Pasqal trapped individual atoms using laser light generated by a photonic integrated circuit for neutral-atom quantum computing.

Pasqal announced that it had trapped individual atoms using laser light generated by a photonic integrated circuit, or PIC. The work was completed with Aeponyx, a Pasqal subsidiary.

The result applies to neutral-atom quantum computing, in which individual atoms form part of the computing hardware. The announcement specifically concerns atom trapping using light produced by an integrated photonic device, not a completed fault-tolerant quantum computer.

Pasqal characterized the result as addressing a central hardware barrier on the path toward fault-tolerant, industrial-scale systems. The supplied source did not disclose qubit counts, trapping fidelity, error rates, operating duration, fabrication process, or a commercialization timetable.