University of Colorado at Boulder develops microchip for precise laser control in quantum computing
Updated
Updated · ScienceDaily · Apr 26
University of Colorado at Boulder develops microchip for precise laser control in quantum computing
7 articles · Updated · ScienceDaily · Apr 26
The new device, nearly 100 times thinner than a human hair, uses about 80 times less microwave power than current commercial modulators and is manufactured using scalable CMOS chip fabrication.
This innovation enables mass production of efficient optical phase modulators, crucial for controlling thousands or millions of qubits in future quantum computers, while reducing heat and power consumption.
The team, collaborating with Sandia National Laboratories, aims to integrate these chips into advanced quantum systems, moving toward scalable photonic platforms for quantum computing, sensing, and networking.
How will this CMOS chip accelerate the race for fault-tolerant quantum computers?
Could focusing on standard chip-making methods sacrifice performance needed for quantum advantage?
Beyond quantum computing, what other fields could this precise laser control disrupt?
Which companies are best positioned to capitalize on this quantum chip breakthrough?
Will shrinking quantum components onto a chip introduce new, unforeseen errors?
How does this breakthrough impact the global supply chain for quantum technologies?
Ultra-Low Power Optical Phase Modulators Revolutionize Laser Control in Trapped-Ion and Neutral-Atom Quantum Systems
Overview
In December 2025, researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder and Sandia National Laboratories developed a groundbreaking optical phase modulator chip that is nearly 100 times thinner than a human hair and uses significantly less power. Fabricated using standard CMOS technology, this chip enables stable, low-heat phase modulation and dense integration of thousands of control channels on a single device. Combined with active drift compensation, it overcomes the traditional bulky and power-hungry laser control bottleneck, paving the way for large-scale quantum computers with tens or hundreds of thousands of qubits. This innovation also supports the development of fully integrated photonic circuits and has broad implications beyond quantum computing.