99.5% median two-qubit gate fidelity was achieved by Quantum Machines on Rigetti’s commercially available Novera QPU using external hardware and software rather than Rigetti’s native control stack.
10 days of onsite optimization through QM’s OPX1000 orchestration platform and QUAlibrate automation software brought the system to full calibration, matching Rigetti’s peak internal calibration metrics.
99.93% median single-qubit fidelity across all nine transmons and 99.5% across 11 active couplings suggest the external setup can hold low error rates while reducing phase noise and thermal fluctuations.
The result supports a hardware-agnostic, open-architecture model for superconducting quantum systems, easing multi-vendor deployments for labs that need direct access to tuning, error-mitigation and algorithm-testing workflows.
Fermilab, Montana State University, Horizon Quantum Computing and systems integrator TreQ are already using QM’s platform with Novera or broader multi-QPU installations, pointing to wider enterprise and research adoption.
Will decoupling hardware and controls accelerate the path to fault-tolerant quantum computers?
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99.5% Gate Fidelity on Rigetti Novera: Quantum Machines Demonstrates High-Performance External Quantum Control
Overview
On May 30, 2026, Quantum Machines achieved a major milestone by operating Rigetti’s Novera superconducting quantum processor with their own external control hardware and software, reaching a 99.5% median two-qubit gate fidelity. This success shows that high-performance quantum operations are possible without relying on proprietary, integrated control systems. Instead, independent and specialized external solutions can deliver excellent results. The breakthrough highlights a growing trend towards greater flexibility, standardization, and openness in quantum computing, signaling the maturity of the broader ecosystem and paving the way for more scalable and interoperable quantum technologies.