In theory, a quantum computer could perform calculations vastly more quickly than today’s conventional computers.

Other companies are leveraging different ways to corral quantum power. Quantinuum Inc., which is majority-owned by Honeywell International Inc., and IonQ Inc. use trapped ions or charged atoms as qubits. That enables the firms to link them together as a base circuit and carry out computer operations.

The chipmaker NVIDIA held its annual conference in Silicon Valley this week. Among the major announcements: it chose Boston to be the site of its first-ever research center for quantum computing, opening later this year.