IonQ
2025.10.09
IonQ is a quantum computing company centered around trapped-ion technology, with a mission to "build the world's best quantum computers to solve the most complex problems." It emphasizes practical, application-oriented systems and cloud services to help industries explore quantum advantage in fields like chemistry, materials science, and machine learning. The company's core products are its quantum processors and systems (Aria, Forte, Tempo, etc.), and it provides access through the IonQ Quantum Cloud and partner cloud platforms.
The business focus is on providing hardware access via the cloud and partner platforms, and advancing commercialization in areas such as carbon removal, battery materials, and drug discovery.
▲ Schematic of a trapped-ion QPU.
Ref: https://ionq.com/news/february-10-2022-duke-ionq-new-qc-gate
▲ Diagram of the IonQ Forte system: (a) two acousto-optic deflectors (AODs) that steer beams to individual ions; (b) the control system; (c) imaging optics that map ions to individual fibers from above; (d) ions are trapped above IonQ's proprietary surface ion trap chip; (e) the output of the Raman laser source is split into a pair of counter-propagating beam arms, which are then modulated by their respective AODs.
Ref: https://quantum-journal.org/papers/q-2024-11-07-1516/
▲ Schematic of a trapped-ion quantum computer. The quantum register consists of a linearly arranged chain of \(^{171}\mathrm{Yb}^+\) ions, held in an ultra-high vacuum chamber. High-numerical-aperture (high-NA) imaging optics enable individual addressing and readout of single ion qubits. The Raman beams, shown in red and purple, are generated by a 355 nm pulsed laser and drive two-photon transitions between the \(\ket{0}\) and \(\ket{1}\) states. Full control over the amplitude, frequency, and phase of each addressing beam allows for the implementation of arbitrary single-qubit and two-qubit operations.
Ref: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1902.10171
Quantum Computer Products
Core Technology: Trapped-ion qubits (using atomic ions as qubits), emphasizing the natural uniformity of ions, excellent isolation, long coherence times, and high-fidelity control.
Performance Metric: Uses "Algorithmic Qubits (#AQ)" as a metric for "useful" qubits.
Ref: https://ionq.com/quantum-systems/compare
Quantum Cloud Computing
IonQ Quantum Cloud: A quantum cloud service that supports mainstream libraries and tools. Access to hardware is also available through partner cloud platforms. Direct hardware access and partnership programs are also offered.
Ref: https://ionq.com/quantum-cloud
Related Talks
Related Partners & Customers
Ref: https://ionq.com/
Customers
Partners
Parts of this article were generated and edited with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed by the author. Originally written in Chinese by the author, these articles are translated into English to invite cross-language resonance.
Peir-Ru Wang