Dear Qubit Community,
Welcome to the latest edition of Qubit.IL’s weekly newsletter, where we dive into the fascinating world of quantum technologies, explore groundbreaking advancements, and connect with our vibrant quantum community. Whether you’re a seasoned researcher, a curious student, or simply quantum-curious, this is your gateway to staying informed and inspired about the quantum landscape.
Best Regards,
The Qubit.IL Team
Business, Technology and Engineering Highlights
ParTec and ORCA Partner on Quantum-Accelerated Supercomputing – German high-performance computing firm ParTec AG has teamed up with UK-based ORCA Computing to integrate photonic quantum processors into conventional supercomputers. The partnership will deliver “quantum-accelerated AI factories” by combining ParTec’s expertise in AI/HPC systems with ORCA’s room-temperature photonic quantum computing modules ORCA’s PT Series photonic qubit systems (which operate without cryogenics) will be deployed alongside ParTec’s upcoming supercomputers (such as ELBJUWEL and VESUVIO) to enhance tasks in energy, healthcare, finance, and more. By uniting classical and quantum hardware in an energy-efficient architecture, the collaboration aims to expand practical quantum applications in enterprise settings and strengthen Europe’s quantum computing ecosystem.
For further information: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/partec-ag-and-orca-computing-partner-to-deliver-quantum-accelerated-ai-factories-for-enterprise-applications/
Alice & Bob Plans $50 Million Quantum Lab in Paris with Bluefors and QM – French quantum startup Alice & Bob announced plans to build a new $50 million quantum research lab in Paris to accelerate development of its superconducting “cat qubit” processors. The state-of-the-art facility will be established with support from cryogenics leader Bluefors and Israel’s Quantum Machines (QM) for control systems, equipping Alice & Bob with cutting-edge infrastructure for scaling up their quantum hardware. The lab will house next-generation cryostats and quantum control electronics to push towards more qubits and improved error correction. This major investment—backed by public and private partners—bolsters France’s growing quantum industry and will help Alice & Bob in its mission to create an operational fault-tolerant quantum computer.
For further information: https://quantumzeitgeist.substack.com/p/alice-and-bob-quantum-lab-paris-50m
Research Highlights
Single-Photon Network Links University Campuses over 11 Miles – Researchers at the University of Rochester and RIT have demonstrated an 11-mile quantum communications network using single-photon technology to connect the two campuses. In a new experiment, they transmitted entangled photon signals along standard optical fiber between Rochester and RIT (about 18 km apart) at room temperature. The network, described in Optica Quantum (RoQNET project), distributes quantum bits over metropolitan distances, showing that quantum-secure links can be deployed on existing telecom infrastructure. This testbed achieved high fidelity in sending quantum information (qubits) and represents a step toward city-scale quantum internet systems. The successful field implementation of an entanglement-based link highlights progress in quantum networking, bringing secure quantum communication closer to real-world use. For further information: https://phys.org/news/2025-05-photon-technology-powers-mile-quantum.html
For the research paper: https://doi.org/10.1364/OPTICAQ.546774New Protocol Benchmarks Quantum Gates for Fault-Tolerant Computing – Scientists at USC have developed a “deterministic benchmarking” method to characterize quantum gate errors more efficiently, a key advance toward fault-tolerant quantum computers. Unlike traditional random benchmarking, the deterministic approach pinpoints specific error types (both coherent and incoherent) with just a few simple experiments. This protocol, recently published in Chemical Reviews, enables more precise diagnostics of qubit gate performance and stability. By quickly identifying error sources in quantum logic operations, researchers can better fine-tune hardware and error-correction schemes. The improved gate benchmarking is expected to accelerate the scaling of reliable quantum processors, helping pave the way for quantum machines that can perform long, complex computations without failing.
For further information: https://today.usc.edu/a-new-method-for-characterizing-quantum-gate-errors/
For the research paper: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00870Fermilab Demos Quantum Sensors for Next-Gen Particle Detectors – A Fermilab-led team has tested next-generation superconducting microwire single-photon detectors (SMSPDs) for use in high-energy physics, showing their promise in future particle experiments. In a recent study, researchers from Fermilab, Caltech, and other institutions deployed arrays of SMSPDs to detect fast-moving particles (protons, electrons, pions) with high efficiency. The results demonstrated that these quantum sensors can outperform some traditional detectors, offering excellent timing resolution and the ability to handle higher particle rates. Such capabilities are crucial for big projects like next-generation colliders or dark matter searches. The successful Fermilab tests indicate that quantum-tech-enhanced detectors could significantly improve sensitivity and resolution in particle physics, aiding discoveries of rare processes.
For further information: https://quantumzeitgeist.com/fermilab-researchers-advance-quantum-sensing-for-future-detectors-in-particle-physics-research/
For the research paper: https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6501/acc7d5