Tag: Photonics
Klea Dhmitri (Hamamatsu): Photonics as the hidden backbone of quantum hardware scaling
Klea Dhmitri of Hamamatsu joins Yuval to discuss the company’s role as a photonic component provider for trapped-ion and neutral-atom quantum computers. She explains key technologies such as photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), SPADs, and quantitative CMOS cameras, and how scaling to larger qubit arrays changes requirements for speed, resolution, and integration. Klea also shares how customer…
Christian Weedbrook (Xanadu): Scaling photonic quantum computers with optical networking
Yuval Boger interviews Christian Weedbrook, founder and CEO of Xanadu. They discuss Xanadu’s photonic approach to gate-based quantum computing, the advantages of room-temperature operation, and the company’s plan to scale through optical networking. Christian also describes PennyLane, photonic error correction, customer engagements, and Xanadu’s target of building a 500-logical-qubit system by 2029–2030. The conversation also…
Zach Yerushalmi (Elevate Quantum): Why quantum needs advanced market commitments, not just grants
Yuval Boger interviews Zach Yerushalmi, CEO of Elevate Quantum and leader of the U.S. Quantum Tech Hub. They discuss how to accelerate quantum commercialization through industry-led ecosystems, targeted public–private partnerships, and clear prioritization across research, industry, and market failures. Zach draws parallels to semiconductors and biotech, emphasizing demand signals, advanced market commitments, and cycle time…
Vijoy Pandey & Reza Nejabati (Cisco): Skip the QPU, build the entanglement network
Vijoy Pandey, who leads Cisco’s Outshift incubation group, and Reza Nejabati, Cisco’s head of quantum research, are interviewed by Yuval Boger. They discuss Cisco’s strategy to enable distributed quantum computing and a future “quantum internet.” Vijoy and Reza explain why Cisco won’t build QPUs, focusing instead on room-temperature, telecom-band entanglement networking. They discuss Cisco’s aim…
Preeti Chalsani & Harley Johnson (IQMP): How Illinois built a $500M quantum hub from scratch
Preeti Chalsani, Chief Quantum Officer at Intersect Illinois, and Harley Johnson, CEO of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, are interviewed by Yuval Boger. Preeti and Harley discuss the rapid creation and ambitious goals of the IQMP, a state-backed initiative to support the scale-up of quantum computing and microelectronics. They talk about the park’s public-private…
Tim Spiller (Quantum Communications Hub): Building QKD from handheld devices to satellites
Tim Spiller, director of the Quantum Communications Hub in the UK, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Tim describes the Hub’s work on quantum key distribution (QKD) and quantum networking. He highlights advancements in short- and long-range quantum communications, including a CubeSat-based QKD system. Tim elaborates on the transition from research to commercialization within the UK…
Shmuel Bachinsky (Quantum Transistors): why diamond qubits, not silicon, get you to a universal processor
Shmuel Bachinsky, CEO and co-founder of Quantum Transistors, a second-generation quantum computing company aiming to build the “8086” of quantum computing, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Shmuel discusses the company’s focus on using diamond-based solid-state spin qubits combined with silicon photonics and CMOS control planes, aiming to build a scalable quantum processor. He contrasts this…
Richard Murray (Orca): Building Photonic Quantum Computers from Telecom Parts
Richard Murray, CEO and co-founder of Orca Computing, discusses the company’s focus on building photonic quantum computers using existing telecom components and optical fibers. Orca differentiates itself by leveraging its origins from a quantum networking research group at the University of Oxford, emphasizing practical near-term applications in machine learning and optimization. Richard highlights the unique…
Nardo Manaloto (Qubits Ventures): Why a quantum VC also bets on thermodynamic and biocomputing
rdo Manoloto, managing partner of Qubits Ventures, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. They discuss the firm’s investments in quantum and future computing technologies, his belief that quantum AI is an imminent reality, insights on global quantum economies, the role of venture studios in de-risking investments, and much more.
Lute Maleki (OEwaves): Why narrow linewidth lasers are quantum tech’s overlooked bottleneck
Lute Maleki, founder and CEO of OEwaves, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. They discuss the development of advanced quantum technology components, such as narrowband lasers, the company’s origins at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and its evolution, the importance of narrow linewidth lasers for precision and efficiency in quantum applications, and much more.
Niccolo Somaschi (Quandela): Photons and semiconductors combine for useful quantum computing
“Niccolo Somaschi, CEO of Quandela, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Niccolo describes the company’s approach to quantum computing, emphasizing the use of photonics and semiconductor technologies to manipulate photonic qubits. He highlights Quandela’s focus on building commercially useful quantum computers, the development of a unique programming framework for transforming gate-based circuits into photonic operations, the…
Ryan Lafler (Quantum Corridor): Building a fiber highway for quantum networking
Ryan Lafler, President and CTO of Quantum Corridor, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Ryan highlights Quantum Corridor’s development of a 12-mile fiber network in the Midwest, designed for quantum and classical computing. The network, connecting major data centers, focuses on quantum communications and research, with a capacity of 40 terabits per second. Ryan discusses collaborations,…
Charles Roques-Carmes (Stanford): Turning optical parametric oscillators into tunable random number generators
Charles Roques-Carmes, a Science Fellow at Stanford University, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Charles discusses his work on using optical parametric oscillators as a form of random number generator with controllable bias. He elaborates on the potential applications of this technology in trainable randomness for Bayesian neural networks and logistics planning, previews the next steps…
Sean Sullivan and Manish Singh (MemQ): Rare Earth Ions in Silicon for Quantum Repeaters
Sean Sullivan and Manish Singh, co-founders of MemQ, are interviewed by Yuval Boger. Sean and Manish discuss their company’s goal of developing a platform that is native to silicon for rare earth ion-based qubits with a focus on quantum communications, the need for quantum repeaters to extend quantum information transmission distances, the potential use cases…
Ish Dhand (QC Design): Selling fault-tolerant blueprints instead of building qubits
Ish Dhand, CEO and co-founder of QC Design, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. They discuss the company’s focus on advancing fault tolerance in quantum computing, their architectures and software tools to help manufacturers build scalable and reliable quantum computers. We talk about their “blueprints” for building fault-tolerant systems, the “boosts” to improve existing hardware, and…
Stephanie Simmons (Photonic): Why photonic interconnects, not more qubits, unlock fault tolerance
Stephanie Simmons, Founder and Chief Quantum Officer of Photonic, discusses with Yuval Boger her path from academic research on spin qubits to launching one of the largest quantum computing companies operating largely under the radar with over 100 employees. The conversation explores Photonic’s approach to delivering fault-tolerant quantum computers by leveraging highly connected quantum systems…
Karla Loida (DLR): Betting €740 Million on Every Quantum Hardware Platform at Once
Karla Loida, Project Lead for Quantum Computing Hardware at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), discusses her role overseeing all hardware activities for Germany’s major quantum computing initiative, which has received 740 million euros in government funding over four years. She explains how the DLR commissions various industry partners, startups, and established companies to build quantum…
Bob Coecke (Quantinuum): How Diagrams Replaced Equations in Quantum Theory
Bob Coecke, Chief Scientist at Quantinuum, is interviewed by Yuval Boger to discuss his work in quantum theory visualization and his upcoming book “Quantum in Pictures,” co-authored with Stephano Gogioso. Coecke explains how he has reformulated quantum theory using diagrammatic languages and the ZX-calculus, making complex quantum concepts accessible to a broad audience from teenagers…
Aharon Brodutch & Ilia Khait (Entangled Networks): Optical links to stitch small QPUs into one machine
Summary Aharon Brodutch and Ilia Khait, co-founders of Entangled Networks, a company building an optical interconnect between QPUs are interviewed by Yuval Boger. Aharon, Ilia, and Yuval talk about the efforts required to scale up quantum processors, their optimizing compiler, building a distributed quantum computer, and much more.
Noel Goddard (Qunnect): Turning Telecom Fiber into Quantum Secure Links
Summary Noel Goddard, CEO of Qunnect, a hardware company working to transform standard telecom networks into quantum secure communication networks is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Noel and Yuval spoke about 1st and 2nd-generation quantum secure networks, what one would need to do to create a secure link between Chicago and New York, the intersection of…
Wil Oxford (Anametric): Why QKD fell out of favor and random numbers took its place
Summary Wil Oxford, founder and CEO of Anametric, a company developing new technologies for chip-scale quantum photonics, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Wil and Yuval spoke about Anametric’s initial cybersecurity focus, why QKD is not a popular word in Washington DC, why the US Air Force is interested in Anametric’s products, and much more. Read…
Max Sich (Aegiq): Why selling single photons comes before selling quantum computers
Summary Max Sich, co-founder and CEO of Aegiq, a quantum photonics company, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Max and Yuval talk about Aegiq’s first product, a single-photon source, and its potential applications, their business model, the impact of governments in quantum – beyond funding – and much more. Read the full transcript on the Quantum…