Chicago Quantum Summit 2026

Attendees, exhibitors & solutions

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Industry trends

Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.

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Frequently asked

Glossary

1

Qubit

The basic unit of quantum information. Unlike a classical bit, a qubit can hold a superposition of 0 and 1 until it is measured, which is what makes quantum algorithms structurally different from classical ones.

2

Superconducting qubit

A qubit built from Josephson-junction circuits cooled to millikelvin temperatures. It is the approach behind many of the processor roadmaps discussed by lab and foundry teams at quantum meetings.

3

Trapped ion

A qubit encoded in the electronic states of an ion held in an electromagnetic trap. Trapped-ion platforms are usually presented alongside superconducting and neutral-atom approaches when hardware is compared.

4

Neutral atom

A qubit built from atoms held in optical tweezers or lattices. Neutral-atom arrays are promoted for scalability because large numbers of atoms can be arranged in reconfigurable geometries.

5

Photonic qubit

A qubit encoded in the properties of light, such as polarisation or path. Photonic systems dominate quantum communication and are increasingly used in computing and sensing proposals.

6

Coherence time

How long a qubit retains its quantum state before noise destroys it. Longer coherence times are a core comparison metric between platforms and a common talking point for control-electronics vendors.

7

Gate fidelity

The accuracy of a quantum operation. Fidelity figures are quoted with benchmarking caveats, so ask which gates, qubit counts and calibration conditions a supplier's number refers to.

8

Error correction and surface code

Techniques that spread one logical qubit across many physical qubits to detect and correct errors. Most hardware roadmaps presented in Chicago reference the physical-to-logical qubit ratio they need to reach.

9

Dilution refrigerator

The cryostat that cools superconducting and spin qubits to near absolute zero. Cryogenic wiring, shielding and vibration isolation represent a large share of a lab's hardware budget.

10

Quantum key distribution (QKD)

A communication method that uses quantum states to distribute encryption keys and reveals eavesdropping attempts. It is commonly presented together with post-quantum cryptography as complementary, not competing, security layers.

11

Entanglement

A correlation between qubits that has no classical equivalent. Entanglement distribution over fibre or free space is the backbone concept for quantum networks and repeaters.

12

NISQ

Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum: the current era of processors that are too noisy for full error correction but large enough for hybrid, variational experiments. The term frames most near-term software and algorithm discussion.

13

Quantum sensing and metrology

Using quantum effects for measurement: atomic clocks, magnetometers, gravimeters and interferometers. Often the most commercially mature branch of quantum technology at a show like this.

14

Post-quantum cryptography (PQC)

Classical encryption algorithms designed to resist attack by future quantum computers. Migration planning is a standard topic for enterprise and government visitors.

15

Quantum volume and benchmarking

Composite benchmarks intended to compare processors of different designs. Treat published scores as design-specific and ask how they were measured.