IonQ Achieves Industry Breakthrough – First Trapped Ion Quantum System to Surpass 99.9% Fidelity on Barium

IonQ surpasses “three 9's” two-qubit gate fidelity, a significant milestone in high-performance, enterprise-grade quantum computing

COLLEGE PARK, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), a leader in the quantum computing industry, recently announced that it has surpassed “three 9’s” (99.9%) two-qubit gate fidelity on one of its next-generation barium development platforms. This is a crucial step along IonQ’s technical roadmap for developing practical, commercial quantum solutions. This achievement highlights IonQ’s dedication to research and development, and underscores the company’s commitment to bringing to market the highest-performing quantum computers in the world.

The company demonstrated optimized two-qubit gates on barium with greater than 99.9% fidelity in a two-ion chain via the same mechanisms used to realize two-qubit gates in IonQ's production quantum computers. Based on technical improvements developed to achieve this milestone, the company now has a significantly deeper understanding of how to identify and remove error mechanisms in large enterprise-grade quantum systems.

IonQ’s breakthrough achievement brings the company closer to its next-generation commercial system, IonQ Tempo – a barium system designed to drive commercial advantage – and help customers tackle their most complex problems with greater accuracy and efficiency.

“Achieving this level of fidelity is a major milestone in the quantum computing industry, as it marks a critical threshold for enterprise-grade systems – the better the native gate fidelity, the less error correction in all forms that is required. Higher fidelity is also essential for faster, more accurate quantum applications,” said Dean Kassmann, IonQ’s SVP of Engineering and Technology. “This accomplishment validates our long-term approach to barium technology as an enabler of performance, scale, and enterprise-grade systems.”

IonQ has worked with ytterbium ions for most of the company's history and has been exploring barium ions as qubits because they contain intrinsic features that offer the ability to improve quantum computer performance. Compared to traditional ytterbium ions, barium ions offer several key advantages, including a higher native fidelity limit, increased gate speeds, lower state preparation/measurement (SPAM) errors, and better stability as well as superior overall performance. As IonQ makes substantial headway towards reaching commercial advantage, IonQ expects these distinct properties will position its barium systems at the forefront of the quantum computing industry.

IonQ's technical achievements further establish its expertise and commitment to advancing the field of quantum computing. More recently, IonQ proved its novel, low overhead approach for partial quantum error correction - an important step that will enable fast, more accurate quantum applications with near-term computers.

Please visit https://ionq.com/ to learn more about IonQ and its latest system news and business developments.

About IonQ

IonQ, Inc. is a leader in quantum computing that delivers high-performance systems capable of solving the world’s largest and most complex commercial and research use cases. IonQ’s current generation quantum computer, IonQ Forte, is the latest in a line of cutting-edge systems, boasting 36 algorithmic qubits. The company’s innovative technology and rapid growth were recognized in Fast Company’s 2023 Next Big Things in Tech List and Deloitte’s 2023 Technology Fast 500™ List, respectively. Available through all major cloud providers, IonQ is making quantum computing more accessible and impactful than ever before. Learn more at IonQ.com.

IonQ Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Some of the forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words. Statements that are not historical in nature, including the words commitment, will, and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include those related to the company’s technology driving commercial advantage in the future including on IonQ Tempo, the ability for third parties to implement IonQ’s offerings to increase their quantum computing capabilities and improve results, the effect of increased availability of customer support functions, IonQ’s quantum computing capabilities and plans, access to IonQ’s quantum computers, increases in algorithmic qubit achievement, reduction in error correction and overhead, and the scalability, fidelity, accuracy, speed, and reliability of IonQ’s quantum computing offerings. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: changes in the competitive industries in which IonQ operates, including development of competing technologies; changes in laws and regulations affecting IonQ’s business; IonQ’s ability to implement its business plans, forecasts and other expectations, identify and realize partnerships and opportunities, and to engage new and existing customers. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company’s filings, including but not limited to those described in the “Risk Factors” section of IonQ’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and other documents filed by IonQ from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and IonQ assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. IonQ does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.