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History of Quantum Computing Timeline
(1981 - Present)Quantum computing is a revolutionary field that harnesses the principles of quantum mechanics—superposition, entanglement, and interference—to process information in fundamentally new ways. This timeline traces its evolution from theoretical foundations proposed in the early 1980s through landmark algorithms like Shor's factoring breakthrough, the development of experimental hardware by IBM, Google, and others, to Google's 2019 quantum supremacy claim and ongoing efforts to build fault-tolerant, large-scale quantum machines. More Less
Hardware Milestones
Silicon spin control idea first suggested
1961
The technique later used for controlling single-atom spins in silicon quantum computers without oscillating magnetic fields was first suggested in 1961, laying conceptual foundations for silicon-based qubits.
NMR quantum computer factors the number 15
2001
Researchers factored the number 15 using 1018 identical molecules, each containing seven active nuclear spins, demonstrating Shor's algorithm on a liquid-state nuclear magnetic resonance quantum computer.
Image source: Nuclear magnetic resonance quantum computer
Qubit lifetime extended by factor of 1000
2013
Researchers extended qubit lifetime by a factor of 1000, a major advance in coherence times that improves the reliability of quantum information processing across multiple platforms.
Image source: Qubit
Google claims quantum supremacy
Sep 2019
A paper by Google's quantum computer research team was briefly available in late September 2019, claiming the project had reached quantum supremacy with its Sycamore processor performing a sampling task faster than classical supercomputers.
Two studies complement mechanical oscillator entanglement research
May 7, 2022
On May 7, two studies complemented research published September 2020 by quantum-entangling two mechanical oscillators, advancing the field of quantum mechanics at macroscopic scales.
Image source: Quantum entanglement
Empa constructs Heisenberg model with synthetic nanographenes
Aug 29, 2024
Researchers at Empa successfully constructed a one-dimensional alternating Heisenberg model using synthetic nanographenes, confirming century-old quantum physics predictions.
Number of silicon spin qubits doubles
2025
This result doubled the number of spin qubits published in September 2022, advancing silicon quantum computers that use single-atom spins without needing oscillating magnetic fields.
Foundations
Benioff's quantum-mechanical model of computation
1976
A paper describing a quantum-mechanical model of the Turing machine was published in 1976 (with work dating from 43–72 in an earlier numbering). It laid early groundwork for thinking about computation under quantum laws.
Image source: Paul Benioff
Benioff submits paper on quantum computers
Jun 1979 - Apr 1980
Benioff's influential paper on a quantum-mechanical model of computers was submitted in June 1979 and published in April 1980, showing that a computer can operate under the laws of quantum mechanics.
Benioff's talk on quantum computing
1980
Benioff gave a talk that built on his earlier 1980 work showing that a computer can operate under the laws of quantum mechanics, helping to establish the theoretical possibility of quantum computation.
Key Facts
- In 1981, physicist Richard Feynman proposed that a computer based on quantum mechanics could simulate physical systems far more efficiently than classical computers.
- In 1994, Peter Shor developed a quantum algorithm capable of factoring large numbers exponentially faster than known classical methods, threatening modern RSA encryption.
- In 1996, Lov Grover introduced his quantum search algorithm, providing a quadratic speedup for unstructured database searches.
- In 2019, Google claimed 'quantum supremacy' when its 53-qubit Sycamore processor performed a specific task in about 200 seconds that would take a classical supercomputer thousands of years.
- Current research focuses on error correction and fault tolerance, with companies like IBM, Google, and IonQ racing to build scalable, reliable quantum computers for practical applications.
Source
This History of Quantum Computing timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.
We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.
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