Quantum dark modes no longer block phonon control, opening new paths for scalable devices with as many as 1 million qubits

https://phys.org/news/2026-04-quantum-dark-modes-longer-block.html

"quantum systems' dark mode states decoupled from external fields, invisible to driving lasers/ microwaves controlling computer, blocking phonons' transfer between system's other parts, stopping network scalability... resolved introducing artificial quantum information, forcing dark mode coupling with environment on demand... topological control over phonons, enabling information movement without getting stuck/ blocked... phonons as scalable quantum buses connecting different chips... 2–3 years away"