Fujitsu and Japanese startup Yaqumo have started testing the STAR quantum computing architecture and the underlying software on a real neutral-atom quantum computer. The companies aim to evaluate the compatibility of the architecture with this type of hardware.
Since April 2026, Fujitsu and Yaqumo have theoretically explored the application of STAR on neutral-atom systems. In August, the companies moved to testing on a physical quantum computer. STAR (Space-Time efficient Analog Rotation) is Fujitsu's architecture for the era of early fault-tolerant quantum computing (Early-FTQC). It optimizes the implementation of phase rotations and, according to the company, can significantly reduce the number of qubits required for quantum computations. However, the effectiveness of STAR depends on the type of quantum computer, so testing on real hardware should demonstrate how compatible the architecture is with neutral-atom systems.
Yaqumo is developing quantum computers based on neutral ytterbium atoms. Such systems allow for relatively easy interaction between a large number of qubits, enabling a "fully connected" architecture without intermediate elements. According to Fujitsu, this opens up possibilities for computational methods that differ from those in superconducting systems, where qubit connectivity is limited. Additionally, the characteristics of the neutral-atom architecture could potentially simplify the implementation of more efficient error correction. As part of the joint project, the companies want to determine whether the combination of STAR and neutral atoms can perform practical quantum computations with fewer physical qubits. So far, Fujitsu has not provided test results that would quantitatively assess the advantage of STAR on neutral-atom equipment. The current phase of the project is dedicated to testing the architecture's compatibility with real hardware.