Xanadu Quantum Technologies partnered with Thorlabs to develop customized optical fiber components for large-scale photonic quantum computing. This collaboration aims to reduce physical qubit overhead and quantum error correction needs by addressing phase and polarization stability in photonic qubits. The partnership will accelerate production, moving novel component designs to high-volume manufacturing.
Xanadu & Thorlabs Partnership for Photonic Component Development
The partnership between Xanadu and Thorlabs centers on creating customized optical fiber components, vital for building larger photonic quantum computers. These components will specifically target challenges related to phase and polarization stability—critical factors preventing distortions in photonic qubits and reducing computational errors. Maintaining stability and limiting optical loss will ultimately lessen the need for extensive quantum error correction, streamlining the entire system. Thorlabs’ strength lies in high-volume manufacturing, enabling Xanadu to move beyond proof-of-concept designs and prepare for the demands of a potential quantum data center.
This collaboration aims to translate Xanadu’s quantum computing expertise with Thorlabs’ decades of experience in photonics, addressing a key need for scalable hardware production and ensuring a competitive cost for essential components. The combined effort supports Xanadu’s goal of creating a utility-scale photonic quantum computer.
Phase & Polarization Stability Challenges in Quantum Computing
Photonic quantum computing relies on precise control of light, making phase and polarization stability vital for accurate calculations. Instabilities introduce errors by distorting the information carried within photonic qubits, demanding advanced component designs to counteract these effects. This improvement enables Xanadu to lessen the physical qubit requirements for their systems, increasing scalability. The collaboration leverages Thorlabs’ precision manufacturing capabilities to produce components specifically designed to meet the rigorous stability criteria of sensitive fiber optics within the quantum hardware.
$500 Million Capitalization for NewCo via Business Combination
The forthcoming business combination between Xanadu Quantum Technologies and Crane Harbor Acquisition Corp. is projected to provide approximately $500 million in gross proceeds to the new entity, named Xanadu Quantum Technologies Limited (“NewCo”). This capitalization includes around $225 million from Crane Harbor’s trust account and an additional $275 million through a private placement investment from strategic and institutional investors. These funds are intended to accelerate the development and manufacturing of Xanadu’s photonic quantum computing hardware. NewCo anticipates listing its shares on both the Nasdaq Stock Market and the Toronto Stock Exchange following the completion of the transaction.
This dual listing, alongside the significant capital infusion, will facilitate the scaling of Xanadu’s utility-scale photonic quantum computer and its associated optical components. Access to these resources is crucial for meeting the anticipated high-volume demands of a future quantum data center environment.
PennyLane Software & Xanadu’s Quantum Computing Expertise
Xanadu’s development of PennyLane, an open-source software library, positions the company as a leader in both quantum hardware and software. Founded in 2016, Xanadu is actively building quantum computers intended for widespread accessibility, and PennyLane supports application development alongside this hardware. This dual focus on software tools signifies a commitment to a full-stack approach to quantum computing, facilitating a more comprehensive ecosystem for users. This financial backing will allow Xanadu to advance critical component manufacturing—particularly addressing phase and polarization stability—and scale up production for future quantum data centers. The investment underscores confidence in Xanadu’s ability to deliver practical quantum computing solutions.
Thorlabs’ Manufacturing Scale Supports Quantum Data Center Goals
Thorlabs’ extensive manufacturing capabilities are central to Xanadu’s plans for scaling quantum computing hardware. The company maintains over 1.2 million square feet of manufacturing space, encompassing facilities for precision optics, semiconductor fabrication, and advanced assembly—resources critical for producing the specialized components Xanadu requires. This industrial scale allows Xanadu to move beyond initial component designs and begin high-volume production needed for a future quantum data center. By reducing optical loss and maintaining stability in fiber optic links, the partnership aims to minimize the physical qubit overhead and the complexity of quantum error correction. This ultimately improves the scalability of Xanadu’s photonic quantum computer and supports the development of a utility-scale system.
This partnership combines Xanadu’s deep expertise in scalable quantum computing with Thorlabs’ decades of experience in designing and manufacturing photonic components, and subsystems at scale.
Peter Fendel, Chief Technology Officer at Thorlabs
