Princeton Engineers Achieve Breakthrough in Superconducting Qubit Longevity, Paving Way for Practical Quantum Computing

Princeton University engineers have made a significant leap in quantum computing by developing a superconducting qubit that lasts over one millisecond three times longer than the best previously reported in laboratory settings and approximately fifteen times longer than the industry standard. The innovation, recently published in Nature (November 5), revolves around tantalum-on-silicon transmon qubits, which promise easier integration into existing systems like those of Google and IBM.

Not only does the extended coherence time enable better error correction and scalability, but the enhanced qubits could dramatically improve performance in large quantum chips. Researchers note that this breakthrough could accelerate progress toward large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computersunlocking the ability to solve scientific and cybersecurity problems currently out of reach. The team believes such real-world problem-solving capability may emerge within just a few years, marking "the next big jump forward" in quantum computing.

Reference:

Princeton University via YouTube – “Princeton puts quantum computing on the fast track with new qubit,” Nov 5, 2025