Kai Voges gets €5.8m to combine ultracold molecules with Rydberg atoms for quantum computing

[Frost Jay]

Physicist Kai Voges has set up a research group at Leibniz University Hannover that will combine ultracold molecules, used as qubits, with Rydberg atoms, The Quantum Insider reports. The five year project, called HybriQCS, has 5.8 million euros from Germany's Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space through an early career competition. It runs from March 2026 to February 2031, with the goal of first gate operations within five years

The idea is to combine the strengths of two very different systems. Voges explained: "We therefore aim to combine the stability of molecules with the speed of Rydberg atoms." Molecules can hold quantum information for a very long time but interact weakly, while Rydberg atoms interact strongly and quickly but are less stable. "As qubits, molecules have long coherence times, which means they can store quantum information for seconds or even minutes," he said

Voges has worked on both sides of the problem. He previously assembled molecules from single atoms in Hannover and cooled whole molecules at Imperial College London. He has also proposed a noise cancelling dual clock design. The group sits within Quantum Valley Lower Saxony and plans collaborations with ion trap groups and the national metrology institute, PTB. A spin-off company is being considered

Coming in the same week as the Stuttgart Rydberg records and Germany's big hardware competition, it adds to the picture of a very active German quantum research scene. Hybrid systems are a long term bet. Combining two kinds of quantum objects is technically very hard, but if it works it could offer the best of both. Five years to first gate operations is a realistic target for something this ambitious

Are hybrid quantum systems the future, or will one technology win outright? And does Germany now have the strongest quantum research base in Europe?

Kai Voges Leads €5.8 Million Research Project on Hybrid Quantum Systemsthequantuminsider.com