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European scientists are working on quantum computers that utilize light and glass, as part of a partnership that holds potential for significant advancements in computational capabilities, battery development, and scientific progress.
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Giulia Acconcia was raised in the charming and historic city of Spoleto, located in the foothills of Italy's Apennine Mountains. Even during her secondary education, she developed an interest in modern technology—a fascination that would influence her path ahead.
Her passion for electronics brought her to the Polytechnic University of Milan in Italy, where she is currently leading research in quantum computing.
In contrast to the everyday computers and smartphones that use silicon chips and electron movement, photonic quantum computers utilize light particles, known as photons, to handle data at incredible speeds.
Quantum acceleration
Quantum computers have the potential to significantly outperform current devices and handle intricate problems that even the most sophisticated systems struggle with. However, this technology must overcome substantial challenges before it can provide practical commercial benefits, a task that multiple companies and research institutions globally are striving to address.
Although there have been obstacles, developments continue to advance. "We have observed significant progress over the past two to three years, at a rate that was not really anticipated," stated theoretical physicist Andrea Rocchetto.
He is the co-founder of Ephos, an Italian firm participating in a joint research project called QLASS, which is managed by Acconcia.
The project, led by the Fondazione Politecnico di Milano, unites a group of researchers from leading research institutions and small and medium enterprises in France, Italy, and Germany. Their goal is to enhance quantum performance by utilizing the characteristics of glass.
Their objective is to utilize the glass chips created by Ephos in the development of a photonic quantum computer. These chips produced by Ephos employ light instead of electricity for data processing. They include as many as 200 adjustable optical modes, enabling them to change how light propagates across the chip.
However, manipulating light at such a minuscule level presents significant challenges.
You must use materials that allow light to pass through. This is difficult since you need to contain the light, but without causing absorption," explained Acconcia. "If it gets absorbed, it won't move forward.
The QLASS team is creating a device capable of addressing these difficulties.
Their objective is to produce individual photons and direct them through glass circuits—this could aid in addressing practical challenges, such as developing improved batteries, identifying new medications, or revealing the secrets of the universe.
Heart of glass
One of their most exciting advancements is laser engraving on glass, an advanced method created by Ephos that may enable quantum technology to achieve greater capabilities.
Ephos stands out by creating quantum photonic chips from glass.
During their process, light particles are created and move through an optical fiber into this chip. All components are constructed from glass, reducing the likelihood of photons deviating from their path.
That is essential, as losing even a single photon results in the loss of important data.
The assignment is intricate and demands a genuine pan-European collaboration. In Germany, Pixel Photonics is refining ultra-sensitive detectors to detect every photon, while Schott AG provides the high-quality glass substrates.
In Italy, Acconcia's group in Milan is responsible for creating the high-performance electronics that power the system, while specialists in experimental quantum optics at Sapienza University in Rome manage the production of individual photons.
In France, the Unitary Foundation France is developing open-source software to support quantum operations. Researchers at the National Center for Scientific Research and the Université de Montpellier are creating advanced energy-storage models, which are essential for upcoming quantum-based applications.
This joint network perfectly matches Europe's Digital Decade and Chips Act objectives, aiming to introduce the continent's first quantum-enhanced supercomputer by 2025 and develop a domestic quantum-chip sector by 2030.
Betting big on quantum
The effort to create faster and more powerful computers is encountering physical constraints on how small silicon chips can become. Quantum computers represent a completely different approach, yet researchers still need to overcome significant challenges in controlling them.
The QLASS team has a shared objective: to create a functioning photonic quantum device at Sapienza University by 2026. After its completion, software created at the Université de Montpellier and the Unitary Foundation will be used to evaluate this device.
What was its initial challenge? Creating improved lithium-ion batteries, which are crucial for storing renewable energy and powering European transportation. This is a topic that excites Acconcia.
This aligns with my passion for sustainable technologies," she stated. "While conducting research can be time-consuming, the sense of being near practical implementation makes you feel you can truly create an impact in the near future.
Through the application of variational quantum algorithms—specific guidelines that enhance the efficiency of quantum systems in tackling challenges—quantum computing has the potential to model battery chemistry, accelerate the discovery of new materials, and enhance the way we track battery performance.
Commercial interest
In the meantime, the Quantum Technologies Flagship, an EU project that began in 2018 and spans ten years, is funding business-related quantum technologies with a financial allocation of €1 billion.
Overall, Europe is on par with the U.S. and China when it comes to our strong talent base, and Europe boasts a varied and vibrant startup ecosystem," said Rocchetto. "Although we are missing major commercial entities that have the substantial financial resources of the U.S.
Quantum computers may also revolutionize the field of chemistry. Although scientists know the principles that govern atoms and chemical compounds, monitoring their interactions in real time is extremely complicated—something current silicon-based computers cannot handle.
"Modeling quantum systems could potentially assist us in drug development and the identification of novel materials," stated Rocchetto. He is convinced that quantum computing will eventually create new opportunities.
It will allow us to gain deeper insights into the universe. This is the primary reason we should construct these devices.
More information:
- QLASS
- QLASS project website
- EU Digital Strategy—Quantum
- EU's digital goals for 2030
- European Chips Act
Presented by Horizon: The EU Research and Innovation Magazine
This narrative was first released onTech Bytes Lab.
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