Quantum Computing with Circular Rydberg Atoms

Rydberg atom arrays are a leading platform for quantum computing and simulation, combining strong interactions with highly coherent operations and flexible geometries. Despite recent improvements, achievable two-qubit gate fidelities are limited by the finite lifetime of the Rydberg states as well as technical imperfections. In this work, we propose a novel approach to quantum computing with Rydberg atom arrays based on long-lived circular Rydberg states in individual optical traps. Based on the extremely long lifetime of these states (exceeding seconds in cryogenic microwave cavities) and gate protocols that are robust to finite atomic temperature, we project that arrays of hundreds of circular Rydberg atoms with two-qubit gate errors below 10^-5 can be realized with current technology.