What is IonQ kilohertz trapped-ion–SiV quantum-memory interconnect?

Quantum computers store information in qubits (quantum bits), and one way to build bigger ones is to link several smaller processors into a network. That needs fast entanglement, a quantum connection between qubits in separate modules, but links made of photons (particles of light) lose photons along the way, which limits how quickly entanglement forms. This result entangles a trapped barium ion, a charged atom held in place by electromagnetic fields, with a silicon-vacancy center in diamond, which serves as a quantum memory. A single detected photon signals that the link formed, and the team reported about 1,000 entangled pairs per second. IonQ announced it on 9 October 2026.

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