Cambridge, UK, October 14, 2024 -- Nu Quantum announces today a milestone that for the first time opens the door to modular, distributed quantum computers of different qubit modalities and providers: a proof-of-principle prototype that will enable quantum computers to be connected to a quantum network. This technology, a Qubit-Photon Interface, is the equivalent of today’s Network Interface Cards (NICs), which today connect every single computer in a data centre together, and have enabled the Cloud and AI markets.

In order to have a useful quantum computer that can, for example, accurately simulate the world at the atomic level, quantum computers need to be 1000x larger than they are today. They inevitably need to move beyond a single-QPU towards a distributed quantum computer made of hundreds of QPUs and at data centre scales, just like the cloud and AI supercomputers.

The efficient transfer of quantum information between matter and light at the quantum level is the biggest challenge to scaling quantum computers, and the specific issue that the QPI addresses.

Nu Quantum’s QPI has been designed for atomic qubits, and the first version of it has been integrated into Infleqtion’s trapped atom vacuum system and successfully tested under ultra-high vacuum, the harsh conditions under which qubits will need to operate. The next step will be to demonstrate controlled high-efficiency coupling  between an individual atom stimulated to emit a photon - tackling one of the most long-standing technical challenges in the industry to date.

Dr. Claire Le Gall, VP of Technology at Nu Quantum, said:

“Everyone acknowledges that an efficient interface between qubits and photons -’matter and light’ is critical to scaling quantum computing. It's been really exciting to work with Infleqtion on this project! We've successfully married our QPI-technology (qubit photon interface) with their ultra-high vacuum cold-atom cells. We are pleased with the progress our QPI has made through early-stage testing, and we look forward to further refining its performance. We're excited to move on to the next phase of our R&D, where we aim for ~100x improvement in quantum networking speed.”

Dr. Marco Palumbo, Director of Business Development UK, at Infleqtion said: “Collaboration is essential to advancing the quantum computing field, and working with partners like Nu Quantum allows us to explore new avenues in connecting qubits to quantum networks. While this is a proof of concept, we look forward to continued experimentation and development in pursuit of scalable quantum technologies."