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Photonic Quantum Computing: PsiQuantum & Xanadu Room-Temperature Systems

Photonic quantum computing news: PsiQuantum, Xanadu quantum photonics. Room-temperature operation, cluster states & quantum networking advances.

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Photonic quantum computing encodes quantum information in light—using photon polarization, path, or time-bin degrees of freedom—to perform computation at room temperature without cryogenic infrastructure. This approach promises seamless integration with existing fiber-optic telecommunications networks.

Two Dominant Architectures

Two dominant architectures drive commercial development: cluster state/MBQC (Measurement-Based Quantum Computing) used by PsiQuantum, and Gaussian Boson Sampling/SGBSV employed by Xanadu's Borealis and X-series photonic processors.

India's Photonic Quantum Research

India's National Quantum Mission explicitly includes photonic technology as a priority platform. The Quantum Computing Thematic Hub at IISc Bengaluru targets development of quantum computing chips based on superconducting, photonic, and spin qubits according to official DST announcements. The Quantum Communication Thematic Hub at IIT Madras, established as the IITM C-DOT Samgnya Technologies Foundation, focuses on photonic quantum technologies including quantum key distribution and satellite-based quantum communication.

Key Advantages

Key advantages include room-temperature operation eliminating dilution refrigerators, natural compatibility with fiber-optic quantum networks, high-speed gate operations (picoseconds), and mature semiconductor fabrication for silicon photonics integration. Current challenges include probabilistic photon sources and detectors introducing overhead, photon loss in optical components, and massive qubit counts needed for fault tolerance.

Recent Breakthroughs

Recent breakthroughs include Xanadu's Borealis demonstrating quantum computational advantage using Gaussian boson sampling with 216 squeezed light modes, and PsiQuantum releasing detailed architecture plans for utility-scale quantum computing using thousands of modular chips.

Xanadu says quantum computers can model key drug propertiesquantum-computing

Xanadu says quantum computers can model key drug properties

Xanadu Quantum Technologies and the University of Alberta have formed a research partnership to apply quantum computing to the design of new cancer treatments. The collaboration focuses on photodynamic therapy, a non-invasive approach that uses light-activated compounds to destroy tumor cells, and aims to overcome limitations in current drug discovery methods. Xanadu recently demonstrated quantum computers can simulate crucial light-matter interactions within these compounds, properties difficult to predict using classical computational approaches. Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Xanadu, Dr. Christian Weedbrook, says that by leveraging early fault-tolerant quantum computers, they are positioning quantum computing as a competitive method for accelerating photodynamic drug discovery. Xanadu-Alberta Partnership Targets Photosensitizer Challenges Photodynamic therapy, a non-invasive cancer treatment, stands to benefit from a new partnership aiming to refine its core components. This collaboration seeks to bypass limitations inherent in both traditional experimentation and classical computational modeling of these complex molecules. Professor Alex Brown of the University of Alberta brings expertise in benchmarking computational simulations of these systems, promising a rigorous validation of the quantum computing advancements. Professor Brown, Professor and Chair, explained that photosensitizers are challenging systems because their performance depends on excited-state processes that are difficult to capture accurately with standard computational methods. The partnership intends to strengthen Xanadu’s existing quantum-based workflow for drug design, expanding its capabilities to address increasingly complex challenges in photosensitizer development. Professor Brown’s contributions will be vital in pinpointing the mechanisms that determine therapeutic effectiveness, allowing for more targeted design. Current methodologies for developing effective photosensitizers a

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Hybrid quantum-neural network beats classical machine learningquantum-computing

Hybrid quantum-neural network beats classical machine learning

Researchers at the Institute of Fundamental and Frontier Sciences, University of Electronic Sciences and Technology of China have combined boson sampling, a quantum process with experimentally verified advantage over classical computers, with neural networks to improve machine learning classification. The team developed a hybrid framework where a neural network compresses data features onto a boson sampling circuit, generating quantum states that enhance support vector machine performance. Using four datasets with various classes, the model outperformed classical linear and sigmoid kernels, demonstrating the potential of boson sampling-based quantum kernels for practical quantum-enhanced machine learning. Hybrid Boson Sampling-Neural Network Architecture for Enhanced Classification The core innovation lies in a neural network’s ability to compress complex data features, preparing them for processing by a programmable boson sampling circuit. This approach addresses a significant hurdle in quantum machine learning: the high dimensionality of practical datasets. The team’s framework utilizes the neural network to reduce the number of features needed for analysis, bridging the gap between large, complex data and the limitations of current quantum hardware. The resulting quantum states, generated by the boson sampling circuit, span a high-dimensional space, enabling improved classification performance. The researchers tested their model against four distinct datasets, Ionosphere, Spambase, MNIST, and Fashion-MNIST, each containing various classes of data, and the hybrid model outperformed classical linear and sigmoid kernels in these tests. The researchers found that achieving enhanced accuracy depended on utilizing a sufficiently expressive boson sampling circuit, with expressivity controlled by both the number of modes and injected photons. This suggests a pathway to optimize the quantum component for specific classification tasks. Mohammad Sharifian explained in their

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Virginia Team Measures 3dB Squeezing on a Photonic Chipquantum-computing

Virginia Team Measures 3dB Squeezing on a Photonic Chip

Integrating the generation and measurement of squeezed light onto a single photonic chip previously presented a key challenge due to conflicting material requirements. Haoran Chen of the University of Virginia and colleagues have, for the first time, fully integrated squeezed light generation, routing, and balanced homodyne detection on a single chip using heterogeneous integration. This novel chip design overcomes a longstanding obstacle in quantum photonics by combining light generation and detection. Squeezed light, which enhances precision in measurements, demands materials that both preserve quantum properties and efficiently absorb light for detection; these needs previously required separate components. The design uses a silicon nitride chip combining a light-generating microcavity with photodiodes, achieving approximately 3 decibels of squeezing across 34 quantum modes. Squeezed light, a special state of light where the uncertainty in one property is reduced to enhance measurement sensitivity, is vital for applications like quantum sensing and advanced information processing. Creating and measuring squeezed light previously required separate components due to conflicting material needs; generating it demands materials that preserve quantum properties, while detecting it requires efficient light absorption. This integrated system provides a scalable architecture for quantum technologies, but questions remain regarding the long-term stability and potential for scaling up the number of entangled modes. Integrated quantum microcomb achieves scalable 3 dB squeezing of light Squeezed light measurements now demonstrate 3 dB of squeezing across a two-mode quantum microcomb comprising 34 quantum modes, a substantial improvement over previous systems. Previously, achieving this level of squeezing necessitated a trade-off between preserving delicate quantum states and efficiently detecting photons, limiting scalability. The integrated photonic chip, fabricated using he

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Who’s News: Strategic Appointments at PsiQuantum, EigenQ, Qunova Computing, and Optica Quantumquantum-computing

Who’s News: Strategic Appointments at PsiQuantum, EigenQ, Qunova Computing, and Optica Quantum

Who’s News: Strategic Appointments at PsiQuantum, EigenQ, Qunova Computing, and Optica Quantum PsiQuantum has appointed Niklas Zennström to its Board of Directors, effective August 11, 2026. Zennström is the Founder and CEO of Atomico and co-founder of Skype. He succeeds Siraj Khaliq as Atomico’s representative on the board, following recent executive additions including Victor Peng as CEO, Rob Soderbery as Executive Vice President, and Sriram Sitaraman as Chief Information Officer. The appointment coincides with PsiQuantum’s ongoing construction of fault-tolerant quantum computing facilities in Chicago and Brisbane. The full official release is available here. EigenQ, Inc. has appointed Mark Pecen as Vice Chairman and promoted Alexander Truskovsky to the newly created role of Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Pecen, who previously served as a board member and strategic advisor, co-founded the Quantum-Safe Cryptography Working Group at ETSI. Truskovsky previously served as Vice President of Cryptography and will now oversee EigenQ’s global cybersecurity strategy, risk management, and product compliance as the company prepares for its proposed merger with Silicon Valley Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: SVAQ). The complete announcement can be found here. Qunova Computing has expanded its executive leadership with the appointments of Jake Hwang as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Board Member, along with Evan Kang and Woomin Kyoung as Business Development Executives. Hwang previously served as Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Business Officer at Nearthlab. Kang brings over 20 years of pharmaceutical R&D and business experience from SK Chemicals and LG Chem, while Kyoung joins with nearly three decades of engineering experience from Hyundai Motor Company’s R&D Division to lead materials simulation and CFD initiatives. The news release details are available here. Optica Publishing Group has appointed Kartik Srinivasan as the new Editor-in-Chief of Optica Quan

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University of Guelph and Xanadu Partner on Quantum Computing Educationquantum-computing

University of Guelph and Xanadu Partner on Quantum Computing Education

Insider Brief Press release – The University of Guelph and Xanadu, a Canadian leader in quantum computing, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on advancing quantum computing education and preparing students for emerging careers in the rapidly growing quantum sector. The MOU brings together the University of Guelph‘s commitment to innovative teaching and […]

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Parameter-Shift Rules Cut Boson Sampling Gradient Calculationsquantum-computing

Parameter-Shift Rules Cut Boson Sampling Gradient Calculations

Researchers have derived higher order parameter-shift rules for calculating gradients in boson sampling experiments, a development addressing a persistent challenge in photonic quantum computing: photon loss within interferometers. While parameter-shift rules generally do not apply to Gaussian boson sampling, the team demonstrated they are possible when an interferometer’s transmission matrix is structured as a diagonal loss matrix multiplied by a pure unitary. This specific factorization allows for parameter-shift rules with an order defined by twice the total number of photons detected. The researchers validated their method using real hardware, achieving performance comparable to finite differences, signaling a potential path toward more efficient quantum computations with imperfect photonic systems. Photonic Systems for Near-Term Quantum Computing Integrated photonic systems are rapidly maturing, demonstrating ever larger programmable computers capable of implementing increasingly complex protocols, a trend highlighted by recent industrial efforts. Researchers at École polytechnique de Montréal and Quandela SAS have now refined methods for calculating gradients, essential for optimizing quantum algorithms, within these systems, directly addressing a persistent challenge: photon loss. Their work, published this month, details the derivation of “higher order parameter-shift rules” for computing gradients of Fock boson sampling transition probabilities, even when photons are lost within interferometers. This advancement is significant because photon loss, stemming from imperfections in optical components and fabrication, directly diminishes the information available for computation and hinders interference. Previous attempts to mitigate loss relied on post-selection, discarding a majority of data and becoming impractical for larger systems. The team’s approach offers a more efficient path, accurately modeling losses for benchmarking, algorithm optimization, and the

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Xanadu and Alberta U. seek better cancer drugs with quantum chipsquantum-computing

Xanadu and Alberta U. seek better cancer drugs with quantum chips

Xanadu (NASDAQ/TSX: XNDU) is investing in pharmaceutical research through a new partnership with the University of Alberta to accelerate the design of compounds for photodynamic therapy, a cancer treatment that avoids chemotherapy side effects. The collaboration unites Xanadu’s quantum computing framework with the published work of Professor Alex Brown on benchmarking photosensitizer simulations. “Current methodologies for developing effective photosensitizers are hampered by several hurdles,” said Dr. Christian Weedbrook, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Xanadu, adding that leveraging quantum computers could make the technology a competitive method for drug discovery. This partnership aims to strengthen Xanadu’s workflow for drug design and address increasingly sophisticated challenges in photosensitizer development. Xanadu and Alberta U. Target Photosensitizer Challenges with Quantum Computing The collaboration focuses on accelerating the development of photosensitizers, light-activated compounds designed to selectively destroy tumor cells. Professor Brown’s research has identified limitations in current computational methods used to predict the effectiveness of these photosensitizers; standard techniques struggle to accurately model crucial interactions that determine their performance. Xanadu recently demonstrated the potential of quantum computers to simulate light-matter interactions within photosensitizers, revealing properties difficult to ascertain using classical approaches, including sensitivity to specific wavelengths and efficiency in triggering cell death. This builds on Xanadu’s existing open-source quantum computing platform, PennyLane, and represents an expansion of their quantum-based workflow for drug design. The partnership intends to address these hurdles by leveraging early fault-tolerant quantum computers to model complex light-matter interactions, potentially accelerating photodynamic drug discovery. Professor Brown emphasized the chall

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Queen Mary University of London builds quantum modules like computer componentsquantum-computing

Queen Mary University of London builds quantum modules like computer components

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London, Imperial College and University of Oxford have unveiled Clavina, a new modular photonic quantum computing architecture capable of combining both linear and nonlinear quantum operations within a single system. Published in Nature Photonics, this development addresses a longstanding challenge in building universal photonic quantum computers, which have previously struggled to incorporate essential nonlinear operations. The flexible design allows for specialized quantum modules to be added or removed as required, mirroring the component-based design of conventional computers. “Photonic quantum computing has enormous potential,” said Shang Yu, first author at Imperial, “but one of its greatest limitations has been the lack of a practical way to combine scalable optical circuits with the nonlinear operations required for universal quantum computing.” Clavina Architecture Integrates Linear and Nonlinear Photonic Operations This achievement, detailed in Nature Photonics, addresses longstanding limitations preventing photonic quantum computers from reaching their full potential, as existing designs struggled to incorporate the necessary nonlinear capabilities for advanced algorithms. This flexibility enables a broader range of quantum computing tasks to be performed on a single platform, eliminating the need for separate, purpose-built experimental setups. The team demonstrated several advanced applications using this architecture, including large-scale quantum simulations and the generation of quantum states crucial for future error correction, calculations previously impractical with existing photonic hardware. Experiments underpinning these demonstrations were conducted in the laboratory of Professor Ian Walmsley and Dr. Raj B. Patel at Imperial. Theoretical work led by Dr. Jinzhao Sun of Queen Mary University of London, in collaboration with Professors Vlatko Vedral from Oxford and Myungshik Kim and Roberto Bondesan from

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University of Guelph and Xanadu Sign MOU to Advance Quantum Education and Talent Developmentquantum-computing

University of Guelph and Xanadu Sign MOU to Advance Quantum Education and Talent Development

University of Guelph and Xanadu Sign MOU to Advance Quantum Education and Talent Development The University of Guelph (U of G) and photonic quantum computing developer Xanadu Quantum Technologies (NASDAQ/TSX: XNDU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on quantum computing education, curriculum integration, and workforce development. Extending through 2028, the partnership aligns U of G’s College of Computational, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences (CCMPS) with Xanadu’s technical stack to train the next generation of quantum software developers and researchers. The agreement addresses a key objective of Canada’s National Quantum Strategy: bridging the gap between academic physics/computer science programs and commercial quantum engineering requirements. As part of the collaboration, U of G will integrate practical quantum programming frameworks—centered on Xanadu’s open-source PennyLane software—into undergraduate and graduate coursework. [ U of G & Xanadu Workforce Pipeline Framework ] │ ┌───────────────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────────────┐ ▼ ▼ ▼ Academic Curriculum Integration PennyLane Software Training Industry Skill Readiness • Quantum Information Science. • Open-Source Quantum Framework. • Direct Workforce Pipeline. • Practical Algorithmic Labs. • Photonic Circuit Simulation. • Hands-On Quantum Hardware. • Interdisciplinary Research. • Hybrid Classical-QPU Models. • Industry-Academic Co-Design. Key objectives of the MOU include: Curriculum Co-Development: Creating hands-on educational modules that introduce students to practical quantum algorithms and photonic quantum computing paradigms. PennyLane Integration: Utilizing Xanadu’s open-source software stack as a primary instructional tool for quantum circuit design, optimization, and quantum machine learning. Workforce Development: Establishing collaborative research pathways and practical training opportunities to supply Canada’s expanding commercial quantum ec

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Xanadu and University of Alberta Partner to Accelerate Photodynamic Cancer Drug Discoveryquantum-computing

Xanadu and University of Alberta Partner to Accelerate Photodynamic Cancer Drug Discovery

Xanadu and University of Alberta Partner to Accelerate Photodynamic Cancer Drug Discovery Photonic quantum computing developer Xanadu Quantum Technologies Limited (NASDAQ/TSX: XNDU) has announced a strategic research partnership with the University of Alberta to engineer novel quantum algorithms for oncology and pharmaceutical drug design. Led by Xanadu’s algorithms team and Professor Alex Brown, Chair of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Alberta, the project focuses on modeling complex light-matter interactions in photosensitizers—light-activated chemical compounds utilized in targeted photodynamic cancer therapy (PDT). Photodynamic therapy uses light-activated compounds to selectively destroy localized tumor cells while minimizing systemic damage associated with traditional chemotherapy. However, designing photosensitizer molecules classically presents a severe computational bottleneck: predicting excited-state dynamics, wavelength sensitivity, and singlet oxygen generation efficiency requires modeling non-adiabatic light-matter coupling that traditional density functional theory (DFT) and classical quantum chemistry approximations struggle to resolve. [ Xanadu & UAlberta Photodynamic Quantum Workflow ] │ ┌────────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────────┐ ▼ ▼ ▼ Photosensitizer Target Systems Photonic Quantum Simulation Stack Early Fault-Tolerant Application • Excited-State Photodynamics. • PennyLane Quantum Software Stack. • Quantum Photodynamic Algorithms. • Wavelength Sensitivity Mapping. • Light-Matter Coupling Solvers. • Accelerates PDT Oncology Pipeline. • Singlet Oxygen Efficiency. • Photonic Fault-Tolerant Roadmaps. • Bypasses Classical Simulation Limits. The collaboration pairs Xanadu’s fault-tolerant algorithm pipeline and PennyLane open-source software stack with Professor Brown’s benchmarking expertise in computational photodynamics: Light-Matter Simulation: Developing fault-tolerant quantum algorithms capable

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Efficient Graph State Generation in Linear Opticsquantum-computing

Efficient Graph State Generation in Linear Optics

AbstractGraph states are central resources for quantum information processing, supporting applications in computation, communication, and error correction. In photonic systems, they are typically assembled from smaller entangled states using probabilistic fusion gates, which demand many photons and suffer from low success rates. We present an optimized scheme for directly generating caterpillar graph states (CGSs)—essential resource states for constructing high-dimensional lattice graph states—using only single-photon sources, linear optics, and heralded measurements. Based on the linear quantum graph (LQG) picture, our method produces CGSs efficiently. For CGSs of length $l\ge 3$, it requires $l-2$ fewer photons and achieves a success rate $2^{l-2}$ times higher than fusion-based approaches. These results demonstrate that the LQG picture provides a powerful and flexible route to generating complex photonic graph states for efficient quantum information processing.Featured image: Linear quantum graph representation of the heralded scheme for generating caterpillar graph statesPopular summaryPhotonic quantum technologies rely on the ability to create large entangled states of light. Among the most useful are graph states, which support applications ranging from quantum computing and communication to error correction and tests of quantum nonlocality. However, producing large photonic graph states remains challenging, because the conventional approach repeatedly combines smaller entangled states using probabilistic fusion operations, requiring many photons and rapidly reducing the overall success probability. In this work, we develop a more efficient way to generate an important family of graph states known as caterpillar graph states. These states are useful building blocks for constructing larger lattice-like resource states for measurement-based quantum computing and for studying strong forms of multipartite nonlocality. Our method uses only single-photon sources, l

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Full-Stack High-Volume Quantum Networking Architecture based on Photonic-Integrated Tin Vacancy Centers in Diamondquantum-computing

Full-Stack High-Volume Quantum Networking Architecture based on Photonic-Integrated Tin Vacancy Centers in Diamond

--> Quantum Physics arXiv:2608.11630 (quant-ph) [Submitted on 12 Aug 2026] Title:Full-Stack High-Volume Quantum Networking Architecture based on Photonic-Integrated Tin Vacancy Centers in Diamond Authors:Hamza Raniwala, Ian Christen, Helaman Flores, David Starling, Ryan Murphy, Eric Bersin, Kevin Chen, Marc Davis, Maxim Sirotin, Mahmoud Jalali Mehrabad, Ethan G. Arnault, Matthew E. Trusheim, P. B. Dixon, Dirk R. Englund View a PDF of the paper titled Full-Stack High-Volume Quantum Networking Architecture based on Photonic-Integrated Tin Vacancy Centers in Diamond, by Hamza Raniwala and 13 other authors View PDF HTML (experimental) Abstract:Solid state quantum emitters are a leading platform for photonic quantum networking with memory nodes. However, the inhomogeneous distribution of quantum emitters, as well as several environmental factors (i.e. strain and electric fields) spread the frequency spectrum of the qubits, making them distinguishable and therefore not a reliable resource for distributed quantum entanglement. In this paper, we demonstrate a full-stack approach to integrating nearly indistinguishable tin vacancy (SnV$^-$) quantum emitters on a frequency-tunable photonic interposer that overcomes the native distribution and static variation of quantum emitters for an indistinguishable photonic quantum networking platform. We demonstrate a silicon nitride-on-insulator photonic integrated circuit (PIC) with accompanying multiphysics digital twin (MPhDT) that guides discovery of SnV$^-$ strain-tuning parameters and informs construction of a multi-channel quantum repeater node. On this node, we achieve the first simultaneous demonstration of spectral tuning of the zero phonon line (ZPL) at GHz scale; coherent electron spin control with gate times of $<80$ ns; strongly- and weakly-coupled nuclear spin detection; and commercial fiber array-coupled readout of a SnV$^-$ center. Finally, we propose and simulate improvements to the architecture that achieve 99.96%

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New scheme boosts photon subtraction for quantum experimentsquantum-computing

New scheme boosts photon subtraction for quantum experiments

Researchers from Quantum Computing and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo have detailed a scheme achieving nearly unity probability of single photon subtraction under ideal conditions. The work demonstrates a path toward more precise quantum experiments by coupling Λ-type emitters with chiral slow-light photonic crystal waveguides for efficient photon removal. This approach utilizes Single Photon Raman Interaction, or SPRINT, and offers a potentially practical alternative to systems requiring cold atom integration, as solid-state emitters could enable realization of the scheme. SPRINT Scheme for Deterministic Photon Subtraction A near unity probability of single photon subtraction is theoretically achievable using a newly proposed scheme, potentially unlocking more precise quantum experiments. Researchers detailed the approach, termed Single Photon Raman Interaction, or SPRINT, in a recent publication focusing on the coupling of a three-level quantum emitter with a chiral waveguide. The work demonstrates a pathway toward deterministic control over photons, a critical step for advanced quantum technologies requiring precise manipulation of light. The proposed SPRINT scheme relies on the specific interaction between photons and Λ-type emitters, coupled with chiral slow-light photonic crystal waveguides to efficiently remove single photons from a light stream. Analytical and numerical studies detailed in the publication suggest that, under ideal conditions, the probability of subtracting a single photon can approach unity; this level of control surpasses previous methods and minimizes loss inherent in probabilistic photon subtraction techniques. This enhanced efficiency is crucial for applications demanding high-fidelity quantum states, such as quantum key distribution and quantum computation. Integrating cold atoms into these systems presents significant technical hurdles, but the researchers highlight solid-state emitters as

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Single-Photon QKD Works With Imperfect, Real-World Devicesquantum-computing

Single-Photon QKD Works With Imperfect, Real-World Devices

An international collaboration between researchers at the University of Waterloo, the University of Münster, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences has demonstrated a significant step toward practical quantum cryptography. The team successfully implemented Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) using single photons generated by a semiconductor quantum dot, but crucially, the experiment accounted for the imperfections inherent in real-world devices, a departure from previous demonstrations reliant on idealized components. This work addresses a major challenge in transitioning QKD from theoretical security to viable, deployable technology by considering finite error margins in both the single-photon source and the receiver. The resulting protocol implementation shows competitive performance. BB84 Protocol Security with Imperfect Device Characterization A collaborative effort spanning continents has yielded an advance in quantum key distribution (QKD), demonstrating secure communication even with non-ideal hardware. This experiment directly addresses a critical barrier to widespread QKD adoption: the reliance on perfectly characterized devices, a condition rarely met in practical settings. The team’s work, detailed in recent findings, moves beyond theoretical security proofs that assume ideal components. Specifically, the analysis incorporated error margins associated with finite multiphoton probabilities from the source, as well as non-ideal beam-splitters, detector efficiencies, and dark counts at the receiving end. This holistic approach represents a departure from previous implementations, which often simplified these parameters or assumed perfect knowledge of their values. The researchers utilized a semiconductor quantum dot light source, favored for its potential to generate photons closer to the ideal single-photon state than traditional attenuated lasers, mitigating vulnerabilities to photon number splitting attacks. Accounting for this requires decoy states, which introd

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Hefei Startup and USTC Demonstrate 16-Qubit On-Chip Photonic MBQC Architecturequantum-computing

Hefei Startup and USTC Demonstrate 16-Qubit On-Chip Photonic MBQC Architecture

Hefei Startup and USTC Demonstrate 16-Qubit On-Chip Photonic MBQC Architecture Conceptual illustration of the proposed approach and circuit. Chinese startup Hefei Guizhen Chip Technology Co., Ltd. (硅臻芯片), in collaboration with Professor Ren Xifeng‘s team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Quantum Information at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), has published research demonstrating a 16-qubit measurement-based quantum computing (MBQC) system on a single silicon photonic chip. Detailed in an August 2026 pre-print (“On-chip generation of multi-qubit graph states with high-dimensional encoded single photons“), the experiment achieved a 98.7% average identification probability executing Grover’s search algorithm across four search targets—outperforming the prior 4-qubit on-chip photonic MBQC benchmark of 80.8% set by the University of Stuttgart (“Measurement-Based Quantum Computing on a Photonic Chip“). To overcome the exponential coincidence-rate loss that occurs when attempting to entangle multiple distinct single-photon sources, the Guizhen Chip and USTC team utilized high-dimensional path encoding. By routing each photon across 16 distinct waveguide paths on a standard silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform, the chip encodes a 4-level qudit (carrying 4 qubits of quantum information) per photon. This 4-photon, 16-qubit architecture avoids probabilistic multi-photon interactions during execution: High-Dimensional Compression: 4 photons carry a 16-qubit Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) and cluster graph state, reducing multi-photon coincidence demands from O(216) to O(24). Genuine Multipartite Entanglement: Entanglement witnessing certified genuine multipartite entanglement across 10 of the 16 path-encoded qubits. Programmable MBQC Layers: Four layers of Mach-Zehnder interferometers and thermo-optic phase shifters execute adaptive single-qubit measurements driven by real-time classical feedback loops. [ High-Dimensional Path

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Niklas Zennström to help PsiQuantum scale quantum computersquantum-computing

Niklas Zennström to help PsiQuantum scale quantum computers

Niklas Zennström, co-founder of Skype and founder of Atomico, has joined the PsiQuantum Board of Directors, bringing extensive experience in scaling technology companies to the quantum computing field. Zennström succeeds Siraj Khaliq, marking a change in board representation following Atomico’s initial 2019 partnership with PsiQuantum. “PsiQuantum is taking on one of the most ambitious and important technology challenges of our time,” Zennström said, as the company rapidly builds its leadership team with recent appointments including Chief Executive Officer Victor Peng. PsiQuantum intends to pair technological breakthroughs with large-scale infrastructure in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Zennström’s Appointment Reflects Atomico’s Long-Standing PsiQuantum Partnership This move signals a deepening commitment from Atomico, the venture capital firm Zennström founded in 2006, to PsiQuantum’s ambitious goal of building a fault-tolerant, utility-scale quantum computer. Atomico initially partnered with PsiQuantum in 2019, and Zennström’s subsequent appointment to the board demonstrates a sustained belief in the company’s technological approach and commercial potential. The transition on the board sees Zennström succeed Siraj Khaliq, a change that underscores the evolving relationship between PsiQuantum and Atomico over the past several years. “Atomico has partnered with the company for years and watched this team build technologies beyond the current standard,” said Zennström. “It is thrilling to see them now execute and scale.” This long-term investment strategy is further evidenced by a recent bolstering of PsiQuantum’s leadership team; in July, Victor Peng was permanently appointed Chief Executive Officer following his interim role since February, alongside the additions of Rob Soderbery and Sriram Sitaraman to executive positions. This rapid expansion of leadership coincides directly with Zennström’s arrival, suggesting a coordinated effort to ac

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PsiQuantum Appoints Atomico Founder Niklas Zennström to Board of Directorsquantum-computing

PsiQuantum Appoints Atomico Founder Niklas Zennström to Board of Directors

Insider Brief Press release – PsiQuantum announced today that Niklas Zennström, Founder and CEO of Atomico, has joined the PsiQuantum Board of Directors. Zennström brings decades of experience building, scaling, and investing in category-defining technology companies. He co-founded Skype and served as its CEO before founding Atomico in 2006. Across his career as a founder, […]

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Pasqal Achieves First On-Chip Neutral-Atom Qubit Trapping via Photonic Integrated Circuitsquantum-computing

Pasqal Achieves First On-Chip Neutral-Atom Qubit Trapping via Photonic Integrated Circuits

Pasqal Achieves First On-Chip Neutral-Atom Qubit Trapping via Photonic Integrated Circuits Neutral-atom quantum hardware developer Pasqal has achieved a technical milestone by trapping individual neutral atoms using laser light generated and routed directly through a Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC). Developed in collaboration with its subsidiary Aeponyx—acquired less than 18 months prior—the demonstration replaces traditional free-space bulk optical tables with solid-state silicon nitride photonic chips, addressing a major physical scaling bottleneck in neutral-atom quantum computing architectures. In the proof-of-concept demonstration, Pasqal generated four optical micro-traps (optical tweezers) via a single photonic chip inside a quantum processing unit (QPU), successfully trapping and holding four individual rubidium atoms. The integrated photonic platform matched the trapping performance of Pasqal’s bulk-optics setups, recording individual atom lifetimes of approximately 27.5 seconds. Transitioning optical trapping and laser routing onto wafer-scale silicon-nitride chips is projected to shrink the optical subsystem footprint of future neutral-atom processors by up to 50× while enabling semiconductor-foundry manufacturing processes. [ Pasqal On-Chip Neutral-Atom Trapping Architecture ] │ ┌────────────────────────────────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────┐ ▼ ▼ Silicon Nitride Photonic Integrated Circuit (Aeponyx) Integrated QPU Trapping Performance • Replaces Free-Space Optical Tables with Waveguides. • 4 Individual Optical Traps via Single Chip. • Up to 50x Reduction in Optical Hardware Footprint. • Trapped 4 Rubidium Atoms in QPU Chamber. • Scalable Foundry-Based Semiconductor Manufacturing. • 27.5-Second Atom Lifetimes Matched Bulk Optics. The milestone directly supports Pasqal’s long-term hardware roadmap, which targets scaling neutral-atom QPUs from present 1,000+ physical qubit systems to fault-tolerant architectures featuring over 10,000 ph

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Qunnect and Monarch Quantum Partner to Commercialize Deployable Quantum Networking Infrastructurequantum-computing

Qunnect and Monarch Quantum Partner to Commercialize Deployable Quantum Networking Infrastructure

Qunnect and Monarch Quantum Partner to Commercialize Deployable Quantum Networking Infrastructure Quantum networking hardware developer Qunnect and quantum photonics manufacturer Monarch Quantum have entered into a strategic co-development partnership to accelerate the miniaturization, ruggedization, and scalable production of entanglement-based networking infrastructure. The collaboration addresses a critical bottleneck in scaling quantum networks: transitioning room-temperature entanglement sources and active polarization compensation systems from rack-mounted telecom central office configurations into low-SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) modules suitable for harsh, space-constrained operational environments. The partnership bridges Qunnect’s field-proven Carina™ entanglement distribution ecosystem—currently anchoring metro-scale testbeds across New York, Berlin, Albuquerque, and Bozeman—with Monarch Quantum’s proprietary Quantum Light Engines™. By integrating Monarch’s photonic system-in-package packaging, photonic integrated circuits (PICs), and narrow-linewidth laser subsystems directly into Qunnect’s dynamic polarization stabilization and quantum memory architecture, the companies aim to produce deployable networking nodes for defense platforms, satellite payloads, mobile edge compute nodes, and 5G/6G cell site infrastructure. [ Qunnect & Monarch Joint Engineering Framework ] │ ┌─────────────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────┐ ▼ ▼ Qunnect Entanglement Infrastructure Monarch Quantum Photonic Integration • Carina Turnkey Entanglement Distribution. • Integrated Photonic Quantum Light Engines™. • Dynamic Fiber Polarization Stabilization. • Low-SWaP Miniaturization & Ruggedization. • Room-Temperature Quantum Memory (Qu-Mem). • High-Volume Scalable Subsystem Manufacturing. By shifting from discrete bulk-optic components to integrated photonic assemblies, the joint initiative focuses on establishing a repeatable, high-volume OEM supp

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Sizhen Chip Demonstrates Multi-Qubit Photonic Quantum States on Silicon Chipquantum-computing

Sizhen Chip Demonstrates Multi-Qubit Photonic Quantum States on Silicon Chip

Insider Brief Hefei Sizhen Chip Technology Co., Ltd. and the research group of Professor Ren Xifeng at the Key Laboratory of Quantum Information, University of Science and Technology of China have reported a breakthrough in photonic quantum computing chip technology, Jiwei reported. Working with a self-developed programmable silicon photonic integrated chip, the team says it […]

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