Technology
Quantinuum unveils 98-qubit trapped-ion quantum computer Helios
The system represents the largest trapped-ion quantum device to date, though broad practical applications remain far off.
The short version
- Quantinuum revealed Helios, a 98-qubit quantum computer using trapped-ion technology.
- The machine introduces a four-way junction architecture and specialized runtime software to route data across two dimensions simultaneously.
- Helios achieved random benchmark calculations that exceed the practical capabilities of conventional supercomputers.
- Commercially and scientifically useful quantum computing is still expected to require roughly one million qubits.
Key facts
- Quantinuum developed Helios, a trapped-ion quantum computer operating with 98 qubits, making it the largest of its type to date.[Slashdot]
- The machine uses a four-way X-junction hardware design paired with Helios runtime control software to move and process data in parallel.[Slashdot]
- Quantinuum previously built 32-qubit machines in 2023 and 56-qubit systems in 2025.[Slashdot]
- Helios successfully executed random benchmark calculations that classical supercomputers cannot complete within reasonable time and energy limits.[Slashdot]
What remains uncertain
- It remains uncertain when quantum hardware will scale to the estimated one million qubits required for widespread practical scientific and commercial tasks.[Slashdot]