, quantum devices use qubits. Qubits can exist in superposition, meaning they hold multiple possibilities at once, which allows certain calculations to unfold much faster than traditional systems.
A researcher from the MIPT Artificial Quantum Systems Laboratory explains that a qubit in superposition behaves like a moving coin that shows both heads and tails until a measurement is made. This property enables quantum systems to perform complex calculations more rapidly than their classical counterparts.
Researchers worldwide, including in Russia, pursue quantum computing through diverse paths and milestones, with teams pursuing their own innovative approaches.
In 2022, researchers from MIPT and NUST MISiS demonstrated a functional four-qubit quantum processor that achieved high-precision operations through refined calibration techniques. Earlier, in 2021, teams from the Russian Quantum Center and FIAN presented a two-ion trapped-atom processor at a Russian Academy of Sciences meeting.
RCC staff note that early researchers were among the first to realize processors based on two trapped ions, which can behave like four qubits in a multilevel system. A preprint of this work appeared on arXiv.org in October 2022, though MIPT has stated that some technical details from 2021 were not fully presented at that time.
Today, researchers from MIPT and NUST MISiS are pursuing an eight-qubit system with plans to unveil it before the year ends, and a roadmap for a 16-qubit platform by 2024 is in sight. RCC and FIAN are also planning a 16-qubit processor for the coming year.
“The superconducting platforms used at MIPT are multi-level quantum systems, but encoding a handful of qubits in them presents challenges such as preventing leakage to higher levels,” notes a senior researcher from the Laboratory of Artificial Quantum Systems. The same challenges are understood to apply to ion-trap implementations as well.
Beyond these teams, Moscow State University is developing a processor that uses atoms trapped with laser tweezers. In this setup, a physical qubit is represented by the spin state of an electron and a nuclear spin, arranged so that the pair encodes either 1 or 0. The university’s team, led by Stanislav Straupe, aims to demonstrate a 16-qubit processor in the near future.
What is better?
Initial impressions of various approaches can be misleading; each method has strengths and trade-offs. Superconducting quantum systems excel at scaling the number of qubits on a single chip, a critical factor for large computations. The largest fully controlled qubit counts reported so far have been achieved with superconducting processors, reaching hundreds of qubits in some configurations.
Atomic and ion-based quantum computers offer natural scalability because they do not depend on a fixed chip, a feature some experts view as an advantage for growth. RCC and Moscow State University note that these approaches simplify expansion, though practical limits still arise from physical processes and tool availability.
Researchers also explain that superconducting circuits can be extended by linking qubits across chips or cryogenic environments, while atom-trap systems depend on the number of atoms captured by the laser focus. A senior researcher from the Moscow lab added that there is a ceiling for qubits in superconducting circuits, whereas atomic systems are more flexible because particles exist without a fixed substrate.
Another factor is qubit longevity, or coherence time—the duration qubits stay in superposition. This directly affects how many operations can be performed before errors accumulate. In the latest demonstrations from MIPT and NUST MISiS, coherence times reach tens of microseconds, while operation times are in the nanosecond range. The ion-based processors reported longer coherence, reaching milliseconds, with Moscow State University reporting similar magnitudes.
In Russia, MIPT’s technology remains among the most accurate, with calculated error rates in the mid-to-high single-digit percentages. By late 2022, an eight-qubit system was shown, and improvements in accuracy were anticipated for 2023. Observers emphasize that several international groups have achieved comparable results on different superconducting qubits, underscoring the global potential of this platform.
Early results from RCC and FIAN indicated roughly sixty to seventy percent accuracy for small ion-based processors, with expectations to surpass ninety percent as devices evolve. The Moscow State University effort has reported operation fidelities around seventy percent, with ongoing work aimed at higher accuracy, potentially approaching ninety-nine percent with next-generation lasers and optics. The path forward includes reducing laser noise and other technical hurdles, while broader-qubit increases remain a priority for all teams involved.
Despite these various approaches, scientists agree that pursuing multiple quantum-implementation strategies is essential. A diversified effort helps nations keep pace with international leaders who have surged ahead in practical quantum development.
Why do we need a quantum computer?
Advancing quantum technologies could transform many tasks, enabling ultra-fast database searches, more accurate physical simulations, and possibilities for breaking some encryption schemes, as well as advancing quantum machine learning for artificial intelligence. Quantum devices could also support drug discovery, complex molecular modeling, optimized routing, and improved portfolio optimization in finance.
Experts caution that while these uses are tantalizing, a fully capable quantum computer has not yet arrived and practical systems may take longer to mature. The scale and precision of a future machine will depend on how quickly researchers can manage qubit counts, suppress errors, and stabilize operations. Some researchers anticipate transformative capabilities once devices reach thousands of qubits and robust error correction becomes routine. In the meantime, teams stress the importance of expanding both the quality of control and the breadth of approaches, whether superconducting, atomic, or ion-based, to sustain momentum and global leadership in quantum science.