Adam Kaufman (left) inspects an optical atomic clock at JILA on the University of Colorado campus with students Nelson Darkwah Oppong, Alec Cao and Theo Lukin Yelin.
Today, Google Quantum AI announced a major expansion of its quantum computing research program, naming JILA Fellow Adam Kaufman to lead a newly formed neutral atom quantum hardware team. The initiative marks Google’s first large-scale investment in neutral atom quantum computing, a rapidly advancing platform that complements its long‑standing work in superconducting qubits.
Kaufman, an internationally recognized leader in neutral atom physics, will continue his research at JILA as a JILA Fellow while maintaining his academic appointment in the Department of Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder. According to The Colorado Sun, Kaufman’s dual role reflects Google’s strategy of closely integrating industrial-scale engineering with cutting-edge academic research, particularly in Boulder’s growing quantum ecosystem.
In announcing the program, Google emphasized that neutral atom quantum processors offer unique advantages, including the ability to scale to very large arrays—currently on the order of thousands to tens of thousands of qubits—with highly flexible, “any‑to‑any” connectivity. While neutral atom systems operate more slowly than superconducting circuits, their scalability in qubit number makes them especially promising for quantum simulation and fault‑tolerant architectures. Google views the parallel development of both platforms as a way to accelerate progress toward commercially useful quantum computers.
This new collaboration further strengthens JILA’s national and international leadership in quantum science, building on its major federally funded research centers and broad portfolio of competitive grants. By bridging foundational research and industrial-scale quantum engineering, the partnership underscores JILA’s central role in shaping the future of quantum technology.
Please join us in congratulating Adam Kaufman on this exciting opportunity and on his continued contributions to JILA, CU Boulder, and the global quantum research community.
Learn more:
The Colorado Sun: Google taps Boulder physicist to lead new quantum computing effort
Google Quantum AI Blog: Building superconducting and neutral atom quantum computers