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One of the most promising routes toward scalable quantum computing is a modular approach. We show that distinct surface code patches can be connected in a fault-tolerant manner even in the presence of substantial noise along their connecting interface. We quantify analytically and numerically the combined effect of errors across the interface and bulk. We show that the system can tolerate 14 times higher noise at the interface compared to the bulk, with only a small effect on the code’s threshold and subthreshold behavior, reaching threshold with ~1% bulk errors and ~10% interface errors. This implies that fault-tolerant scaling of error-corrected modular devices is within reach using existing technology.

 

The dipolar interaction can be attractive or repulsive, depending on the position and orientation of the dipoles. Constraining atoms to a plane with their magnetic moment aligned perpendicularly leads to a largely side-by-side repulsion and generates a dipolar barrier which prevents atoms from approaching each other. We show experimentally and theoretically how this can suppress dipolar relaxation, the dominant loss process in spin mixtures of highly magnetic atoms. Using dysprosium, we observe an order of magnitude reduction in the relaxation rate constant, and another factor of ten is within reach based on the models which we have validated with our experimental study. The loss suppression opens up many new possibilities for quantum simulations with spin mixtures of highly magnetic atoms.

 

The exploration of topologically-ordered states of matter is a long-standing goal at the interface of several subfields of the physical sciences. Such states feature intriguing physical properties such as long-range entanglement, emergent gauge fields and non-local correlations, and can aid in realization of scalable fault-tolerant quantum computation. However, these same features also make creation, detection, and characterization of topologically-ordered states particularly challenging. Motivated by recent experimental demonstrations, we introduce a paradigm for quantifying topological states—locally error-corrected decoration (LED)—by combining methods of error correction with ideas of renormalization-group flow. Our approach allows for efficient and robust identification of topological order, and is applicable in the presence of incoherent noise sources, making it particularly suitable for realistic experiments. We demonstrate the power of LED using numerical simulations of the toric code under a variety of perturbations. We subsequently apply it to an experimental realization, providing new insights into a quantum spin liquid created on a Rydberg-atom simulator. Finally, we extend LED to generic topological phases, including those with non-abelian order.

 

A key challenge in realizing practical quantum networks for long-distance quantum communication involves robust entanglement between quantum memory nodes connected by fibre optical infrastructure^1–3. Here we demonstrate a two-node quantum network composed of multi-qubit registers based on silicon-vacancy (SiV) centres in nanophotonic diamond cavities integrated with a telecommunication fibre network. Remote entanglement is generated by the cavity-enhanced interactions between the electron spin qubits of the SiVs and optical photons. Serial, heralded spin-photon entangling gate operations with time-bin qubits are used for robust entanglement of separated nodes. Long-lived nuclear spin qubits are used to provide second-long entanglement storage and integrated error detection. By integrating efficient bidirectional quantum frequency conversion of photonic communication qubits to telecommunication frequencies (1,350 nm), we demonstrate the entanglement of two nuclear spin memories through 40 km spools of low-loss fibre and a 35-km long fibre loop deployed in the Boston area urban environment, representing an enabling step towards practical quantum repeaters and large-scale quantum networks.

 

In recent years, there has been considerable focus on exploring driven-dissipative quantum systems, as they exhibit distinctive dissipation-stabilized phases. Among themdissipative time crystalis a unique phase emerging as a shift from disorder or stationary states to periodic behaviors. However, understanding the resilience of these non-equilibrium phases against quantum fluctuations remains unclear. This study addresses this query within a canonical parametric quantum optical system, specifically, a multi-mode cavity with self- and cross-Kerr non-linearity. Using mean-field (MF) theory we obtain the phase diagram and delimit the parameter ranges that stabilize a non-stationary limit-cycle phase. Leveraging the Keldysh formalism, we study the unique spectral features of each phase. Further, we extend our analyses beyond the MF theory by explicitly accounting for higher-order correlations through cumulant expansions. Our findings unveil insights into the modifications of the open quantum systems phases, underscoring the significance of quantum correlations in non-equilibrium steady states. Importantly, our results conclusively demonstrate the resilience of the non-stationary phase against quantum fluctuations, rendering it a dissipation-induced genuine quantum synchronous phase.

 

The ability to perform entangling quantum operations with low error rates in a scalable fashion is a central element of useful quantum information processing¹. Neutral-atom arrays have recently emerged as a promising quantum computing platform, featuring coherent control over hundreds of qubits^2,3and any-to-any gate connectivity in a flexible, dynamically reconfigurable architecture⁴. The main outstanding challenge has been to reduce errors in entangling operations mediated through Rydberg interactions⁵. Here we report the realization of two-qubit entangling gates with 99.5% fidelity on up to 60 atoms in parallel, surpassing the surface-code threshold for error correction^6,7. Our method uses fast, single-pulse gates based on optimal control⁸, atomic dark states to reduce scattering⁹and improvements to Rydberg excitation and atom cooling. We benchmark fidelity using several methods based on repeated gate applications^10,11, characterize the physical error sources and outline future improvements. Finally, we generalize our method to design entangling gates involving a higher number of qubits, which we demonstrate by realizing low-error three-qubit gates^12,13. By enabling high-fidelity operation in a scalable, highly connected system, these advances lay the groundwork for large-scale implementation of quantum algorithms¹⁴, error-corrected circuits⁷and digital simulations¹⁵.

 

Quantum interference can deeply alter the nature of many-body phases of matter1. In the case of the Hubbard model, Nagaoka proved that introducing a single itinerant charge can transform a paramagnetic insulator into a ferromagnet through path interference2–4. However, a microscopic observation of this kinetic magnetism induced by individually imaged dopants has been so far elusive. Here we demonstrate the emergence of Nagaoka polarons in a Hubbard system realized with strongly interacting fermions in a triangular optical lattice5,6. Using quantum gas microscopy, we image these polarons as extended ferromagnetic bubbles around particle dopants arising from the local interplay of coherent dopant motion and spin exchange. By contrast, kinetic frustration due to the triangular geometry promotes antiferromagnetic polarons around hole dopants7. Our work augurs the exploration of exotic quantum phases driven by charge motion in strongly correlated systems and over sizes that are challenging for numerical simulation8–10.