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Quantum computing has so far nearly always involved calculating with qubits—quantum objects that can take the value ‘0’ or ‘1,’ like ordinary computer bits, but that can also be in a range of combinations of 0 and 1. Now researchers are producing the first applications of ‘qudits:’ units of information that offer combinations of three or more simultaneous states.

In a paper published on 25 March in Nature Physics, physicists describe how they used ‘qutrits’ and ‘ququints’—qudits with three and five states respectively—to simulate how high-energy quantum particles interact through an electromagnetic field. The work follows a result published in Physical Review Letters (PRL) in September that reproduced the behaviour of another quantum field, that of the strong nuclear force, using qutrits.

Such simulations of quantum fields are seen as one of the most promising applications of quantum computers, because these machines could predict phenomena in particle colliders or chemical reactions that are beyond the abilities of ordinary computers to calculate. Qudits are naturally suited to this task, says theoretical physicist Christine Muschik, a co-author of the Nature Physics paper who also pioneered such simulations with qubits in 2016 together with colleagues at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. “If I could go back in time to my old self, I would tell her: why waste time with qubits?” says Muschik, who is now at the University of Waterloo, Canada.

“This qudit approach is not a solution to everything, but it helps you when it is suitable to the problem,” says Martin Ringbauer, an experimental physicist at the University of Innsbruck and the lead author of the paper.

More generally, qudits can help to make calculations on a quantum computer more efficient and less error-prone, at least on paper. With qudits, each computational unit that previously encoded a qubit—such as a trapped ion or a photon—can suddenly pack in more information, helping the machines to scale up faster. But the tactic is less mature than approaches based on qubits, and the devil could be in the detail. “Qudits are also more complicated to work with,” says Benjamin Brock, an experimental physicist at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.

System tweaks

In most types of quantum computer, the qubits that researchers use are two possible states of a system that would naturally have many more states. Such a system could therefore host qudits as well. “Existing qubit processors such as those of IBM and Google can already be operated as qutrits, and would require minor tweaks to operate as high-dimensional qudits,” says Machiel Blok, a physicist at the University of Rochester, New York. (Blok and his team have done experiments in their laboratory in which superconductors encoded qudits of up to 12 levels.)

For their quantum-field simulations, the authors of the PRL paper encoded qutrits on a superconducting quantum chip that IBM makes available to researchers, and that is normally used as a qubit machine. Ringbauer, Muschik and their colleagues used excited states of calcium ions to represent their five-level ququints. A ququint is a natural way to represent a field that can be in a lowest-energy state (with value 0) or have positive or negative values from −2 to +2 at any point in space, Muschik says.

In the future, such simulations could help to explain how quarks stick together to form protons, or how neutrinos collide with one another in the intense environment of a supernova explosion, physicists say. “There’s great hope that there’s going to be new effects that we can identify even with modest-size quantum computers,” says Martin Savage, a physicist at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Error correction

In principle, any calculation that can be done with qubits can also be done with qudits of any dimension, and vice versa: any qudit can be encoded in a set of qubits. But sharing information among multiple qubits is notoriously tricky and can introduce computational errors. Executing a quantum algorithm on qudits could require fewer steps, and therefore have a lower chance of introducing errors, says Muschik.

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A senior executive I worked with—let’s call her Marisol—had spent years building trust, driving impact, and delivering results, only to find her role suddenly eliminated during a company restructuring. There was no discussion, no transition plan. Just a few polite reassurances, a severance package, and a carefully worded email later, and that was it.

But instead of being paralyzed by uncertainty, Marisol took control. She reached out to trusted mentors, tapped into her network, and worked with an executive coach while giving herself space to breathe for the first time in years. Then, with a clearer sense of what she wanted next, she rebranded her expertise and pivoted into a broader HR role that recognized the full range of skills she had spent years honing.

Her story is not unique. Layoffs, stagnant wages, AI-driven automation, shifting labor laws, and evolving workplace expectations have made job security a moving target these days. Even the most dedicated professionals aren’t immune to job instability, and salaried workers feel it, too.

The real challenge today isn’t just holding onto a job or making it through another quarter—it’s building a career that won’t crumble in the face of disruption. That takes career resilience: the ability to adapt, take initiative, and stay grounded, even when the ground is shifting beneath you, much like Marisol did.

Four Ways to Build Career Resilience

Career resilience isn’t about clinging to a job out of fear; it’s about learning to adapt as circumstances shift.

Growing up in the Dominican Republic with grandparents who survived a brutal dictatorship, I was raised to be ready. My family keeps our pantry and emergency kit stocked, not out of paranoia but from a deep understanding that nothing is promised.

In work, too, uncertainty demands self-awareness and readiness. This means developing a growth mindset, even when your options feel limited, so you are always ready to pick up and go. The following four strategies can help:

1. Identify your non-negotiables.

Career longevity isn’t just about holding onto a job; it’s about knowing what matters most to you as you navigate the many roles you’ll likely take on. Having clarity on your must-haves, values, and risk tolerance can help you make tough decisions as circumstances quickly change.

Ask yourself:

Do I handle uncertainty well, or does it rattle me? If stability matters most to you, focus on building skills that keep you adaptable and in demand, regardless of industry shifts.

Would I take a pay cut for work that feels more meaningful? If purpose drives you, consider roles that align with your values, interests, or the kind of impact you want to make, even if it means a temporary financial trade-off.

Would I go back to five days in the office? If flexibility is a priority, start cultivating skills and networks that open doors to remote or hybrid opportunities.

Would I accept work that conflicts with my values? If ethical alignment is central to your career choices, seek out roles and organizations whose missions and practices you can stand behind.

Would I agree to lay off my team, knowing those remaining will be overloaded? If leading with fairness and dignity is what you value most, consider where you draw the line. Would you push for a phased approach? Fight for additional support? Or would this be the moment you step away?

Your responses aren’t just theoretical. They help you set career guardrails. Understanding your non-negotiables now enables you to navigate tough choices later before urgency forces your hand.

2. Build adaptability and agility.

Career resilience is like a muscle; you build it by strengthening your emotional intelligence, expanding your skill set, and staying ready to pivot when needed. To strengthen adaptability and agility in your current role:

Understand your role in the bigger picture. Pay attention to how your work connects to broader business functions and goals. Proactively collaborate across teams, solve recurring pain points, and take on projects that stretch your expertise and help you build new skills. Opportunities often come from stepping beyond your immediate role.

Stay steady under pressure. Clear thinking and self-regulation are essential in high-stakes, uncertain environments. Recognize your stress triggers and manage your energy before they take over. Build routines to help you reset, such as mindfulness, breathwork, reflection, or check-ins with mentors or colleagues.

Bet on your high-value skills. AI isn’t replacing leadership, creativity, or emotional intelligence—yet. Take on challenging projects, step into management opportunities, and sharpen your ability to problem-solve, read the room, and adapt in real-time. Identify your high-value skills by noticing what people consistently turn to you for, what problems you solve easily, and where your unique insight makes the biggest impact. The stronger these skills, the more career options you create.

Make learning part of the job—not a backup plan. Deloitte’s Workplace Skills 2024 survey found that 87% of professionals say adaptability and leadership are key to career growth, reinforcing that continuous learning, whether AI, industry trends, or new workplace technologies, is essential for long-term success. Treat every setback as a learning opportunity: what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve. Build learning into your workflow by setting aside time for skill-building, seeking feedback regularly, and staying curious about new tools and industry shifts. Small, consistent efforts add up over time.

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