Insider Brief
- Russia unveiled its first 50-qubit quantum computer prototype using neutral rubidium atoms in December, developed by Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Russian Quantum Center under its Quantum Computing Roadmap.
- The prototype, part of a $790 million government-backed initiative, represents progress toward scaling quantum systems, though key performance metrics and independent validation remain undisclosed.
- While the achievement positions Russia among nations pursuing quantum dominance, there is a need for transparency, peer review and public demonstrations to assess its competitiveness.
Russia unveiled its 50-qubit quantum computer prototype based on rubidium neutral atom in late December, achieving a milestone in the country’s quantum computing roadmap and delivering on a promise made earlier in the year to develop a 50-qubit device before 2025, according to a statement reported in TASS, which was based on information from Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) and the Russian Quantum Center (RQC).
*Editor’s Note: For clarity, RQC has one quantum computer and one prototype — two different platforms — with 50 qubits. In September, the center demonstrated its first quantum computer — ionic, based on ytterbium ions. On Dec. 25, the team unveiled it second prototype based on rubidium neutral atoms.
The development, a collaborative effort by the aforementioned MSU and RQC, uses neutral rubidium atoms as its platform, a technology that is being explored worldwide as device that can be used for large-scale applications, according to the teams.
“Scientists at the Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Russian Quantum Center have created Russia’s first prototype of a neutral single rubidium atoms-powered 50-qubit quantum computer as part of the Quantum Computing Roadmap coordinated by the Rosatom State Corporation,” the MSU statement read.
The prototype aligns with Russia’s 2020 initiative to achieve advanced quantum computing capabilities by 2024. The government-backed Quantum Computing Roadmap aims to accelerate discovering in fields such as drug discovery, logistics optimization and materials science, according to TASS, Russia’s state news agency.
Neutral Atoms and Optical Tweezers
The 50-qubit device relies on single neutral rubidium atoms, which are held in place and manipulated using “optical tweezers,” or highly focused laser beams, reports TASS. The system, housed on an optical table, features a laser array for cooling and controlling atomic states, along with ultra-high vacuum chambers to isolate the atoms.
“At the moment the MSU Center for Quantum Technologies is capable of creating quantum registers of 50 atoms arranged in an ordered array and perform operations on single qubits. Neutral atoms in optical tweezers are a good system in terms of scaling prospects. We more or less understand how to get from systems of tens of qubits to hundreds and even thousands of qubits,” the scientists said, according to the MSU news service and reported by TASS.
The unveiling comes less than a year after Russia demonstrated a 20-qubit quantum computer, also developed under the roadmap. That device represented a leap forward from a 16-qubit ion-based system showcased to Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2023, according to The Quantum Insider.
At the time, the 16-qubit system was the country’s most advanced quantum computer, capable of running a molecule simulation algorithm via a cloud platform. Russia is one of a number of countries that are pushing to compete with global leaders in quantum computing. Russia’s quantum efforts are supported by an investment of $790 million announced in 2021.
Ruslan Yunusov, an advisor to Rosatom, the state corporation coordinating the roadmap, previously described the broader ambition: scaling from current prototypes to systems exceeding 100 qubits. Yunusov noted a separate 25-qubit prototype built on what he termed a “nuclear platform,” hinting at diverse technological approaches under development. Rosatom is a Russian state corporation based in Moscow that specializes in high technology innovation, including a focus on nuclear energy and nuclear non-energy goods.
“We have developed a 20-qubit quantum computer as part of the roadmap on quantum computations. We implemented it on an ion platform. We also have a 25-qubit computer on a nuclear platform. We have plans [for computers] from 50 to 100 qubits. We be [sic] able to make a 50 [qubit computer] by the end of this year,” Yunusov told TASS in an interview earlier in 2024, as reported by TQI.
The Need For Transparency
While the announcement may be considered as a milestone in Russia’s quantum computing program, the lack of peer-reviewed publications or public demonstrations raises questions about the prototype’s readiness and performance. More details will be needed before the world’s scientific community can properly assess the reported advance.
Critical metrics such as error rates, coherence times and gate fidelities have not been disclosed, at least publicly in the MAU statement, which makes it difficult to assess the system’s competitiveness on a global scale. The absence of independent verification or external validation also leaves room for skepticism, particularly given the history of ambitious claims in the quantum computing field.
While the development aligns with Russia’s strategic roadmap, some observers may view the announcement as a signaling effort within the geopolitical race for technological supremacy rather than an immediate breakthrough.
Public demonstrations or more detailed technical findings would be needed to bolster confidence in the prototype’s practical implications.
Historical Context and Strategic Implications
Russia’s quantum efforts date back to 2015, initially tied to the development of a quantum clock for GLONASS, the nation’s global navigation system. That early work laid the foundation for its current projects, which now encompass platforms based on neutral atoms, ions, superconductors, and photons.
The geopolitical stakes are high. Quantum computing is viewed as a strategic priority by many nations due to its transformative potential in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and critical infrastructure. Russia’s focus on quantum technologies is part of a broader effort to bolster its technological independence and global competitiveness.
Challenges and Next Steps
Despite these achievements, the road to practical quantum computing remains a challenge. Scaling beyond 50 qubits requires overcoming significant hurdles in error correction and system stability. While neutral atoms offer scalability, controlling interactions among hundreds or thousands of qubits demands precision engineering and advanced algorithms.
More and more, quantum experts look beyond just qubit number and trust more in performance measures — such as fidelity and error correction statistics — to verify claims of progress in quantum computing.
That being said, the announcement of the prototype does position Russia among a select group of nations demonstrating 50-qubit quantum systems. Whether these prototypes can transition to real-world applications will depend on continued investments and breakthroughs in quantum software and infrastructure.
