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Multiqubit Rydberg Gates for Quantum Error Correction

David F. Locher1,2,*, Josias Old1,2, Katharina Brechtelsbauer3, Jakob Holschbach1,2, Hans Peter Büchler3, Sebastian Weber3, and Markus Müller1,2,†

  • *Contact author: david.locher@rwth-aachen.de
  • †Contact author: markus.mueller@fz-juelich.de
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PRX Quantum 7, 020354 – Published 8 June, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/j8fm-24cf

Abstract

Multiqubit gates that involve three or more qubits are usually thought to be of little significance for fault-tolerant quantum error correction because single gate faults can lead to errors of high Pauli weight. However, recent works have shown that multiqubit gates can be beneficial for measurement-free fault-tolerant quantum error correction and for fault-tolerant stabilizer readout in unrotated surface codes. In this work, we investigate multiqubit Rydberg gates that are useful for fault-tolerant quantum error correction in single-species neutral-atom platforms and can be implemented with global laser pulses that do not individually address atomic sites. We develop an open-source Python package to generate analytical, few-parameter pulses that implement the desired gates while minimizing gate errors due to Rydberg-state decay. The tool also allows us to identify parameter-optimal pulses, characterized by a minimal parameter count for the pulse ansatz. Measurement-free quantum error correction protocols require controlled-controlled-Z (CCZ) gates, which we analyze for atoms arranged in symmetric and asymmetric configurations. We investigate the performance of these schemes for various single-, two-, and three-qubit gate error rates, showing that break-even performance of measurement-free quantum error correction is within reach of current hardware. Moreover, we study Floquet quantum error correction protocols that comprise two-body stabilizer measurements. Those can be realized using global three-qubit gates, and we show that this can lead to a significant reduction in shuttling operations. Simulations with realistic circuit-level noise indicate that applying three-qubit gates for stabilizer measurements in Floquet codes can yield competitive logical qubit performance in experimentally relevant error regimes.

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Popular Summary

Recent advancements in neutral-atom experiments have positioned them as frontrunners in early fault-tolerant quantum computing. This progress is attributed to the platform’s excellent scalability, dynamic qubit connectivity through atom shuttling, and high-fidelity entangling gates enabled by Rydberg interactions. Notably, the platform also supports native multiqubit gates. This work introduces a tool for designing experimentally feasible multiqubit gate pulses and highlights how these gates can be highly beneficial for fault-tolerant quantum error correction.

Laser pulses that numerically realize multiqubit gates with high fidelity while minimizing errors from Rydberg-state decay are often described by piecewise-defined functions that require large numbers of parameters. In our work, we develop a tool for devising multiqubit gate pulses that are described analytically with just a few parameters. This is crucial for practically implementing the resulting gates, as all pulse parameters must be carefully calibrated in experiments. Only recently has it been realized that multiqubit gates may be valuable in fault-tolerant quantum error correction (QEC). Here, we show that employing native three-qubit gates for check measurements in Floquet codes enables efficient implementation of QEC cycles using conveyor-belt-inspired shuttling schedules. We further demonstrate that in measurement-free QEC protocols, multiqubit gates are effective for implementing coherent quantum feedback operations.

Overall, this work firmly establishes multiqubit gates as highly valuable experimental tools. Their full potential for fault-tolerant quantum computing is likely not yet exhaustively explored. To promote further research and innovation in this field, the developed gate optimization tool is made available as an open-source software package.

Article Text

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PRX Quantum 7, 020354– Published 8 June, 2026
  • Received 19 December 2025
  • Revised 14 March 2026
  • Accepted 29 April 2026
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