Host Sebastian Hassinger interviews Alexandre Blais, professor of physics at the Universite de Sherbrooke and scientific director of the Insitut Quantique. Alexandre discusses his academic journey, starting from his master's and PhD work in Sherbrooke, his move to Yale, and his collaborations with both theorists and experimentalists. He outlines the development of circuit QED (quantum electrodynamics) and its foundational role in the modern superconducting qubit landscape. Blais emphasizes the interplay between fundamental physics and technological progress in quantum computing, highlighting both academic contributions and partnerships with industry. He also describes the evolution and mission of Institut Quantique, stressing its role in bridging academia and the quantum industry by training talent and fostering startups in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Finally, Blais reflects on the dual promise of quantum computing—as a tool for scientific discovery and as a long-term commercial technology.

Key Themes and Points

1. Early Career and Path into Quantum Computing

• Alexandre Blais began his quantum computing journey during his master’s at Sherbrooke, inspired by a popular science article by Serge Haroche that laid out the argument for why quantum computers would never work.
• He pursued quantum studies at Sherbrooke despite a lack of local experts, showing early initiative and risk-taking.

2. Transition to Yale and Circuit QED

• Blais joined Yale for his postdoc, attracted by the strong theory–experiment collaboration.
• The Yale group pioneered "circuit QED," adapting ideas from cavity QED (single atoms in magnetic cavities) to superconducting circuits, enabling new ways to read out and control qubits.
• Circuit QED became the backbone of superconducting qubit technology, notably enabling the transmon qubit (now a dominant architecture).
• Collaborated with figures like prior guests of the podcast Steve Girvin and Rob Schoelkopf, and was a postdoc along with Jay Gambetta and Andreas Wallraff.

3. Superconducting Qubits and Research Focus

• Most of Blais’s work has centered on superconducting qubits, particularly on understanding and extending coherence times, reducing errors, and improving fabrication/design.
• Emphasizes the complex, nonlinear, and rich physics even of single-qubit systems (e.g., challenges of dispersive readout and unexpected phenomena like multiphoton resonances).
• Notes the continuing importance of deep, fundamental research despite growing industrial and engineering focus.

4. Role of Academia vs. Industry

• Growth of corporate investment (Google, IBM, Amazon, Intel) has changed the landscape.
• Blais argues that universities should focus on pushing the scientific frontier and training talent, not on building commercial-scale quantum computers.
• Academic groups can pursue high-risk, high-reward research and deeper understanding of quantum technology’s physical underpinnings.

5. Institut Quantique and Quebec’s Quantum Ecosystem

• Blais leads Institut Quantique, which supports both basic and applied quantum research and has been highly successful in fostering a local quantum startup ecosystem (e.g., SBQuantum, NordQuantique, Qubic).
• Offers entrepreneurship courses and significant seed grants (even to students and postdocs) to encourage talent retention and company creation in Sherbrooke.
• Partnership between academia, startups, and public investment has attracted international players like Pasqal and IBM, establishing Sherbrooke as a quantum technology hub.

6. Societal and Philosophical Reflections

• Fundamental challenge: making increasingly large quantum systems remain quantum despite Bohr’s assertion, via the Correspondence principle, that as a quantum system scales it will become classical.
• Quantum computers are not only future commercial tools—they are already invaluable scientific instruments, enabling new physics via experimental control of complex quantum systems.
• Blais is optimistic about quantum computing’s potential for both discovery and eventual large-scale applications.

Main Takeaways

• Building quantum computers is both a technological and fundamental scientific challenge. Even with commercial interest, deep physical understanding is essential—academic research remains vital.
• Close collaboration between theorists and experimentalists breeds breakthrough advances. Circuit QED exemplifies this synergy.
• Quantum research institutes can seed thriving tech ecosystems, if they focus on both talent training and supporting spinouts, as shown by Institut Quantique in Sherbrooke.
• Quantum computing’s greatest early impacts will likely be as scientific instruments, enabling novel experiments and discoveries, before large-scale commercial utility is achieved.
• Quantum hardware’s development continually reveals new, subtle physics; e.g., the decades-long puzzle of dispersive readout reflects the complexity inherent in scaling up quantum technology.

Notable Quotes

•  “Quantum computers will, before being commercially useful, be fantastic tools for discoveries.”
•  “What we’re trying to do is go against that very fundamental principle—we’re trying to build a bigger and bigger system that behaves ever more quantum.”
•  “There is real power in mixing theory and experiment when tackling the challenges of quantum technology.”

Listeners will enjoy a blend of scientific storytelling, personal insight, and a blueprint for building world-class quantum research hubs that advance both discovery and innovation.

In this episode, Sebastian Hassinger sits down with Bert de Jong, a leading computational chemist and Director of the Quantum Systems Accelerator at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. They explore Bert’s journey from high-performance classical computing to the front lines of quantum research, his vision for the future of the U.S. National Quantum Initiative (NQI) center he leads, and the scientific and engineering challenges that will define the next era of quantum computing.

Key Topics Covered

• Career Arc: Bert reflects on his 27-year career in the national lab system, moving from classical computational chemistry and HPC to becoming a leader in quantum computing research and center management.
• Genesis of Quantum Focus: He describes his pivot to quantum in 2014, prompted by the scaling limitations of classical simulations and the promise of quantum systems to tackle “bigger and bigger” problems.
• Role of National Labs and NQI: Discussion of the U.S. National Quantum Initiative and the unique positioning of national labs in driving foundational science and cross-sector collaboration through centers like QSA.
• QSA’s Multimodal Approach: Insight into QSA’s decision not to “choose a lane,” advancing superconducting qubits, trapped ions, and neutral atoms in parallel, and the unique innovations—like integrated photonics—enabled by this breadth.
• Neutral Atom Milestones: Highlights the rapid progress in neutral atom systems (including work with QuEra and Misha Lukin), and the looming advent of devices with dozens of logical qubits and error correction.
• Logical Qubits and Error Correction: Bert explains how all quantum modalities are advancing toward error-corrected logical qubits, and why 100-logical-qubit prototypes are a realistic five-year goal.
• Scientific Impact: A discussion of what constitutes “quantum (scientific) advantage,” and why Bert believes that chemistry, materials science, high-energy, and nuclear physics will be the first domains to benefit from quantum systems unavailable to classical computing.
• Balancing Science and Engineering: Exploration of the transition from fundamental scientific challenges to applied engineering problems as quantum hardware matures—touching on device manufacturing, integrated photonics, and the symbiosis between national labs and industry partners.
• Quantum Software Innovation: Bert’s perspective on bridging researcher expertise with usable tools, including his work on open-source quantum compilers (e.g., BQSKit/biscuit) and the importance of diverse, in- terdisciplinary teams.
• Looking Ahead: Bert’s vision for the next five years: transitioning quantum from promise to prototypes that deliver real scientific results, and solidifying a collaborative ecosystem across labs, universities, and industry.

Notable Quotes

• “HPC, quantum, and AI are all just tools—what matters is how we use them to solve real science problems.”
• “We’re at the point where error-corrected quantum prototypes with 100 logical qubits and high fidelity could deliver a true scientific advantage within five years.”
• “National labs bring together deep science, advanced engineering, and a culture of collaboration that’s essential at this stage of quantum’s development.”
• “Quantum advantage isn’t a buzzword for us—it’s about doing science that can’t be done any other way.”

Episode Highlights

• Bert’s transition from classical to quantum and the pivotal role of DOE research centers.
• How QSA’s cross-modality approach both accelerates hardware and fosters cross-institutional partnerships.
• A preview of upcoming neutral-atom milestones and why industry is watching closely.
• The importance of open standards and software that supports a rapidly diversifying hardware landscape.
• The public sector’s role in driving “over the horizon” technology, derisking pathways beyond what private startups can take on alone.
• Ambitious, concrete goals for the next five years: prototype quantum systems delivering early scientific wins, not just more research papers.

If you enjoy deep dives into the intersection of science, engineering, and the future of

quantum technology, subscribe and share The New Quantum Era.

Episode Overview

Join Sebastian Hassinger in conversation with Deeya Viradia, a Gen Z voice and rising researcher in the quantum computing field. Deeya discusses her multifaceted journey—from early inspiration and undergraduate research to hackathons, quantum clubs, and her ambitions in commercialization. This episode is packed with resources, perspectives on education, and advice for newcomers in quantum technology.

Key Topics & Highlights

Deeya’s Quantum Origin Story

• Inspired by curiosity and early science exposure—especially an episode of "Martha Speaks" with Neil deGrasse Tyson—which led to an ongoing passion for exploring the unknown, from astronomy to quantum computing.
• Found her quantum footing through engineering physics at UC Berkeley and participation in the IBM Qiskit Summer School.

Building a Quantum Resume

• Gained diverse hands-on experience with UC Berkeley’s Quantum Devices Group, SLAC (Stanford Linear Accelerator Center), the DoD Quantum Entanglement and Space Technologies (QuEST) Lab, and multiple quantum hackathons (MIT iQuHack Hack, Yale's Y Quantum).
• Emphasizes the breadth of opportunity for undergraduates—advocates for involvement in hackathons and clubs, even without prior quantum experience.

Theory vs. Experiment, and Academia vs. Industry

• Challenges traditional boundaries, advocating for integration: understanding both the experimental physics and the theoretical/algorithmic sides of quantum.
• Describes work at SLAC: optimizing readout for superconducting qubits, working with dilution fridges, and collaborating across national labs and Stanford.

Student Community & Entrepreneurial Drive

• Founded Q-BIT at Berkeley, a club focused on quantum computing applications and industry connections.
• Active in Berkeley’s entrepreneurship community, driven to explore how quantum research moves from lab to commercial product.

Commercialization and the Future of Quantum

• Discusses the uncertain but promising path to quantum’s economic value, highlighting interdisciplinary collaboration, communication, and cross-sector engagement.
• Strong advocate for students and non-technical communities alike to take risks, reach out, and jump into the field—because quantum needs diverse perspectives and no one knows exactly where it’s headed!

Resources Mentioned

• IBM Quantum education resources
• IBM Quantum blog - where the summer camp will be announced
• MIT iQuHack
• Yale’s Y Quantum
• Unitary Foundation
• Q-Ctrl Black Opal
• Q-BIT at Berkeley
• Qubit by Qubit
• National Q-12 Education Partnership 
• IEEE Quantum Week
• UC Berkeley Quantum Devices Group
• SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
• Entrepreneurs @ Berkeley

Host: Sebastian Hassinger
Guest: Andrew Dzurak (CEO, Diraq)

In this enlightening episode, Sebastian Hassinger interviews Professor Andrew Dzurak. Andrew is the CEO and co-founder of Diraq and concurrently a Scientia Professor in Quantum Engineering at UNSW Sydney, an ARC Laureate Fellow and a Member of the Executive Board of the Sydney Quantum Academy. Diraq is a quantum computing startup pioneering silicon spin qubits, based in Australia. The discussion delves into the technical foundations, manufacturing breakthroughs, scalability, and future roadmap of silicon-based quantum computers—all with an industrial and commercial focus.

Key Topics and Insights

1. What Sets Diraq Apart

• Diraq’s quantum computers use silicon spin qubits, differing from the industry’s more familiar modalities like superconducting, trapped ion, or neutral atom qubits.
• Their technology leverages quantum dots—tiny regions where electrons are trapped within modified silicon transistors. The quantum information is encoded in the spin direction of these trapped electrons—a method with roots stretching over two decades1.

2. Manufacturing & Scalability

• Diraq modifies standard CMOS transistors, making qubits that are tens of nanometers in size, compared to the much larger superconducting devices. This means millions of qubits can fit on a single chip.
• The company recently demonstrated high-fidelity qubit manufacturing on standard 300mm wafers at commercial foundries (GlobalFoundries, IMEC), matching or surpassing previous experimental results—all fidelity metrics above 99%.

3. Architectural Innovations

• Diraq’s chips integrate both quantum and conventional classical electronics side by side, using standard silicon design toolchains like Cadence. This enables leveraging existing chip design and manufacturing expertise, speeding progress towards scalable quantum chips.
• Movement of electrons (and thus qubits) across the chip uses CMOS bucket-brigade techniques, similar to charge-coupled devices. This means fast (

4. Cryogenic Operation

• Diraq’s qubits run at around 1 Kelvin, much warmer than superconducting qubits (which require millikelvin temperatures). This enables integration of classical CMOS control electronics at the same temperature layer, avoiding the wiring and cooling challenges typical in superconducting systems1.

5. Error Correction & Control

• Diraq aims for native error correction schemes adapted to their modular, but not fully 2D-grid, architecture.
• Error correction controllers (CPUs, GPUs, ASICs, FPGAs) will sit outside the fridge but integrated tightly with the quantum module, with exact architectures still under consideration.

6. Roadmap and Commercialization

• Diraq is targeting a first product release during the first half of 2029: a fully integrated quantum computer module with thousands of physical qubits, enough logical qubits for meaningful problems beyond classical supercomputing.
• Near-term (100–200 qubit) systems will be available in limited cases to select partners and governmental organizations, but the focus is on large-scale, commercially relevant systems.

7. Vision for Quantum Data Centers

• Dzurak envisions thousands of quantum processors integrated into conventional data centers, providing affordable and compact quantum computing alongside AI and HPC for applications such as drug design, materials discovery, and more.

Notable Quotes

"We've designed now a system that will go to many millions of qubits that can sit inside one single refrigeration unit, pretty much the size of a rack in a data center." — Andrew Dzurak

"If we want quantum computing to be ubiquitous ... there are going to need to be thousands of quantum computers ... integrated with high-performance computing, GPUs, and so on." — Andrew Dzurak

Episode Takeaways

• Leveraging existing silicon manufacturing and design expertise offers a promising pathway to mass adoption.
• Quantum computing at scale requires not just clever physics, but robust industrial engineering and integration with classical technologies.
• Watch for Diraq’s commercial debut of thousands-of-qubit systems by 2029, poised to play a role in future quantum-enabled data centers.

For further episodes and details, visit www.newquantumera.com or follow on Bluesky @newquantumera.com.

This episode of The New Quantum Era podcast, your host, Sebastian Hassinger, has a conversation with Dr. Charlotte Bøttcher, Assistant Professor, Stanford University. Dr. Bøttcher is an experimental physicist working with superconducting quantum devices, and shares with us her areas of focus and perspective on this critical area of materials research for quantum information science and technology.

Episode Highlights

• Meet Dr. Charlotte Bøttcher: Dr. Bøttcher shares her journey from Harvard (PhD) and Yale (postdoc with Michel Devoret) to launching her own experimental quantum materials group at Stanford. She discusses the excitement (and challenges) of building a new research lab from scratch.
• Hybrid Quantum Material Systems: The heart of the conversation centers on hybrid systems combining superconductors (aluminum) with semiconductors (indium arsenide). These materials pave the way for:
  • Tunable and switchable superconductivity—the foundation for switchable quantum devices and potential advances in quantum information technology.
  • Probing unconventional and topological superconductors, with implications for fundamental physics and exotic quantum states.
• Applications in Quantum Computing:
  • Superconductivity plays a crucial role not only in qubits themselves but also in creating tunable couplers between qubits, allowing for controlled entanglement and reduced crosstalk.
  • High-Tc superconductors (those with high critical temperatures) are discussed, including their complex, often disordered behavior—and their challenges and potential in qubit applications.
• Quantum Simulation and Sensing: Dr. Bøttcher describes her group’s efforts to use devices for simulating complex many-body quantum systems, including both bosonic and fermionic Hamiltonians. Quantum devices are also used for quantum sensing—detecting magnetic fields, charge, or collective modes in exotic materials (such as uranium-based superconductors).
• Controlling Disorder: The episode explores how adjusting electron carrier density can expose or screen disorder in materials, enabling the study of its effects on quantum properties.
• Building a New Lab: Charlotte highlights the rewarding process of establishing her own experimental lab and mentoring the next generation of quantum scientists.
• Fundamental Science vs. Application: Dr. Bøttcher emphasizes the synergy between foundational quantum research and technological development—the pursuit of basic understanding feeds directly into better qubits and devices, which in turn open new avenues for exploring quantum phenomena.
• Future Directions: Looking ahead, her group aims to develop new superconducting qubits capable of operating at higher temperatures and frequencies, expand their quantum simulation platforms, and continue collaborations with Yale and others. The quest for phenomena like Majorana fermions and the exploration of topological phases remain part of her group’s broader experimental frontier.

Key Quotes
“Combining superconductors and semiconductors gives us not just new functionality for quantum technology but also lets us explore fundamental questions about exotic states of matter.” – Charlotte Bøttcher
“Building a lab from scratch is a lot of work, but every day is exciting. Working with students and starting new experiments is incredibly rewarding.” – Charlotte Bøttcher

Tune in for a deep dive into hybrid materials, quantum simulation, and the inner workings of a cutting-edge quantum materials lab at Stanford!
For more episodes: Visit newquantumera.com

Thanks to the American Physical Society (APS) for supporting this episode.

In this episode of The New Quantum Era, host Sebastian Hassinger sits down with Dr. Mark Saffman, a leading expert in atomic physics and quantum information science. As a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Chief Scientist at Infleqtion (formerly ColdQuanta), Mark is at the forefront of developing neutral atom quantum computing platforms using Rydberg atom arrays. The conversation explores the past, present, and future of neutral atom quantum computing, its scalability, technological challenges, and opportunities for hybrid quantum systems.

Key Topics

• Evolution of Neutral Atom Quantum Computing
  The history and development of Rydberg atom arrays, key technological breakthroughs, and the trajectory from early experiments to today’s platforms capable of large-scale qubit arrays.
• Gate Fidelity and Scalability
  Advances in gate fidelity, challenges in reducing laser noise, and the inherent scalability advantages of the neutral atom platform.
• Error Correction and Logical Qubits
  Discussion of error detection/correction, logical qubit implementation, code distances, and the engineering required for repeated error correction in neutral atom systems.
• Synergy Between Academia and Industry
  The interplay between curiosity-driven university research and focused engineering efforts at Infleqtion, including the collaborative benefits of cross-pollination.
• Hybrid Quantum Systems and Future Directions
  Potential for integrating different modalities, including hybrid systems, quantum communication, and quantum sensors, as well as modularity in scaling quantum processors.

Key Insights

• Neutral atom arrays have achieved remarkable scalability, with demonstrations of arrays containing thousands of atomic qubits—well-positioned for large-scale quantum computing compared to other modalities.
• Advancements in laser technology and gate protocols have been crucial for improving gate fidelities, moving from early diode lasers to more stabilized, lower noise systems.
• Engineering challenges remain, such as atom loss, measurement speed, and the need for technologies enabling fast, high-degree-of-freedom optical reconfiguration.
• Logical qubit implementation is advancing, but practical, repeated rounds of error correction and syndrome measurement are required for fault-tolerant computing.
• Collaboration between university and industry labs accelerates both foundational understanding and the translation of discoveries into real-world devices.

Notable Quotes

1. “One of the exciting things about the Neutral Atom platform is that this is perhaps the most scalable platform that exists.”
2. “Atoms make fantastic qubits — they’re nature’s qubits, all identical, excellent coherence… but they do have some sort of annoying features. They don’t stick around forever. We have atom loss.”
3. “Our wiring is not electronic printed circuits, it’s laser beams propagating in space… That’s great because it’s reconfigurable in real time.”

About the Guest

Mark Saffman is a Professor of Physics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Chief Scientist at Infleqtion, a company leading the commercial development of quantum technology platforms using neutral atoms. Mark is recognized for his pioneering work on Rydberg atom arrays, quantum logic gates, and advancing scalable quantum processors. His interdisciplinary experience bridges fundamental science and quantum tech commercialization.

Keywords: quantum computing, Rydberg atoms, neutral atom arrays, Mark Saffman, Infleqtion, gate fidelity, scalability, quantum error correction, logical qubits, hybrid quantum systems, laser cooling, quantum communication, quantum sensors, quantum advantage, optical links, atomic physics, quantum technology, academic-industry collaboration.

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For more episodes, visit The New Quantum Era and follow on Bluesky: @newquantumera.com. If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe and share it with your quantum-curious friends!

In this episode, Sebastian Hassinger sits down with Dr. Liang Jiang from the University of Chicago to explore the exciting intersection of quantum error correction theory and practical implementation. Dr. Jiang discusses his group's work on hardware-efficient quantum error correction, the recent breakthroughs in demonstrating error correction thresholds, and the future of fault-tolerant quantum computing.

Key Topics Covered

Current State of Quantum Error Correction

• Recent milestone achievements including Google's surface code experiment and AWS's bosonic code demonstrations
• The transition from purely theoretical work to practical implementations on real hardware
• Hardware platforms showing high fidelity: superconducting qubits, trapped ions, and cold atoms

Hardware-Efficient Approaches

• Bosonic Error Correction: Using single harmonic oscillators to correct loss errors, demonstrated at Yale and AWS
• Surface Codes: Google's achievement of going beyond breakeven point for quantum memory
• QLDPC Codes: Collaboration with IBM and neutral atom array experiments, particularly Michel Lukin's group at Harvard

Fault-Tolerant Gate Implementation

• Challenges of implementing universal computation with error-corrected logical qubits
• Magic State Injection: Preparing resource quantum states and teleporting them into circuits
• Code Switching: Switching between different error correcting codes to achieve universal gate sets
• The Eastin-Knill no-go theorem and methods to overcome it

Programming Abstraction Layers

• Evolution toward higher-level programming abstractions similar to classical computing
• Efficient compilation of quantum circuits using discrete fault-tolerant gate sets
• Memory Operations: Teleporting gates into quantum memory rather than extracting qubits

Quantum Communication and Networking

Channel Capacity and GKP Codes

• Application of Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill (GKP) codes for achieving channel capacity in lossy channels
• Recent experimental demonstrations in trapped ions and superconducting qubits showing breakeven performance

Microwave-to-Optical Transduction

• Critical challenge for connecting quantum devices across different frequency domains
• Recent progress in demonstrating quantum channels between microwave and optical modes
• Applications for both quantum networking and modular quantum computing architectures

Advanced Applications

Quantum Sensing with Error Correction

• Research by Dr. Jiang's former student Sisi Zhou addressing John Preskill's 20-year-old question
• Necessary and sufficient conditions for error correction to help quantum sensing
• Applications to gravitational wave detection and dark matter searches

Algorithmic Quantum Metrology

• Collaboration with MIT researchers on combining global search algorithms with quantum sensors
• Potential for quantum advantage in processing quantum signals from quantum sensors

Future Directions

Distributed Quantum Computing

• Modular architecture with specialized components: memory, processors, and interfaces
• Scaling challenges requiring interconnects between different quantum devices
• System-level thinking about quantum computer architecture

Application-Specific Error Correction

• Tailoring error correction schemes for specific algorithms and applications
• Co-design approach considering hardware capabilities and application requirements

Key Insights

• Theory-Experiment Collaboration: The importance of close collaboration between theorists and experimentalists to understand real-world error models
• Hardware Efficiency: Moving beyond generic error correction to platform-specific and application-specific approaches
• Temporal Considerations: The need for not just hardware efficiency but also time efficiency in quantum operations
• Abstraction Evolution: The inevitable move toward higher-level programming abstractions as fault-tolerant quantum computing matures

Notable Quotes

"We want to do hardware efficient quantum error correction... given qubits are still very precious resource."

"Quantum computers are really good at processing quantum signals. Where does the quantum signal come from? Quantum sensor is definitely a very promising source."

About the Guest:
Dr. Liang Jiang leads a research group at the University of Chicago focused on the practical implementation of quantum error correction and fault-tolerant quantum computing. His work spans multiple quantum platforms and emphasizes the co-design of hardware and error correction schemes.

About The New Quantum Era:
The New Quantum Era is hosted by Sebastian Hassinger and features in-depth conversations with leading researchers and practitioners in quantum computing, exploring the latest developments and future prospects in the field.

In this episode of The New Quantum Era, your host, Sebastian Hassinger sits down with Dr. Yvonne Gao, a leading experimental physicist specializing in superconducting devices and quantum cavities. Recorded at the American Physical Society's Global Summit, the conversation explores the intersection of curiosity-driven research and technological advancement in quantum physics.

Key Topics Discussed

1. Research Focus: Quantum Cavities and Superposition

• Dr. Gao shares her team's work on using cavities (harmonic oscillators) coupled with a single qubit to probe fundamental quantum effects.
• The experiments focus on quantum superposition and entanglement using minimal hardware—just one qubit and one cavity—eschewing the race for more qubits in favor of deeper scientific insights.
• Discussion of "cat states" as iconic demonstrations of quantum superposition, and how their properties can be engineered for robustness and sensitivity without specialized hardware.

2. Experimental Innovation

• The team investigates loss mechanisms in cavity-based quantum states and explores ways to make these states more resilient through state engineering rather than hardware changes.
• Dr. Gao describes using standard, "vanilla" qubits and cavities, making their techniques accessible to other labs.

3. Fundamental Questions and Quantum Playground

• Dr. Gao emphasizes the value of the circuit QED platform as a "playground" for exploring quantum phenomena, particularly entanglement and its quantification in real hardware.
• The challenge of visualizing and intuitively understanding quantum phenomena is highlighted, with experiments designed to make abstract concepts more tangible.

4. Device Fabrication and Advancements

• Dr. Gao's lab at NUS has developed in-house fabrication capabilities, gradually building up expertise and infrastructure.
• The field is witnessing rapid improvements in device performance, driven by advances in materials science and process integration.

5. Multipartite Entanglement and Future Directions

• Plans for multi-cavity devices: Moving from single and two-cavity systems to three, enabling the study of tripartite entanglement and richer quantum dynamics.
• The potential for these systems to serve as both research tools and pedagogical aids, demonstrating quantum strangeness in a hands-on way.

6. Synergy Between Science and Technology

• The conversation explores the unique moment in quantum research where fundamental science and technological objectives are closely aligned.
• Knowledge flows both ways: curiosity-driven experiments inform processor design, while industrial advances in fabrication and control benefit academic labs.

7. The "Perfect Quantum Lab" Thought Experiment

• Dr. Gao shares her wish list for a hypothetical, fault-tolerant quantum computer: to directly observe textbook quantum phenomena and simulate complex quantum behaviors in a tangible way.

Memorable Quotes

Find this and other episodes at New Quantum Era’s website or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed the episode, please subscribe and share with your quantum-curious friends!

In this episode, your host Sebastian Hassinger sits down with Andrew Houck to explore the latest advancements and collaborative strategies in quantum computing. Houck shares insights from his leadership roles at both Princeton and the Center for Co-Design of Quantum Advantage (C2QA), focusing on how interdisciplinary efforts are pushing the boundaries of coherence times, materials science, and scalable quantum architectures. The conversation covers the importance of co-design across the quantum stack, the challenges and surprises in improving qubit performance, and the vision for the next era of quantum research.

KEY TOPICS DISCUSSED

• Mission of C2QA:
  The central goal is to build the components necessary to move beyond the NISQ (Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum) era into fault-tolerant quantum computing. This requires integrating expertise in materials, devices, software, error correction, and architecture to ensure compatibility and progress at every level.
• Materials Breakthroughs:
  Houck discusses the surprising impact of using tantalum in superconducting qubits, which has significantly reduced surface losses compared to other metals. He explains the ongoing quest to identify and mitigate sources of decoherence, such as two-level systems (TLSs) and interface defects.
• Co-Design Philosophy:
  The episode delves into two types of co-design:
  • Vertical co-design: Aligning advances in materials, devices, error correction, and architecture to optimize the full quantum computing stack.
  • Cross-platform co-design: Bridging ideas and techniques across different qubit modalities and even across disciplines, such as applying methods from quantum sensing to quantum computing.
• Error Correction Innovations:
  Houck highlights breakthroughs like using GKP states for error correction, which have achieved performance beyond the break-even point, thanks to improvements in materials and device design.
• Bosonic Modes and Custom Architectures:
  The conversation touches on leveraging native bosonic modes in hardware to simulate field theories more efficiently, potentially saving vast computational resources. Houck discusses the trade-offs between general-purpose and custom quantum circuits in the current era of limited qubit counts.
• Modular Quantum Computing:
  As quantum systems scale, the focus is shifting to modular architectures. Houck outlines the challenges of connecting modules—such as chip-to-chip coupling and optimizing connectivity for error correction and algorithms.
• Institutional Collaboration:
  Houck contrasts the long-term, foundational investment at Princeton with the national, multi-institutional mission of C2QA. He emphasizes the unique strengths universities, industry, and national labs each bring to quantum research, and the importance of fostering collaboration across these sectors.
• Looking Ahead:
  The next phase for C2QA will incorporate advances in neutral atom quantum computing and diamond-based quantum sensing, while ramping down some networking efforts. Houck also reflects on the broader scientific and practical motivations driving quantum information science, and the fundamental questions that large-scale quantum systems may help answer.

NOTABLE QUOTES

“There’s a quasi-infinite number of ways that you can mess up coherence… If you’re really only using one number, you’ll never know.”

“Some of the best ideas we have are taking approaches from one field and bringing them to another. That’s what we call cross-platform co-design.”

“A million-qubit quantum computer is basically a cat… as you build these systems up, you can start to really ask: do we actually understand quantum mechanics as it turns into these macroscopically large objects?”

RESOURCES & MENTIONS

• Center for Co-Design of Quantum Advantage (C2QA)
• Princeton Quantum Initiative

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In this episode of The New Quantum Era, Sebastian is joined by Dr. Emily Edwards, a co-founder of the Q12 initiative, an NSF-funded effort aimed at enhancing quantum science education from middle school through early undergraduate levels. Emily brings her expertise in organizing and motivating educators, as well as her passion for science communication. In this episode, we delve into the unique challenges of teaching quantum science and explore effective strategies to make this abstract field more accessible to learners of all ages.

Key Points

• Challenges in Quantum Communication and Education: Emily discusses the public perception of quantum science, often influenced by pop culture, and the importance of demystifying the subject to make it more approachable.
• Strategies for Formal and Informal Learning: The conversation highlights different techniques for teaching quantum science in formal settings, like schools, and informal settings, such as science museums or YouTube. Emily emphasizes the importance of foundational knowledge and incremental learning.
• Role of Technology in Quantum Education: Emily talks about using scanning electron microscopes and other technologies to make the invisible world of quantum science visible, thus igniting public interest and imagination similar to stargazing.
• Importance of Science Communication Workshops: Emily shares her experience in leading science communication workshops, aiming to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of science content created by the public.
• Public and Private Sector Collaboration: The discussion touches on the need for a blend of federal and private funding to sustain and scale quantum education initiatives. Emily stresses the importance of industry involvement to emphasize the urgency and importance of scientific literacy for the future workforce.