A significant milestone has been reached in the development of quantum technology, with Infleqtion and Thorlabs announcing a new partnership to commercialize Infleqtion’s highly integrated optical fiber collimation package. This breakthrough is expected to accelerate innovation in quantum applications, transforming industries from healthcare to communications. The fiber collimation package delivers a linearly polarized collimated beam with high extinction ratio and integrated power monitoring, offering a compact, robust solution tailored to the stringent demands of quantum technology applications.
This partnership is the result of the Innovate UK-funded project QT Assemble, a £7.3m large consortium effort led by the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics in partnership with 13 organizations across the UK. According to Tim Ballance, President of Infleqtion UK, this collaboration will drive breakthroughs that bring quantum solutions to the global market faster. Keith Dhese, General Manager of Thorlabs Ltd., added that Thorlabs is excited to collaborate with quantum technology companies like Infleqtion to accelerate the commercialization of critical components driving the next generation of advancements in quantum technology.
Accelerating Innovation in Quantum Applications through Strategic Partnerships
The advancement of quantum technology (QT) relies heavily on the reliability of its core components. In a significant step forward, Infleqtion and Thorlabs have announced a new agreement to commercialize Infleqtion’s highly integrated optical fiber collimation package. This partnership is expected to accelerate the development of QT solutions, bringing them closer to widespread adoption across various industries.
The fiber collimation package, developed as part of the Innovate UK-funded project QT Assemble, offers a compact and robust solution tailored to the stringent demands of quantum technology applications. By simplifying design and enhancing performance, this package provides a linearly polarized collimated beam with high extinction ratio and integrated power monitoring. The availability of reliable and cost-effective solutions like these is crucial in driving the commercial readiness of QT and increasing its economic impact across a wide spectrum of industries.
The QT Assemble project, led by the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics (CAP), aims to develop highly innovative QT assemblies in miniaturized packages. This consortium effort involves 13 organizations across the UK, including ColdQuanta UK Ltd. (now d.b.a. Infleqtion). The project’s focus on developing compact and robust QT solutions is expected to facilitate the widespread adoption of quantum technologies.
The Importance of High-Quality Components in Quantum Solutions
At the core of Infleqtion’s engineering philosophy is the belief that high-quality components are essential to producing reliable quantum solutions. The licensing agreement with Thorlabs gives more researchers and product development teams access to advanced collimation capabilities, accelerating the development of QT solutions. This partnership highlights the importance of collaborations between companies specializing in QT and those with expertise in photonics products manufacturing.
Infleqtion’s focus on delivering state-of-the-art solutions for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT), precision timekeeping, and optimization is built on its 17 years of experience in commercializing quantum technology using neutral atoms. The company’s unparalleled expertise positions it as a preferred partner for global customers seeking advanced QT solutions for defense and enterprise applications.
Thorlabs’ Role in Accelerating Quantum Technology Advancements
Thorlabs, a vertically integrated photonics products manufacturer, has extended its core competencies to serve the Photonics Industry at the research end, as well as the industrial, life science, medical, and defense segments. The organization’s highly integrated and diverse manufacturing assets include semiconductor fabrication of Fabry-Perot, DFB, and VCSEL lasers; fiber towers for drawing both silica and fluoride glass optical fibers; MBE/MOCVD epitaxial wafer growth reactors; extensive glass and metal fabrication facilities; advanced thin film deposition capabilities; and optomechanical and optoelectronic shops.
Thorlabs’ partnership with Infleqtion is expected to accelerate the commercialization of critical components that will drive the next generation of advancements in QT. The company’s high degree of vertical integration in engineering and manufacturing positions it strongly for these types of partnerships, enabling the development of compact, robust technologies for the fast-growing quantum field.
The Future of Quantum Technology Applications
The partnership between Infleqtion and Thorlabs is a significant step forward in the development of QT solutions. As the UK continues to play a central role in the global deployment of compact, robust technologies to the fast-growing quantum field, collaborations like these are expected to drive innovation and accelerate the adoption of QT across various industries.
The widespread adoption of QT solutions has the potential to transform precision and efficiency in vital sectors worldwide. With companies like Infleqtion and Thorlabs at the forefront of QT development, the future of quantum technology applications looks promising, with potential breakthroughs in areas such as atomic clocks, quantum software, quantum RF, and neutral-atom quantum computers.
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