Researchers at Harvard University have claimed a quantum ‘breakthrough’ by building what they say is the first-ever quantum computer capable of running continuously without the need to restart, overcoming a major hurdle in scaling the use of next-gen quantum tech.

Publishing their paper in the science journal Nature, the team demonstrated that their experimental architecture, comprised of more than 3,000 qubits, ran without stopping for more than two hours, and in theory could continue indefinitely.

Unlike classic computers, which use binary systems, quantum machines run on a complex system of subatomic particles, which are both fragile and prone to escape while in operation.

According to the paper, this process, dubbed ‘atom loss’, limits quantum systems to a ‘pulsed’ mode, with even the most advanced unable to make it past a few seconds without failing, representing what the researchers called a ‘major bottleneck’ for quantum computing.

That problem is now closer to being solved, however, with the Harvard scientists, along with colleagues from MIT, designing a high-rate reloading method that pushes 300,000 atoms per second back into the quantum circuit, replacing those that are lost.  

“There’s now fundamentally nothing limiting how long our usual atom and quantum computers can run for,” Tout T. Wang, a research associate in the lab behind the tech, told The Harvard Crimson, which first reported the team’s efforts. 

“Even if atoms get lost with a small probability, we can bring fresh atoms in to replace them and not affect the quantum information being stored in the system.”

The results of the experiment could pave the way for more advanced atomic clocks, sensors and fault-tolerant quantum computers, the researchers said, with systems that might run forever potentially being only a few years away. 

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However, while Harvard’s breakthrough is a big step for the quantum research field, it’s unlikely to result in any commercial or even useful quantum machines any time soon, which studies suggest would require several million qubits.

Still, interest in quantum tech is growing, with enterprise tech firms pushing hard on with their next-gen agenda, and even more traditional institutions thinking about making the quantum leap.

Most recently, HSBC joined forces with IBM to demonstrate the potential value of current quantum computers in solving real-world problems for algorithmic bond trading, while Cisco claimed its own breakthrough just last week, showcasing its prototype for an advanced quantum networking strategy.