aiqbench analysis
This paper demonstrates error-detecting fault-tolerance codes applied to small quantum adder circuits on Quantinuum's Helios-1 trapped-ion hardware. The headline result, a logical failure rate below the unencoded physical rate, rests on a single observed failure, so its wide error bars (±5.9×10⁻⁵ on a 6.0×10⁻⁵ estimate) matter as much as the point value. Readers should note that the four- and five-bit adders only reached threshold, which marks the current practical limit for this architecture.
Below-threshold execution of fault-tolerant ripple-carry addition on a trapped-ion quantum computer
arXiv:2610.14202v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: We deploy a universal fault-tolerant quantum computing (FTQC) architecture based on error-detecting $[\![8,3,2]\!]$ and $[\![4,2,2]\!]$ codes on Quantinuum's Helios-1 trapped-ion quantum computer. We compile and execute ripple-carry adder (RCA) circuits for classical inputs up to five bits on this architecture. Uncomputing a workspace qubit provides an additional ``algorithmic check'' to detect errors. While available at both the physical and logical levels, this check synergizes with our architecture by increasing the effective fault distance of many circuit locations from two to four. Combining this algorithmic check with the error-detecting codes, we observed only a single logical failure in one-bit addition after burst-error filtering, yielding an estimated logical failure rate of $(6.0 \pm 5.9) \times 10^{-5}$. This is well below the $(3.5 \pm 1.3) \times 10^{-3}$ failure probability observed for one-bit addition on the same hardware in unencoded form. Two- and three-bit adders also showed performance improvements, while the longer four- and five-bit adders executed just above threshold.
Abstract:We deploy a universal fault-tolerant quantum computing (FTQC) architecture based on error-detecting $[\![8,3,2]\!]$ and $[\![4,2,2]\!]$ codes on Quantinuum's Helios-1 trapped-ion quantum computer. We compile and execute ripple-carry adder (RCA) circuits for classical inputs up to five bits on this architecture. Uncomputing a workspace qubit provides an additional ``algorithmic check'' to detect errors. While available at both the physical and logical levels, this check synergizes with our architecture by increasing the effective fault distance of many circuit locations from two to four. Combining this algorithmic check with the error-detecting codes, we observed only a single logical failure in one-bit addition after burst-error filtering, yielding an estimated logical failure rate of $(6.0 \pm 5.9) \times 10^{-5}$. This is well below the $(3.5 \pm 1.3) \times 10^{-3}$ failure probability observed for one-bit addition on the same hardware in unencoded form. Two- and three-bit adders also showed performance improvements, while the longer four- and five-bit adders executed just above threshold.
arXiv:2610.14202 [quant-ph]
(or arXiv:2610.14202v1 [quant-ph] for this version)
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2610.14202 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration)
arXivLabs is a framework that allows collaborators to develop and share new arXiv features directly on our website.
Both individuals and organizations that work with arXivLabs have embraced and accepted our values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. arXiv is committed to these values and only works with partners that adhere to them.
Have an idea for a project that will add value for arXiv's community? Learn more about arXivLabs.
Full text under the publisher's open licence · 247 words
Related coverage

Photons for Reach, Atoms for Entanglement: A Compound Photon-Atom Blueprint for Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing
The Quantum Insider · Aug 6, 2026

Alice & Bob, the French Quantum Computing Company Building FTQC
Quantum Zeitgeist · Jul 17, 2026

NEAREST BY Join: Scaling Vector Search in Databricks Runtime
Databricks · Oct 5, 2026

Quantum Computers Need 100,000-Fold Performance Gain For Scientific Utility, Study Finds
The Quantum Insider · Sep 15, 2026