Cracking the Quantum Code: How Light and Glass Could Transform Computing

By Quantum Server Networks | July 2025

Quantum Computing with Glass Chips

In the picturesque hills of Italy, European researchers are pioneering a revolution in computing that could reshape science and technology as we know it. By using light and glass, they are charting a new course in the race to build scalable and powerful quantum computers.

The project, known as QLASS (Quantum Light and Structured Substrates), is at the forefront of this innovation. Led by a diverse team across France, Italy, and Germany, their mission is ambitious: to harness the properties of glass and photons to build a new generation of photonic quantum computers.

The Rise of Photonic Quantum Computing

Traditional computers process information using the movement of electrons in silicon chips. But as we approach the physical limits of silicon-based technologies, researchers are exploring radically different approaches. Enter photonic quantum computing, where light particles—photons—replace electrons to perform calculations at unprecedented speeds.

This paradigm shift is not just theoretical. Quantum computers have already demonstrated potential in solving problems that stump classical machines, from simulating complex molecules for drug discovery to optimizing battery chemistry for renewable energy storage.

Why Glass?

At the heart of this innovation lies an unlikely hero: glass. The Italian company Ephos is developing quantum photonic chips made entirely of glass. These chips can guide light with minimal loss, thanks to cutting-edge techniques such as laser writing in glass. This allows researchers to create intricate optical circuits where photons travel seamlessly, preserving the quantum information they carry.

"You have to use materials that can transmit light. This is challenging because you have to confine light but avoid absorption," explains Dr. Giulia Acconcia, a lead researcher at the Polytechnic University of Milan.

Europe’s Quantum Leap

QLASS is a pan-European effort bringing together talents like Germany’s Pixel Photonics, France’s Unitary Foundation, and Italy’s Sapienza University. Their combined expertise is driving forward quantum hardware, software, and experimental techniques.

This aligns with Europe’s ambitious Digital Decade and Chips Act goals to deploy the continent’s first quantum-accelerated supercomputer by 2025 and foster a home-grown quantum industry by 2030.

Applications Beyond Imagination

The promise of photonic quantum computing is vast. By using variational quantum algorithms, researchers hope to:

  • Design better lithium-ion batteries for renewable energy storage
  • Accelerate drug discovery by simulating molecular interactions
  • Explore the fundamental workings of the universe itself

"Simulating quantum systems is likely to help us with drug discovery and the discovery of new materials," says theoretical physicist Andrea Rocchetto, co-founder of Ephos. "It will enable us to discover more about the universe itself. That is the number one reason why we should build these machines."

The Road Ahead

While challenges remain—such as maintaining photon stability and scaling up the technology—the pace of progress is remarkable. If successful, QLASS could help Europe secure a leading position in the global quantum race.

As Dr. Acconcia puts it: "Doing research takes a long time, but when you get so close to application, you feel you can really make a difference in the near future."

Read the original article on Phys.org

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Learn about the QLASS project at https://www.qlass-project.eu/

Sponsored by PWmat (Lonxun Quantum) – a leading developer of GPU-accelerated materials simulation software for cutting-edge quantum, energy, and semiconductor research. Learn more about our solutions at: https://www.pwmat.com/en

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#QuantumComputing #PhotonicChips #GlassTechnology #MaterialsScience #QuantumInnovation #EuropeDigitalDecade #PWmat

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