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2026 SELECTION

QubitWire 100

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

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

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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 selection3 of 100 people

Explain the selected topics
Neutral atoms
A hardware approach that stores quantum information in electrically neutral atoms.
Foundations
The concepts and physical principles that quantum information builds on.

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S

2 people

Develops neutral-atom quantum processors, with research spanning multi-qubit entanglement, quantum algorithms and measurements that preserve the information stored in neighboring atomic qubits.

University of Wisconsin–Madison

Johannes Rydberg Professor of Physics

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Why included? 3 sources

Saffman connects the physics of individually controlled atoms to the operations a programmable quantum computer needs. His publications address both entangling several qubits and measuring selected atoms while protecting other qubits. These are distinct engineering steps: preparing useful quantum states does not by itself provide the repeated measurements required for error correction. His inclusion reflects documented experimental contributions to that progression and an active neutral-atom research program at Wisconsin.

Quantum hardwareError correction

Documented work base: United States

Identification checked Explore the contributions and sources

Engineers interactions among laser-cooled atoms to study quantum many-body behavior and create entanglement that can improve the precision of atomic measurements and clocks.

Stanford University

Associate Professor of Physics

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Why included? 2 sources

Schleier-Smith makes collective quantum behavior experimentally controllable. Her work uses light to mediate interactions between atoms, allowing researchers to tune how information and correlations spread through an atomic ensemble. The same ability to engineer entanglement supports both quantum simulation and improved measurement. She belongs in this directory for research that links those purposes: learning how complex quantum systems behave while developing methods to extract more precise information from them.

Quantum simulationControl & measurement

Documented work base: United States

Identification checked Explore the contributions and sources

Y

1 person

Uses precise laser control, optical clocks and ultracold matter to investigate quantum behavior, including entanglement-enhanced timekeeping and controllable systems for quantum many-body research.

JILA / National Institute of Standards and Technology

Fellow, JILA and NIST

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Why included? 3 sources

Ye’s work shows how precise measurement and quantum control reinforce one another. Optical lattice clocks demand exceptional control over atoms and light; the same tools enable experiments on interactions, entanglement and ultracold molecules. His research therefore contributes to the broader experimental capabilities on which quantum computing and simulation depend. The profile highlights a measured improvement from entanglement alongside a continuing many-body research program, without presenting an atomic clock as a general-purpose quantum processor.

Control & measurementQuantum simulation

Documented work base: United States

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