The 98-qubit Helios from Sandia and Quantinuum: a breakthrough in the accuracy of quantum computing
On June 17, 2025, Sandia National Laboratories — one of the leading national laboratories of the U.S. Department of Energy — together with quantum systems developer Quantinuum, presented peer-reviewed results of the 98-qubit quantum processor Helios. This step marks a milestone in the commercialization of quantum computing, where precision becomes a critical factor.
Helios, built on barium ions with a QCCD (Quantum Charge-Coupled Device) architecture, demonstrates impressive metrics: average single-qubit gate fidelity reaches 99.9975%, and two-qubit gate fidelity reaches 99.921%. These values place the system far beyond the capabilities of classical simulation, which was confirmed by tests on random Clifford circuits and the Random Circuit Sampling (RCS) benchmark. Full qubit connectivity — any qubit can interact with any other — adds the flexibility needed for complex algorithms.
Sandia not only certified Helios's metrics but also applied its own benchmarking methodologies, including mid-circuit measurements — a key element for quantum error correction. As noted by co-author of the study Robin Blume-Kohout: "The most important aspect of modern quantum computers is not speed, but reliability." Errors can arise from dozens of factors — from failures in laser tuning to the movement of individual atoms — and verifying each component is critical for building fault-tolerant systems.
The partnership between Sandia and Quantinuum, lasting four years, was extended in May 2026. Helios, commercially launched in November 2025, is already available through cloud services and local deployment. Among early users are Amgen, BMW Group, JPMorganChase, and SoftBank Corp. This confirms growing interest in quantum computing in pharmaceuticals, finance, and the automotive industry, where modeling precision directly impacts innovation.
My analysis: Helios's metrics are not just numbers but a signal that quantum systems are transitioning from experimental prototypes to commercially significant tools. However, the path to practical superiority over classical computers remains long: 98 qubits is just the beginning for tasks requiring millions of logical operations. Nevertheless, the progress in precision and error correction demonstrated by Sandia and Quantinuum lays the foundation for the next generation of quantum computing, which could transform entire industries.