Microsoft patents scheduling system for neutral atom quantum computers
Microsoft has filed a patent for a scheduling system designed to optimize how atoms move between storage and interaction zones in a neutral atom quantum computer. The system uses algorithms to determine the best path for moving atoms with light traps, aiming to reduce calculation errors while respecting physical hardware limits.
In the filing’s own words
The invention relates to neutral atom quantum computers having a zoned architecture that includes a storage zone and an interaction zone as part of an array of atoms that form the quantum register in an optical lattice. A schedule optimizer determines an optimized atom schedule for moving atoms between the storage zone and the interaction zone using optical tweezers generated by an optical trap generator responsive to the optimized atom schedule. The schedule optimizer may be implemented according to several variations of algorithms that include an annealing solver and a mathematical optimization engine. The schedule optimizer receives an objective function that includes selectable factors that correlate to minimizing the logical error rate for a set of operational tasks, various hardware constraints such as zone geometries and circuit schedules.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A system for configuring an array of atoms for performing a quantum computation, the system comprising: a quantum register including an optical trap array having a plurality of zones, the plurality of zones including an interaction zone and a storage zone; a scheduling optimizer for receiving a plurality of constraints and determining an optimized atom schedule that optimizes a value of an objective function that correlates to minimizing a logical error rate while performing the quantum computation and respecting the plurality of constraints including: hardware constraints that include an interaction zone geometry, a storage zone geometry, and movement constraints within the array of atoms between the interaction zone and the storage zone, the interaction zone geometry including doublons, circuit scheduling that includes initial qubit placement in the optical trap array and gate groupings in the doublons in the interaction zone, and qubit groupings for simultaneous moves between the interaction zone and the storage zone; and an optical trap generator for deflecting a trapping laser into a first direction and a second direction to form the optical trap array, the optical trap generator coupled to the scheduling optimizer to receive the optimized atom schedule and move a set of atoms of the array of atoms between the doublons in the interaction zone and the storage zone in the optical trap array responsive to the optimized atom schedule.
Facts
- Company
- Microsoft (Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC)
- Official title
- ZONED NEUTRAL ATOM QUANTUM COMPUTER SCHEDULE OPTIMIZATION
- Publication number
- US20260260776A1
- Application number
- 19066949
- Filed
- Feb 28, 2025
- Published
- Sep 3, 2026
- Inventors
- 6
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
G21K 1/30 Physics & computingG06N 10/40 Physics & computingMore from Microsoft in Chips & hardware
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.