December 01, 2025 -- The Army Research Office has awarded the laboratory of Illinois Grainger Engineering physics professor Jacob Covey $630,000 to investigate distributed quantum computing with neutral atom arrays in parallel. A new take on a notoriously hard problem, this research could provide a clear path to scale current technology into the regime of quantum advantage.

The project, titled “Modular quantum computing with an array of atom arrays,” aims to advance neutral-atom quantum processors by developing technology to hold multiple atom arrays in one vacuum chamber. Once this is achieved, the problem of connecting multiple quantum processing units will be greatly simplified.

“To get a useful quantum computer, we will likely need to connect many small processing units,” Covey said. “Trapped atom researchers know how to physically move atom arrays in vacuum environment, so we think we can build modular quantum processing units by creating multiple arrays in the same chamber and connect them by physically moving them into contact. Rather than building and physically connecting many different modules, we think we can get the same effect with just one physical unit.”

Most experts believe that a practically relevant quantum computer will require 1 million qubits, or units of quantum information storage and processing. Current neutral atom platforms have a maximum size of around 50,000 qubits per unit. To achieve quantum advantage, it will likely be necessary to modularize, connecting multiple units to act in unison.

Covey, an expert in atom trapping and neutral atom quantum computing, believes that it is possible to achieve the benefits of modular computing with one unit. Noting that it is possible to physically move atom arrays within vacuum chambers, he believes that multiple arrays in one chamber can “communicate” by moving them into physical contact, facilitating parallel quantum processing.

“Right now, the most common approach to modularization is fiber optic connections that use quantum optics to share quantum information between physically separated units,” Covey explained. “It’s possible, but achieving transmission rates high enough for efficient computing is proving to be a long-term technological challenge. We think we can get the same benefit by stacking atom arrays in one chamber, creating an ‘array of arrays.’”

The three-year Single Investigator Award will build on work funded by an earlier Defense University Research Instrumentation Initiative award. Covey plans to demonstrate 10 parallel atom arrays in one vacuum chamber – a first in its own right – and that up to three can be manipulated to perform operations for distributed quantum computing algorithms. The result should provide a clear pathway to scale 50,000-qubit platforms to 500,000-qubit platforms.

Illinois Grainger Engineering Affiliations

Jacob Covey is an Illinois Grainger Engineering assistant professor of physics in the Department of Physics. He is affiliated with the Illinois Quantum Information Science and Technology Center in the Materials Research Laboratory.