Quantum Brilliance is redefining the path to scalable quantum computing by focusing on the connection between device performance and material specification within its Quantum Diamond Foundry. Dr. Marcus Doherty, Chief Technology Officer, received the 2013 Chancellor’s Prize for Excellence for his PhD thesis on the nitrogen-vacancy colour centre in diamond.
Doherty concurrently leads technology development at Quantum Brilliance while serving within the Future Land Warfare Branch of Army Headquarters, overseeing the implementation of Army’s Quantum Technology Roadmap. “In many ways, that is increasingly how I think about what QDF was always meant to be: the point where the science of quantum materials meets the discipline required to turn them into technologies that can be built, repeated, and scaled.”
Dr. Marcus Doherty Pioneers Diamond Quantum Technology
Quantum Brilliance established its Quantum Diamond Foundry (QDF) a year ago with the goal of creating a dedicated materials and manufacturing infrastructure for diamond quantum technology, moving beyond laboratory demonstrations. Doherty views QDF as a system where device physics dictates material requirements, those requirements guide suppliers, and the resulting knowledge feeds back into the development of future devices. This approach allows the company to begin with desired device performance parameters, sensitivity, contrast, or linewidth, and then use modeling to determine the necessary material properties and tolerances, Quantum Brilliance says.
Metrology enables Quantum Brilliance to test whether a diamond possesses the required properties and pinpoint areas for improvement. The company is focused on translating metrology and modeling into repeatable tools, assisting suppliers in refining their processes and ensuring consistent reproduction as production scales.
Doherty believes this infrastructure, encompassing scientific knowledge, measurement, modeling, fabrication, suppliers and personnel, will support the growth of a diamond quantum industry with increasing capability and global reach. The establishment of QDF signifies a shift from purely academic research to industrial production, capturing scientific understanding in a scalable and reproducible form.
Doherty emphasizes the importance of connecting materials capabilities to the evolving generations of chips being developed at Quantum Brilliance, ensuring a continuous cycle of innovation and improvement, according to the company. He expressed confidence that the foundations laid in Melbourne will support a growing diamond quantum industry, stating, “I am more convinced than ever that the foundations taking shape in Melbourne will support a diamond quantum industry that grows in capability and global reach over time.” The company’s long-term vision extends to enabling quantum computing “anywhere,” a goal supported by its integrated approach to materials science, manufacturing and device development.
Quantum Diamond Foundry Focuses on Device-Informed Materials
Quantum Brilliance has shifted its focus within the Quantum Diamond Foundry (QDF) toward a device-centric approach to materials science, prioritizing the characteristics needed for functional quantum devices over simply improving diamond growth techniques. Initial plans for QDF, established a year ago with investment from the National Reconstruction Fund and Breakthrough Victoria, emphasized building internal diamond growth capabilities, but the company now prioritizes a system integrating measurement, modeling, processing and growth, the company says.
This evolution reflects a growing understanding of how to best translate research into scalable quantum technologies. The foundry now operates as a system where desired device performance, such as sensitivity, contrast, or linewidth, drives material specifications, rather than the other way around. This process isn’t simply about creating better diamonds. It’s about creating diamonds tailored to specific applications and consistently reproducing those materials as production scales.
QDF Integrates Measurement & Modeling for Material Validation
This shift signifies a deliberate focus on translating scientific understanding into repeatable industrial processes, moving beyond initial facility setup to practical application. Quantum Brilliance now applies an approach, connecting device performance directly to material specifications through integrated measurement and modeling, the company states. Metrology then verifies whether a diamond possesses these properties, identifying discrepancies that highlight areas for improvement. Two diamonds appearing similar based on supplier specifications can exhibit markedly different behavior within a quantum device, and physical models help Quantum Brilliance interpret these differences, linking material measurements to device performance.
Quantum Brilliance can now determine which material characteristics require modification, the extent of those changes and how to confirm successful improvement. When modeling and measurement data diverge, this discrepancy itself provides valuable insight, revealing gaps in current understanding and guiding future research.
Extended Supply Chain Builds Sovereign Quantum Capability
Quantum Brilliance is now applying established measurement and characterization routines to address real-world material challenges, moving beyond initial facility setup after twelve months of operation at its Quantum Diamond Foundry (QDF). The facility’s initial emphasis on internal diamond growth capabilities has evolved, with the company now prioritizing a view of the manufacturing ecosystem. This shift reflects a broader strategy to connect scientific discovery with scalable production techniques, essential for translating quantum materials into functional technologies.
The company’s approach to supply has undergone a significant transformation during the first year, expanding beyond internal development to include collaboration with existing manufacturers and processing partners. Quantum Brilliance is actively working with these entities to develop, test, and qualify the specific materials required for its devices, encouraging a more robust and reliable supply chain.
This collaborative model extends to partnerships with organizations including L3Harris, Monash University, RMIT, La Trobe University, Chromos Labs, Tessara Therapeutics and the University of Melbourne, spanning diverse applications while using common foundations in quantum materials and device development, by the company’s account. Australia’s decades-long investment in quantum research is now being used through QDF, which acts as a bridge between fundamental research and the supply chain needed to support a growing industry, both domestically and internationally.
This connection is not limited to research institutions. It’s designed to attract further investment and technical expertise, anchoring manufacturing knowledge and companies within the region while serving global markets. The focus is currently on increasing the availability of material for quantum magnetometry, a key application driving near-term commercialization. Simultaneously, Quantum Brilliance is developing the tools and manufacturing pathways necessary to extend these advancements into future sensing technologies and, ultimately, quantum computing.
This progression requires a transition from simply understanding material requirements to actively verifying and qualifying diamond against those specifications, ensuring consistent performance and reliability. Doherty describes the developing infrastructure as “a network of scientific knowledge, measurement, modeling, fabrication capability, suppliers, and people, all working together to help take quantum anywhere.” This interconnected network is designed to embed scientific understanding into design tools, measurement methods, and manufacturing processes, allowing others to build upon existing knowledge and accelerate innovation.
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