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12 Nov 2024
US-based developer of trapped ion systems eyes new fiber lasers and chip-scale photonics in shift away from bulk optics.
IonQ, the Maryland-based developer of quantum computing systems that recently signed a $55 million deal with the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), is hooking up with NKT Photonics and imec to advance the optical elements of its cutting-edge hardware.
Designed around trapped ions, IonQ’s technology relies on lasers and precision optics to isolate and manipulate individual atoms - in this case, individual ytterbium atoms that are both ionized and cooled with lasers.
An array of lasers is also deployed to perform computing operations, with IonQ explaining that interference between two beams produces a beat note that provides exactly the energy required to excite the quantum bits or “qubits” into a different state.
Finally another laser is used to “read” a computational answer from a chain of ions to form a binary string where each atom produces either a “one” or a “zero”.
NKT fiber lasers
IonQ says that the partnership with NKT Photonics, which is now part of Hamamatsu, involves developing and delivering three prototype optical subsystems next year, with the systems set to support the commercialization of its forthcoming “Tempo” computers for data center applications, as well as future systems that will be based on barium ions.
“NKT Photonics’ laser systems are based on fiber laser technology and provide a clear advantage in performance, cost, lead time and SWAP (size, weight and power),” IonQ announced.
“Additionally, these laser systems will be modular, reliable and rack-mountable, making them the ideal technology to address the laser wavelength and power requirements of IonQ’s barium-based trapped ion systems.”
Dave Mehuys, the company’s VP of product engineering, commented: “Today’s partnership ensures IonQ systems are equipped with best-in-class laser technologies to power our next-generation quantum computers and networking solutions.”
imec’s PIC prowess
One of several business tie-ups recently inked by IonQ, the NKT agreement will be complemented by world-leading nanophotonics expertise from Belgian research center imec. The idea is to evolve the trapped-ion systems from benchtop-scale, bulk optical designs to the micro-scale.
“By optimizing the design, production, and integration of chip-scale photonic devices and ion traps for scalable and high-performance quantum computers, the developments aim to push the boundaries of quantum computing performance,” explained IonQ.
“Traditional trapped ion quantum computing approaches rely on bulk optics for laser light modulation, delivery, and photon collection. By moving traditional bulk optical components into integrated photonic devices, IonQ aims to reduce overall hardware system size and cost, increase qubit count, and improve system performance and robustness.
“Chip-scale optical technologies and IonQ’s tight integration with imec’s trap manufacturing and packing are expected to open up new system capabilities, increase reliability, drive down overall cost-per-qubit, and reduce time to market for new generations of quantum computers.”
imec and IonQ have in fact been working together since 2021, with the expanded agreement aiming to develop advanced ion-trap fabrication processes that will result in much richer trap and device functionality.
Dean Kassmann, IonQ’s senior VP of engineering and technology, added: “This partnership marks a significant milestone in IonQ’s path to achieving commercial quantum advantage, demonstrating our commitment to combining technical performance improvements with scalability and enterprise-grade solutions.”
IonQ progress
After initially raising around $75 million in venture capital from Google and other early backers, IonQ added in excess of $600 million to its coffers in October 2021 when it listed on the New York Stock Exchange via a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) scheme.
Since then, the company has signed a series of development deals and partnerships with high-profile laboratories, and in February 2024 it opened a facility in Bothell, Seattle, intended as its primary production engineering location in the US.
“This is the first factory in the US that will manufacture quantum computers that are replicable and deployable in customers’ data centers,” said the firm at the time.
And following September’s announcement of the AFRL deal, IonQ’s CEO Peter Chapman said that the company was at an “inflection point”, and approaching $100 million in bookings.
Coinciding with the imec and NKT Photonics agreements, IonQ’s latest quarterly financial results showed sales doubling year-on-year to $12 million and news of other partnerships involving engineering simulation software giant Ansys and an effort with AstraZeneca aimed at accelerating drug development.
Chapman and colleagues are expecting to post annual sales of around $40 million this year, alongside total bookings of between $75 million and $95 million.
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