Photonics: The Key to Building Commercial Quantum Computers

In this talk, we will explore how optics and photonics can play a crucial role in realizing large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computers. We will highlight how different quantum computing implementations—whether based on superconducting qubits, trapped ions, or other approaches—can leverage photonics to enable scalability. Moreover, we will describe how recent advances in photonic components provide a path to a fully fault-tolerant photonic quantum computer. Such components include ultra-low-loss waveguides, monolithically integrated single-photon sources and detectors, and barium titanate switches, all fabricated on 300mm wafer platforms.