Overview

In 2024, quantum hardware platforms across multiple modalities achieved new performance and scale benchmarks, including record qubit counts, improved gate fidelities, and expanded commercialization partnerships.

Superconducting Qubits

Google’s Willow Chip: In December 2024, Google unveiled its Willow processor with 105 superconducting qubits, demonstrating integrated error correction routines that reduce logical error rates as more qubits are added [1, 2].

IBM European Data Center: IBM opened its first European quantum data center in Ehningen, Germany, in October 2024, providing low-latency access to its fleet of processors and supporting regional quantum research [3, 4].

Trapped-Ion Systems

Quantinuum H2-1 (56 Qubits): In June 2024, Quantinuum released the H2-1 trapped-ion system, featuring 56 ions and achieving a 100× improvement over benchmark classical simulations for Random Circuit Sampling tasks [5, 6].

Neutral-Atom Arrays

QSA Reconfigurable Arrays: The Quantum Systems Accelerator funded the development of the first reconfigurable neutral-atom arrays in mid-2024, enabling programmable configurations of over 100 rubidium atoms for gate-based experiments [7].

Performance and Fidelity

Quantinuum Fidelity & Quantum Volume: Quantinuum notched new high-water marks for hardware fidelity and Quantum Volume in early 2024, surpassing 99.998% single-qubit and 99.914% two-qubit gate fidelities in its H1 series [8, 9].

Rigetti Ankaa-3 Gate Fidelity: Rigetti’s Ankaa-3 processor reached a median iSWAP two-qubit gate fidelity of 99.0% in its Q4 2024 results, halving error rates compared to prior generations [10, 11].

IonQ Forte (36 Algorithmic Qubits): IonQ’s Forte system continued to lead algorithmic performance in 2024, offering 36 algorithmic qubits optimized for hybrid routines and achieving leading AQ metrics [12].

Outlook

These 2024 milestones underscore rapid progress toward fault-tolerant and commercially viable quantum computers. As platforms scale qubit counts, boost fidelities, and integrate into enterprise environments, the focus shifts to error correction, modular architectures, and application-specific performance benchmarks in 2025 and beyond.

References

[1] Wikipedia contributors. (2024). Willow processor. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow_processor

[2] Castelvecchi, D. (2024). Google’s quantum computer hits key milestone by reducing errors. Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-04028-3

[3] IBM Newsroom. (2024, October 1). First IBM Quantum Data Center in Europe Opens, Will Include IBM’s Most Performant Quantum Systems. https://newsroom.ibm.com/2024-10-01-first-ibm-quantum-data-center-in-europe-opens-will-include-ibms-most-performant-quantum-systems

[4] Moorhead, P. (2024, October 21). IBM Opens Its First Quantum Data Center In Europe. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/moorinsights/2024/10/21/ibm-opens-its-first-quantum-data-center-in-europe/

[5] Quantinuum. (2024). Quantinuum Launches Industry-First Trapped-Ion 56-Qubit Quantum Computer That Challenges the World’s Best Supercomputers. https://www.quantinuum.com/press-releases/quantinuum-launches-industry-first-trapped-ion-56-qubit-quantum-computer-that-challenges-the-worlds-best-supercomputers

[6] Quantinuum. (2024). Quantinuum’s H-Series Hits 56 Physical Qubits That Are All-to-All Connected and Departs the Era of Classical Simulation. https://www.quantinuum.com/blog/quantinuums-h-series-hits-56-physical-qubits-that-are-all-to-all-connected-and-departs-the-era-of-classical-simulation

[7] Quantum Systems Accelerator. (2024, September 5). Neutral Atom Innovations. https://quantumsystemsaccelerator.org/2024/09/05/neutral-atom-innovations/

[8] Wikipedia contributors. (2024). List of quantum processors. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_quantum_processors

[9] Quantinuum. (2024). Quantinuum Extends Its Significant Lead in Quantum Computing, Achieving Historic Milestones for Hardware Fidelity and Quantum Volume. https://www.quantinuum.com/blog/quantinuum-extends-its-significant-lead-in-quantum-computing-achieving-historic-milestones-for-hardware-fidelity-and-quantum-volume

[10] Rigetti Computing. (2024). Rigetti Computing Launches 84-Qubit Ankaa-3 System, Achieves 99.5% Median Two-Qubit Gate Fidelity Milestone. https://investors.rigetti.com/news-releases/news-release-details/rigetti-computing-launches-84-qubit-ankaatm-3-system-achieves

[11] GlobeNewswire. (2024, December 23). Rigetti Computing Launches 84-Qubit Ankaa-3 System, Achieves 99.5% Median Two-Qubit Gate Fidelity Milestone. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/12/23/3001239/0/en/Rigetti-Computing-Launches-84-Qubit-Ankaa-3-System-Achieves-99-5-Median-Two-Qubit-Gate-Fidelity-Milestone.html

[12] IonQ. (2024). Forte - IonQ’s Most Powerful Quantum Computer. https://ionq.com/quantum-systems/forte