Quantinuum, Quantum Motion, NIST, Shor - The Week in Quantum Computing, September 22nd, 2025
Issue #253
Quick Recap
Quantinuum achieved the largest experimental simulation of the Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev model on a quantum computer, simulating 24 Majorana fermions on its System Model H1 processor— They also announced forthcoming hardware with significantly expanded simulation capacity. Quantum Motion delivered the first full-stack, silicon-based complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor quantum computer to the UK National Quantum Computing Centre. GitHub released support for post-quantum cryptography in Secure Shell authentication, integrating the National Institute of Standards and Technology–selected NTRUEncrypt algorithm for hybrid key exchange. Quantum eMotion America and Krown Technologies - Quantum eMotion America invested USD $400,000 into Krown Technologies through a convertible debenture. The National Cyber Security Centre launched a post-quantum cryptography pilot aimed at evaluating the integration of quantum-resistant algorithms within government data flows and operational security. ORCA Computing, Poznań Supercomputing and Networking Center, Imperial College London, and NVIDIA - ORCA Computing, in collaboration with Poznań Supercomputing and Networking Center and Imperial College London, demonstrated a scalable data center architecture integrating two photonic quantum processors (ORCA PT) with NVIDIA Hopper GPUs, managed using Slurm and CUDA-Q in standard server racks. Infleqtion revealed a neutral atom–based quantum computing architecture, accelerating its roadmap to deliver a quantum system with over 1,000 logical qubits by 2030. The new system executed Shor’s algorithm using logical qubits and outperformed physical-only implementations. Talking about Shor. A new paper claims to solve the bug from last year’s paper on RSA decription using quantum lattices. Will this be the time we get scared for real? Researchers are evaluating the piece right now!
The Week in Quantum Computing
Quantum gravity in the lab
Quantinuum achieved the largest experimental simulation of the Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev (SYK) model on a quantum computer, representing a major technical milestone for quantum gravity research. The team simulated the SYK model with 24 Majorana fermions on their System Model H1 processor—tripling the scale of previous experimental attempts and approaching the largest classical simulation, which handled 64 fermions. This result leverages H1’s all-to-all connectivity and high gate fidelity, highlighting its suitability for simulating strongly correlated quantum systems. System Model H2 (56 qubits, ~100 fermions) and upcoming Helios (>90 qubits, ~180 fermions) promise rapid expansion in capacity. This landmark demonstrates quantum hardware’s growing capability for probing quantum gravity regimes previously inaccessible to classical methods.
First Full-Stack Silicon CMOS Quantum Computer at UK NQCC
UK-based Quantum Motion has delivered the first full-stack, silicon-based complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor quantum computer to the UK National Quantum Computing Centre. The system, built on industry-standard silicon technology, demonstrates 20 quantum dots for spin qubits and fully integrates control electronics, marking a significant step towards scalable quantum platforms. The delivery aligns with UK government strategy to foster commercial quantum technologies. Quantum Motion’s system showcases compatibility with semiconductor manufacturing processes, streamlining future scaling. The National Quantum Computing Centre stated this achievement illustrates the promise of silicon spin qubits for practical quantum computation programs. The key achievement: deployment of a complete silicon CMOS quantum system at a national research facility, confirming its technical feasibility for research and development.
Post-quantum security for SSH access on GitHub
GitHub has introduced support for post-quantum cryptography in Secure Shell (SSH) authentication, enabling users to safeguard SSH connections against potential quantum-enabled threats. This upgrade integrates the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) selected algorithm, NTRUEncrypt, alongside existing classical algorithms for hybrid key exchange. By doing so, GitHub addresses future-proofing security for over 100 million developers on its platform. This implementation follows NIST’s recommendation and is available to all users leveraging SSH to access GitHub repositories. The immediate impact is the enhancement of code and infrastructure security for developers against emerging quantum computing risks. The key achievement is GitHub’s adoption of NTRUEncrypt in hybrid SSH authentication for post-quantum resistance.
If quantum computing is answering unknowable questions, how do we know they're right?
Researchers are developing new cross-validation and benchmarking methods to improve trust in quantum computing results, according to a June 2023 article from Nature News. Traditional classical simulations cannot efficiently verify outputs from quantum computers at scale, so efforts have shifted toward statistical cross-checks and specialized protocols such as randomized benchmarking. Key contributors, including Richard Kueng of University of Cologne and Sergio Boixo of Google, emphasize that accurately assessing quantum output reliability is a foundational technical challenge. Recent papers describe protocols tested on devices like Google’s Sycamore and IBM’s Eagle, demonstrating performance verification on circuits beyond classical tractability.
Quantum eMotion America Invests USD $400,000 in Krown Technologies Through Convertible Debenture
Quantum eMotion America, a subsidiary of Quantum eMotion Corp., has invested USD $400,000 in Krown Technologies through a convertible debenture agreement. This move allows Quantum eMotion America to convert the investment into equity, strengthening its strategic partnership with Krown Technologies. The collaboration aims to integrate Quantum eMotion Corp.’s quantum cybersecurity solutions with Krown’s blockchain products, specifically within the Camelot Ecosystem, which includes more than 20 products on a Layer-1 Proof-of-Stake blockchain. The investment comes at a pivotal time as adoption of blockchain and tokenized assets rises, intensifying demand for robust digital security.
Post-quantum cryptography UK pilot
The United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Centre launched a post-quantum cryptography pilot to evaluate the practical use of quantum-resistant algorithms across government systems. This effort aims to assess deployment challenges, integration hurdles, and overall readiness for large-scale adoption. Key technical leads include the NCSC cryptography team and participating government departments. The pilot focuses on real-world data flows and operational security, providing direct feedback to inform guidelines and future standards. The explicit goal is to ensure government systems remain secure as quantum computing threatens current cryptographic protocols. The project’s central achievement is the hands-on validation of post-quantum algorithms in complex, mission-critical environments.
Quantum computing is coming. Corporate America isn't ready
A Wall Street Journal analysis finds that major U.S. corporations lack preparedness for the risks and opportunities posed by advances in quantum computing. While government officials and industry leaders warn of future threats to data encryption, surveys show a large portion of Fortune 500 companies have not developed quantum-readiness strategies. A 2022 Deloitte poll cited by the Journal revealed that only about half of surveyed business executives had a quantum computing strategy in place. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the White House urge urgent action, yet concrete investments or technical adaptations by corporations remain limited.
ORCA Computing Collaborates with PCSS to Deliver Data Centers Blueprint for Quantum AI Integration Built on NVIDIA
ORCA Computing, in partnership with Poznań Supercomputing and Networking Center and Imperial College London, unveiled a data center blueprint for photonic quantum artificial intelligence integration leveraging NVIDIA accelerated computing and the CUDA-Q software platform. The demonstration integrated two ORCA PT photonic quantum processors with NVIDIA Hopper GPUs in standard 19-inch rack cabinets at the PCSS data center, operating at room temperature and managed via Slurm. This marks the first use of CUDA-Q to integrate photonic quantum processors, enabling seamless programming of quantum and classical resources. The project provides a deployment-ready, upgradeable approach to hybrid quantum–classical architectures for real-world AI and machine learning, offering a replicable framework for modern high-performance computing environments.
Infleqtion Unveils New Architecture to Accelerate Its Quantum Computing Roadmap To Achieve 1000 Logical Qubits by 2030
Infleqtion has unveiled a new neutral atom–based quantum computing architecture, accelerating its roadmap to deliver a fault-tolerant quantum system with over 1,000 logical qubits by 2030. This advancement enabled Infleqtion to execute, for the first time, a hardware-based version of Shor’s algorithm using logical qubits, demonstrating fidelity improvements over physical-only qubit implementations. The upgraded Sqale quantum computer now supports 12 logical qubits—surpassing its previous 2026 goal of 10—and sets new targets of 30 logical qubits by 2026. These systems are deployed with collaborators including NVIDIA, the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA, and the U.K. government. Key implication: Infleqtion underscores the industry's need to accelerate quantum-safe encryption migration following this cryptographic milestone.
Paper: Demonstration of a Logical Architecture Uniting Motion and in-place Entanglement
Researchers from Infleqtion have demonstrated a quantum architecture that integrates qubit motion and in-place entanglement using nearest-neighbor gates, reducing runtime and error costs compared to traditional entangling zone architectures. Utilizing Infleqtion's Sqale quantum processing unit with 114 neutral atom qubits, the team realized: (1) a logical qubit implementation of a pre-compiled variant of Shor’s Algorithm with improved logical versus physical performance, (2) a constant-depth CNOT ladder technique, achieving approximately fourfold error reduction in 8 and 12 logical qubit tests, and (3) experimental initialization of the [[16, 4, 4]] many-hypercube quantum error correction code. These achievements, compiled via Superstaq, indicate a pathway to lowered overhead for utility-scale quantum applications.
Quantum Computing Export Controls: Implications for the Health Care Sector
New U.S. export controls on quantum computing technologies and related software now specifically affect the health care sector. The rules, issued by the United States Department of Commerce, restrict exports of advanced quantum computing systems and encryption software to certain countries. According to the release, organizations must determine if their medical research, data analytics, or pharmaceutical projects use controlled quantum technology. Violations may result in significant penalties. The Department of Commerce names specific items—such as systems exceeding specified quantum volume thresholds—as subject to control. Health sector enterprises are urged to audit their supply chains and research collaborations to avoid compliance risks.
DOE Strengthens Quantum-in-Space Collaboration with Three New Partners to Advance U.S. Leadership
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Technology Commercialization expanded its Quantum-in-Space Collaboration by adding IonQ, Honeywell, and the Electric Power Board of Chattanooga as new partners. This move strengthens commercialization of space-based quantum technologies, enabling secure quantum communications, advanced navigation, and quantum sensing. The collaboration now brings together industry leaders such as Boeing, Axiom Space, and Blue Origin for feasibility studies and pilot demonstrations supporting Department of Energy, Department of Defense, and NASA objectives. Key leaders, including Anthony Pugliese and Rima Kasia Oueid, highlighted the initiative’s role in accelerating deployment from lab demonstration to operational systems in orbit. The expanded consortium positions the United States to lead in space-based quantum innovation and national security applications.
Rigetti, in Collaboration with QphoX, Awarded $5.8M AFRL Contract to Advance Superconducting Quantum Networking
Rigetti Computing, Inc. and QphoX have secured a $5.8 million, three-year contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory to advance superconducting quantum networking. The partnership targets connecting superconducting quantum processors via optical networks, aiming to achieve entanglement between superconducting qubits and optical photons—a foundational step for scalable quantum networking. Rigetti will contribute its superconducting microwave qubits, while QphoX provides single-photon microwave-optical transducers. The project leverages the teams’ prior demonstration of optical single-shot qubit readout using transducer systems. Key executives involved include Dr. Subodh Kulkarni (Rigetti CEO), Dr. Simon Groeblacher (QphoX CEO), and Matt LaHaye (AFRL). Successful integration of these technologies will enable entanglement distribution and advanced capabilities for Air Force and Department of Defense research networks.
You don’t need quantum hardware for post-quantum security
Cloudflare asserts that organizations can achieve robust post-quantum security without investing in quantum hardware. The company emphasizes that post-quantum cryptography—recently standardized in 2024 by the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology—can be deployed on existing infrastructure, offering quantum-resistant protection without new equipment purchases. Cloudflare highlights that hardware-based quantum security technologies like quantum key distribution and quantum random number generation are neither necessary nor sufficient for defending against quantum adversaries at Internet scale. This position aligns with guidance from the United States National Security Agency, United Kingdom National Cyber Security Centre, Netherlands Nationaal Cyber Security Centrum, and Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security. The key achievement: migration to post-quantum cryptography is possible today, using current hardware and software.
Migration to Post-Quantum Cryptography
The National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) launched a project focused on facilitating the migration to post-quantum cryptography in response to the threat that quantum computers pose to current encryption. The initiative supports organizations in identifying and prioritizing assets susceptible to quantum attacks, inventorying cryptographic technologies, and transitioning to standardized post-quantum algorithms. The project leverages guidance from the National Institute of Standards and Technology on algorithm selection and transition strategies. Key outputs include practical migration practices, reference designs, and documentation to support federal and industry adoption.
NSF and UKRI launch $10M quantum chemistry collaborative research effort
The U.S. National Science Foundation and UK Research and Innovation have jointly launched an eight-project, $10 million research initiative targeting quantum information in chemical systems. The funding includes $4.7 million from the National Science Foundation and £4.2 million from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. U.S. and U.K. teams will investigate how quantum phenomena in chemistry can enable new molecular-based qubits, navigation, and secure communications. In addition, up to $500,000 in supplemental funding will support bilateral center collaborations in quantum and artificial intelligence. This program emphasizes cross-border research partnerships and will train graduate students and early-career researchers in areas such as molecular spectroscopy and nanofabrication. Read original article
Exact Coset Sampling for Quantum Lattice Algorithms
Yifan Zhang of Princeton University has introduced a rigorous, efficient alternative to Step 9 in Chen’s 2024 quantum lattice algorithm, which previously relied on a flawed “domain-extension” yielding states of incorrect support size. Zhang’s pair-shift difference method eliminates unknown offsets in the state, synthesizes an exactly uniform coset over the Chinese Remainder Theorem group ℤ_P, and applies the modular relation via a quantum Fourier transform, all using reversible circuits with polylogarithmic gate overhead. The approach does not require information about unknown residue offsets and side-steps issues with amplitude periodicity. This replacement maintains the original algorithm’s asymptotic complexity and robustness, effectively resolving a key correctness gap in windowed-QFT-based quantum lattice algorithms.
Paper: Demonstrating an unconditional separation between quantum and classical information resources
William Kretschmer and co-authors have unambiguously demonstrated quantum information supremacy by showing an unconditional separation between quantum and classical information resources. Using Quantinuum’s H1-1 trapped-ion quantum processor—operating at a median two-qubit partial-entangler fidelity of 99.941(7)%—the team solved a task with 12 qubits that, by construction, requires any classical solution to use between 62 and 382 bits of memory. Unlike prior quantum advantage results, this experiment’s quantum-classical gap does not rely on unproven complexity assumptions. The study directly evidences that today’s quantum processors can generate and manipulate entangled states of requisite complexity to fully exploit Hilbert space exponentiality. This establishes the most stringent and assumption-free benchmark of quantum computational advantage achieved to date.