Quantum information processing based on Rydberg atoms emerged as a promising direction two decades ago. Recent experimental and theoretical progresses have shined exciting light on this avenue. In this concise review, we will briefly introduce the basics of Rydberg atoms and their recent applications in associated areas of neutral atom quantum computation and simulation. We shall also include related discussions on quantum optics with Rydberg atomic ensembles, which are increasingly used to explore quantum computation and quantum simulation with photons.
Quantum information processing based on Rydberg atoms emerged as a promising direction two decades ago. Recent experimental and theoretical progresses have shined exciting light on this avenue. In this concise review, we will briefly introduce the basics of Rydberg atoms and their recent applications in associated areas of neutral atom quantum computation and simulation. We shall also include related discussions on quantum optics with Rydberg atomic ensembles, which are increasingly used to explore quantum computation and quantum simulation with photons.
Rydberg atoms with principal quantum number n⪢1 have exaggerated atomic properties including dipole-dipole interactions that scale as n4 and radiative lifetimes that scale as n3. It was proposed a decade ago to take advantage of these properties to implement quantum gates between neutral atom qubits. The availability of a strong long-range interaction that can be coherently turned on and off is an enabling resource for a wide range of quantum information tasks stretching far beyond the original gate proposal. Rydberg enabled capabilities include long-range two-qubit gates, collective encoding of multiqubit registers, implementation of robust light-atom quantum interfaces, and the potential for simulating quantum many-body physics. The advances of the last decade are reviewed, covering both theoretical and experimental aspects of Rydberg-mediated quantum information processing.
Quantum computing has quickly emerged as a revolutionary paradigm that holds the potential for greatly enhanced computational capability and algorithmic efficiency, in a wide range of areas. Among the various hardware platforms, neutral atom quantum processors based on Rydberg interactions are gaining increasing interest because of their scalability, qubit-connection flexibility, and intrinsic appropriateness for solving combinatorial optimization challenges. This paper provides an overview of the present capabilities, standards, and applications of neutral atom quantum computers. We first discuss recent hardware advancements and register mapping optimization techniques that enhance circuit fidelity and performance. We next review their uses as quantum simulators, in both classical and quantum hard problems, such as MIS and QUBO problems, quantum many-body models and molecules in chemistry and pharmacology. Applications for enhancing machine learning are also covered.
Neutral atom quantum computing utilizes laser-trapped neutral atoms as qubits and realizes quantum logic gate operations through Rydberg-state interactions. In recent years, it has become one of the most vibrant directions in quantum computing hardware. This paper systematically reviews the working principles of neutral-atom quantum computers, including qubit encoding, atom trapping and manipulation, Rydberg states and interactions, the Rydberg blockade quantum gate mechanism, and atom rearrangement with reconfigurable architectures. The mainstream technical routes are surveyed, represented by optical tweezer arrays combined with Rydberg interactions, optical lattice schemes, and dipole trap arrays. A panoramic review is provided of domestic and international research progress from theoretical foundations in 2000 to the latest achievements in 2026, including thousand-qubit-scale systems, logical qubits, and quantum error correction experiments. Key breakthroughs are highlighted, such as the 6100-atom qubit array, continuous operation of a 3000-qubit system, quantum simulation of the Kitaev honeycomb model, toric code error correction demonstrations, encoding rates exceeding 1/2, and fault-tolerant architectures. The core bottlenecks are analyzed in depth, including the scalability--fidelity trade-off, engineering implementation of quantum error correction, atom loss and mid-circuit replenishment, laser system industrialization, control electronics scalability, and long-distance quantum interconnection. This paper aims to provide a systematic reference for academic research and technological development in this field.
Rydberg atoms have highly controllable exotic properties such as strong inter-atomic interaction, high polarizability, and long lifetimes which enabled unprecedented progress in Rydberg atom-based quantum Technologies. We present a brief review of recent progress in the development of quantum technologies using Rydberg atoms. We highlight the recent advances in the various regimes of quantum technologies such as quantum Information processing, quantum sensing, quantum simulation of many-body physics and single-photon sources for quantum communications.
Quantum information processing is a promising way that deals with the aspects of superposition, entanglement, computation using coherence, communication, and sensing. This review is an analysis of how alkali Rydberg atoms can be used in quantum information processing. The leading candidates are the alkali atoms, as they have a simple electronic structure, transitions that are well characterized, and which can be laser-cooled and trapped. Important mechanisms, such as EIT, dipole-dipole interactions, and Rydberg blockade, are necessary to achieve high-fidelity quantum gates, photon-photon interactions, and long-lived quantum memories. Experimental devices such as magneto-optical traps, optical tweezers, optical lattices, and warm vapor cells have made it possible to use a controllable atom-photon interface and scalable architecture. In the recent development of laser and microwave control methods, the time of coherence, state-transfer, and single-atom addressability have been enhanced. Such challenges include decoherence due to spontaneous emission, motional dephasing, and technical issues in trapping stability and laser linewidth. This review concludes that alkali Rydberg atoms, especially rubidium and cesium, are of relevance in scalable fault-tolerant quantum computing and quantum simulation, and represent the meeting of basic quantum science with new technology uses.
Rydberg atoms, characterized by their strong and long-range dipole-dipole interactions, provide a versatile platform for exploring intriguing collective and many-body effects. Recently, the experimental realization of these effects in dense ensembles and reconfigurable atomic arrays has attracted significant interest, particularly for applications in quantum simulations and non-equilibrium physics. This review focuses on such recent development, discussing the theoretical foundations of the interactions between Rydberg atoms and the ensuing many-body physics, while providing a critical survey of experimental techniques for their precise manipulation and observation. We further discuss recent breakthroughs in leveraging Rydberg collective effects to probe novel many-body phases and non-equilibrium dynamics of these systems. By synthesizing theoretical insights with experimental milestones, we provide a comprehensive perspective on this rapidly evolving field and its transformative potential for future quantum technologies.