Unique technology to achieve 10,000 quantum bits, Japan's first quantum computer hardware startup established

On August 29, Waseda University Ventures (WUV) announced that it has invested 200 million yen (about 10 million RMB) in Nanofiber Quantum Technologies, the first gate-model quantum computer hardware development startup in Japan, as the first project of the WUV1 fund.

01Unique technology route: overwhelming advantages of large-scale implementation

The technology underlying NanoQT is different: a nanofiber QED (quantum electrodynamics) resonator invented by Professor Takuro Aoki (Japanese) from the School of Science and Engineering at Waseda University.

Resonator QED systems based on resonator electrodynamics have been theoretically proposed and studied as an implementation method for quantum computers, but there are many challenges in fabricating optimal resonators, and they have not yet been commercialized compared to other implementation methods (superconductivity, ion traps, cold atoms, etc.). However, NanoQT nanofiber resonators overcome these challenges. This resonator is an innovative technology that combines the high adaptability, low loss and scalability required for quantum computers. The technology can be implemented as quantum computer hardware using a unique nanofiber resonator QED approach.

Nanofiber-based resonators

This new approach has many advantages not found in other quantum computing implementation techniques [2].

Hybrid atomic/light system. Both atoms and light (photons) can be exploited as quantum bits: they can be used for different purposes, for example, quantum computing can be performed with atoms and information can be rewritten and transmitted with light (photons).

Fully connected quantum bits. Even neutral atoms with inherently weak interactions can be coupled by light. This makes it possible to apply quantum gates to any combination of quantum bits, enabling extremely efficient circuit design.

Resonators with excellent load carrying capacity. The complex fiber design allows for accommodating up to 10,000 atoms in a single resonator without compromising ease of operation. This promises to enable large-scale quantum computing.

Unparalleled scalability through resonator networks. Nanofiber resonators can be coupled to optical fibers used for low-loss communication, thus enabling coupling of multiple resonators. Combined with atomic/optical hybridity, this enables the design of quantum networks and the further development of quantum computing (distributed quantum computers), as well as integration with quantum communication networks.

Currently, the number of quantum bits implemented in the world's quantum computer R&D stays around a few bits to 100 bits, but Prof. Aoki's nanofiber QED resonator approach allows a single unit to have about 10,000 bits, and if many units are connected and networked, or even more, overwhelming large-scale implementations can be achieved.

Nanofiber resonator QED (Quantum Electrodynamics) method by Prof. Takao Aoki, School of Science and Engineering, Waseda University.

02NanoQT: With a world-class co-founding team

WUV has supported NanoQT from the beginning, and now NanoQT has assembled a world-class co-founding team of.

Co-founder and CSO: Takuro Aoki (Japanese), Ph. D. from the University of Tokyo and Professor at the School of Science and Engineering, Waseda University. He has conducted research in quantum optics at the University of Tokyo, Caltech, and Kyoto University, with a focus on quantum technology applications, and created the nanofiber QED resonator technology at Waseda University.

Co-founder and CEO: Dr. Masa Hirose (Japanese). Graduated from Keio University College of Science and Technology and received his PhD in quantum physics from MIT. Worked at McKinsey & Company in Japan for about seven years on management reform projects for global companies.

Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer: Dr. Koji Wakabe (Japanese) B.S., University of Tokyo; Ph.D., California Institute of Technology. Led the development of quantum state control technology for atoms with Prof. Aoki and integrated it into a nanofiber resonator QED. Worked on quantum optics research at the Laboratory for Experimental Astrophysics (JILA) and the University of Colorado at Boulder.

From left to right: CTO: Koji Wakabe; CSO: Takuro Aoki; CEO: Masa Hirose

03The first project of WUV1 fund to support a new quantum route

This time, WUV invested 200 million yen to support NanoQT business startups.

WUV says this is the first project of the newly established WUV1 Fund - which aims to realize a Japanese quantum computer by combining Professor Aoki's breakthrough technology from Waseda University, a world-class team of co-founders, and a unique nanofiber-based QED resonator approach. "Through a founding investment of 200 million yen in NanoQT, we will bring together top researchers in quantum science from around the world and support them in realizing a new quantum route that will enable Japan to surpass existing superconductivity, ion traps and other methods in the future."

Reference link：

[1]https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000003.000106997.html

[2]https://www.nano-qt.com/s-projects-side-by-side