QuEra's Aquila processor leverages 256 reconfigurable neutral atoms for analog Hamiltonian simulation, accessible via AWS Braket.
The QuEra Aquila quantum processor represents a significant entry into the quantum computing landscape, particularly within the rapidly evolving field of neutral-atom quantum systems. Developed by QuEra Computing, Aquila distinguishes itself by offering a 256-qubit system based on neutral atoms, a technology celebrated for its inherent scalability and high connectivity. This processor is not a gate-based universal quantum computer in the traditional sense; instead, it is optimized for analog Hamiltonian simulation, a powerful paradigm for tackling complex problems in condensed matter physics, materials science, and optimization.
Neutral-atom quantum computing utilizes individual atoms, often trapped and manipulated by arrays of optical tweezers or lasers, as qubits. A key advantage of this approach, as demonstrated by Aquila, is the ability to arrange these atoms in highly reconfigurable geometries, forming what QuEra terms a Field-Programmable Qubit Array (FPQA). This reconfigurability allows researchers to tailor the qubit layout to the specific problem at hand, potentially enabling more efficient simulations of physical systems whose Hamiltonians can be mapped directly onto the atomic interactions. The 256 physical atoms available on Aquila provide a substantial computational resource, placing it among the largest quantum processors currently accessible to the public.
Access to the QuEra Aquila is provided through Amazon Web Services (AWS) Braket, a fully managed quantum computing service. This cloud-based access democratizes the use of advanced quantum hardware, allowing researchers, developers, and enterprises to experiment with neutral-atom quantum computing without the need for significant on-premise infrastructure. The integration with AWS Braket also implies a robust and scalable infrastructure for job submission, execution, and data retrieval, which is crucial for practical quantum research and development. The system became publicly available in November 2022, marking a pivotal moment for the commercialization and broader adoption of neutral-atom technology.
As a data analyst evaluating quantum hardware, the Aquila processor presents an intriguing case study. Its analog nature means that traditional metrics like gate fidelity and circuit depth, while important for gate-based systems, need to be recontextualized. Instead, performance is often assessed by the accuracy of the simulation, the ability to prepare specific quantum states, and the coherence time of the analog evolution. The reconfigurable nature of the qubit array and the inherent long coherence times of neutral atoms are critical factors that contribute to its potential. While specific benchmarks and detailed error rates for analog operations are not yet widely published, the underlying technology holds promise for scaling to even larger qubit counts and for exploring novel computational paradigms beyond the standard gate model.
The availability of Aquila for over 100 hours per week through AWS Braket underscores its readiness for continuous research and development. This level of access is vital for iterative experimentation and for pushing the boundaries of what is achievable with current quantum hardware. The focus on analog Hamiltonian simulation positions Aquila as a specialized tool, particularly valuable for scientific discovery and for exploring quantum phenomena that are difficult or impossible to model with classical computers. Understanding its strengths and limitations within this analog domain is key to effectively leveraging its capabilities for real-world applications in areas such as quantum chemistry, materials science, and complex optimization problems.
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| System ID | QuEra Aquila |
| Vendor | QuEra Computing |
| Technology | Neutral-atom qubits |
| Status | Public cloud access |
| Primary metric | Neutral atoms |
| Metric meaning | Number of reconfigurable neutral atoms |
| Qubit mode | Analog Hamiltonian simulation |
| Connectivity | Field-programmable qubit array (FPQA) |
| Native gates | Programmable connectivity | Reconfigurable array |
| Error rates & fidelities | Coherent dynamics (analog) |
| Benchmarks | Not publicly confirmed (checked papers, no rates) |
| How to access | yes |
| Platforms | Via AWS Braket | Premium access |
| SDKs | Not specified |
| Regions | AWS Braket |
| Account requirements | Bloqade SDK |
| Pricing model | yes |
| Example prices | Pay-per-use |
| Free tier / credits | Task time |
| First announced | Enterprise request |
| First available | 2022-11 |
| Major revisions | 2022-11 |
| Retired / roadmap | Local qubit control (2024-04) |
| Notes | https://www.quera.com/aquila (primary, 2022) | https://aws.amazon.com/braket/quantum-computers/quera/ (primary, 2025) | https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2023arXiv230611727W/abstract (paper, 2023) |
The QuEra Aquila quantum processor is engineered around the principles of neutral-atom quantum computing, offering a distinct approach to quantum computation. Its core capabilities are defined by its hardware architecture and the computational paradigm it supports.
Technology and Qubit Count: Aquila utilizes neutral-atom qubits, specifically 256 physical atoms. These atoms are trapped and manipulated using optical tweezers, allowing for precise positioning and interaction control. The choice of neutral atoms is strategic, offering inherent scalability due to their isolation from environmental noise and the ability to arrange them in dense arrays.
Qubit Mode and Computational Paradigm: The primary operational mode of Aquila is Analog Hamiltonian Simulation. Unlike gate-based quantum computers that execute a sequence of discrete quantum gates, Aquila directly simulates the time evolution of a quantum system described by a Hamiltonian. This is achieved by tuning the interactions between the neutral atoms to mimic the Hamiltonian of the target problem. This approach is particularly well-suited for problems in quantum chemistry, condensed matter physics, and certain types of optimization, where the problem can be naturally mapped to a physical Hamiltonian.
Connectivity and Architecture: Aquila features a Field-Programmable Qubit Array (FPQA). This architecture allows for highly programmable connectivity, meaning the arrangement of qubits and their interaction strengths can be dynamically reconfigured. This flexibility is a significant advantage for analog simulation, as it enables users to design custom geometries that best represent the system they are simulating, potentially leading to more accurate and efficient computations. The native operations are thus centered around programmable connectivity and a reconfigurable array, rather than a fixed set of universal gates.
Error Rates and Fidelities: For analog systems like Aquila, the concept of 'error rates' and 'fidelities' differs from gate-based systems. The primary metric here is the quality of coherent dynamics (analog). While specific, publicly confirmed fidelity numbers for analog operations are not readily available, the performance is typically assessed by the fidelity of the prepared quantum state or the accuracy of the simulated dynamics compared to theoretical predictions. The inherent long coherence times of neutral atoms are a foundational advantage for maintaining quantum coherence during analog evolution. It is important to note that the provided facts indicate that specific error rates and fidelities are 'not publicly confirmed,' and a roadmap for 'Fidelities from 2025' is mentioned but also 'not confirmed,' suggesting ongoing development and characterization.
Benchmarks: As of the latest information, specific performance benchmarks are not publicly confirmed. While research papers often showcase the capabilities of neutral-atom platforms, standardized, publicly verifiable benchmarks for Aquila's analog simulation performance are not yet established. This is a common challenge in the nascent field of quantum computing, especially for non-gate-based architectures.
Operational Limits: Details regarding limits on shots, depth, and duration are not publicly confirmed. For analog systems, 'depth' might refer to the duration of the analog evolution, and 'shots' to the number of repetitions for measurement statistics. The whitepaper mentions examples, suggesting that operational parameters are explored in research contexts. However, a crucial operational detail is that the system is available for more than 100 hours per week, indicating substantial uptime for users. Other limits, such as queue times or concurrent job execution, are not publicly confirmed, but are typically managed by the AWS Braket platform.
Trade-offs and Use Cases: Aquila is particularly well-suited for quantum simulations, optimization, and machine learning tasks that can be framed as analog Hamiltonian evolutions. Its strength lies in its ability to directly model complex many-body quantum systems. The trade-off is that it is not a universal gate-based machine, meaning it cannot execute arbitrary quantum algorithms directly. Its 'scalable but analog-limited' nature implies that while it can handle a large number of qubits, the types of problems it can efficiently solve are constrained by its analog operational mode. This specialization makes it a powerful tool for specific scientific and industrial applications where analog simulation provides a direct computational advantage.
| System | Status | Primary metric |
|---|---|---|
| QuEra Lyra Quantum Computer | Not publicly confirmed | Not publicly confirmed: Not publicly confirmed |
The journey of the QuEra Aquila processor from its initial conceptualization to public availability reflects the rapid advancements in neutral-atom quantum computing. Understanding its timeline provides context for its current capabilities and future trajectory.
The timeline illustrates QuEra's commitment to bringing advanced neutral-atom technology to the forefront, with a clear path towards more robust and potentially error-corrected quantum systems. The rapid pace of development in this sector means that hardware capabilities and roadmaps are subject to continuous evolution, requiring ongoing monitoring and analysis.
Verification confidence: error rates | benchmarks | limits. Specs can vary by revision and access tier. Always cite the exact device name + date-stamped metrics.
The QuEra Aquila is a quantum processor utilizing 256 reconfigurable neutral atoms as qubits. It is primarily designed for analog Hamiltonian simulation, a specialized form of quantum computation, and is accessible via AWS Braket.
Access to the Aquila processor is provided through Amazon Web Services (AWS) Braket. Users need an AWS account and must use QuEra's Bloqade SDK for programming and interacting with the hardware.
Aquila excels at problems that can be mapped to analog Hamiltonian simulations, including quantum simulations in condensed matter physics and materials science, certain types of optimization problems, and specific machine learning applications. Its reconfigurable array is particularly beneficial for these tasks.
Key specifications include 256 physical neutral atoms, a Field-Programmable Qubit Array (FPQA) for reconfigurable connectivity, and an operational mode focused on analog Hamiltonian simulation. Native operations involve programmable connectivity and array reconfiguration.
As of the current information, specific public benchmarks for Aquila's performance and detailed error rates for its analog operations are not publicly confirmed. Performance is typically assessed by the quality of coherent dynamics in analog simulations.
Aquila operates on a pay-per-use model through AWS Braket, with costs primarily tied to the usage time of its analog mode. AWS Braket also offers a free tier that may include initial credits for experimentation.
QuEra has an active roadmap focused on developing error-corrected quantum systems. While 'Local qubit control' was a planned feature that has since been retired, the company continues to work towards advanced capabilities, with 'Fidelities from 2025' being an unconfirmed future goal.