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QubitWire

2026 SELECTION

QubitWire 100

100 people recognized for contributions to quantum computing. Unranked and alphabetical by surname.

About the selection

An unranked collection. Browse by surname or start with an idea.

Browse by topic
Filter this list by topicError correctionNeutral atomsQuantum networksAlgorithmsFoundations
Explain these topics
Error correction
Methods that protect encoded quantum information by detecting and correcting certain errors.
Neutral atoms
A hardware approach that stores quantum information in electrically neutral atoms.
Quantum networks
Links that distribute quantum information or entanglement between locations.
Algorithms & complexity
How quantum calculations work and what resources they require.
Foundations
The concepts and physical principles that quantum information builds on.

The 2026 selection2 of 100 people

About foundations
Foundations
The concepts and physical principles that quantum information builds on.

Jump to surname

D

1 person

David Deutsch

A theoretical physicist who formulated a universal quantum-computing model and continues to investigate the physical foundations of information, computation and the possibilities of scientific explanation.

University of Oxford

Visiting Professor of Physics

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Why included? 3 sources

Deutsch’s work places computation inside physics. His 1985 paper described a quantum generalization of a universal computing machine, helping establish quantum computation as a distinct research program. His later work with Chiara Marletto examines information through the physical transformations that are possible or impossible. These contributions offer a conceptual foundation for understanding why quantum machines are different and why their capabilities must be stated in terms of explicit physical and mathematical assumptions.

FoundationsAlgorithms & complexity
3 linked sources · 2 research sources

Documented work base: United Kingdom

Identification checked Explore the contributions and sources

E

1 person

Artur Ekert

A quantum-information physicist whose entanglement-based cryptography proposal connected secure communication with Bell’s theorem, alongside institution-building work at Singapore’s Centre for Quantum Technologies.

University of Oxford

Professor of Quantum Physics

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Why included? 3 sources

Ekert’s work helped make entanglement useful as a resource for communication. His 1991 proposal linked quantum key distribution to Bell’s theorem, giving a new way to reason about the security of shared keys. His role as founding director of the Centre for Quantum Technologies also contributed to the field’s research capacity. The combination illustrates how a foundational idea can shape a technical discipline and the institutions that support its development.

Quantum cryptographyFoundations
3 linked sources · 1 research source

Documented work base: United Kingdom

Identification checked Explore the contributions and sources
About these checks

Linked sources support selected statements in each profile. Research sources include papers and preprints. A source count is not a ranking or a quality score.

The identification check date relates to the recorded professional description. Individual sources have their own check dates. The fixed 2026 selection stays separate from later profile corrections.

THE EDITORIAL VIEW

Why these people.
Why this field.

Quantum computing is shaped by more than headline breakthroughs. Progress also depends on the people who establish its limits, make its systems more reliable and turn difficult ideas into tools others can use.

The QubitWire 100 recognizes contributions across that work. Each profile explains what is being recognized and connects the account to its supporting evidence.

View the permanent 2026 record