Skip to content
Back to people
QUBITWIRE 100

Mikhail D. Lukin

Joshua and Beth Friedman University Professor, Harvard University

Harvard University

Harvard University
United States · work baseIdentification checked 2026-09-19
WHY INCLUDED

Lukin connects quantum optics with computation and communication, contributing to atomic-ensemble networking protocols and experiments that process encoded logical qubits in reconfigurable neutral-atom arrays.

Harvard UniversityarXiv / NaturearXiv / Nature

Lukin’s contributions span ways to distribute quantum information and ways to process it while controlling errors. The Duan–Lukin–Cirac–Zoller proposal uses atomic ensembles and optical measurements to address long-distance communication. More recently, his collaborations have operated encoded logical qubits in reconfigurable atom arrays, testing how logical control and error detection improve computations. These strands share a focus on controlling light and matter at the level of quantum information, with achievements attributed to their full research teams.

Harvard UniversityarXiv / NaturearXiv / Nature

Defining contributions

Work, in context
  1. 2001

    The DLCZ communication protocol

    With Lu-Ming Duan, Ignacio Cirac and Peter Zoller, Lukin proposed long-distance quantum communication using atomic ensembles, optical elements and photon detection. The scheme addresses channel loss through a structured entanglement-distribution protocol.

    Coauthor with Lu-Ming Duan, Ignacio Cirac and Peter Zoller of the communication proposal.

    Source-supported recordarXiv / Nature
  2. 2023

    An encoded logical processor in atom arrays

    Lukin coauthored a programmable neutral-atom processor experiment with encoded logical qubits. It combined reconfigurable connectivity, logical control and readout, and demonstrated improved performance using error detection. Particular experiments reached 48 logical qubits.

    Coauthor of the logical-processor experiment; the stated capabilities refer to the team’s specific tested circuits.

    Source-supported recordarXiv / Nature

Keep in perspective

The 48-logical-qubit experiment is not described as general-purpose fault-tolerant computation.

Follow the evidence

3 sources

Primary papers, institutional records and attributed announcements. Each source supports the claims linked above.

QubitWire editorial · Content edition 2026-09-19.1Independent coverage. Inclusion does not imply endorsement.