A modular atomic processor can crack 2048-bit RSA encryption using a distributed design that is only slightly slower than a single giant quantum machine.
The threat of quantum computers breaking modern security is often dismissed as a far-off problem requiring impossible hardware. This simulation proves that connecting multiple smaller quantum modules can achieve the same results as one massive, error-prone processor. The strategy requires roughly 500,000 qubits, but the modular approach makes building such a machine much more feasible. It provides a concrete blueprint for the quantum apocalypse that bypasses the hardest engineering hurdles of scaling up. Financial institutions and governments can no longer treat quantum threats as purely theoretical risks. This design spec moves the timeline for breaking global encryption significantly closer to the present day.
Factoring 2048 bit RSA integers with a half-million-qubit modular atomic processor
arXiv · 2605.03951
Shor's algorithm is one of the most promising applications of quantum computers. However, since $\sim 10^6$ physical qubits are believed to be required for established approaches, the algorithm will need to be distributed across many modules. In this paper, we provide a distributed compilation of Shor's algorithm on a modular atomic processor. We present an end-to-end compilation and optimization strategy that focuses on the interplay between the inter-module communication and the intra-module c