Rigetti wins $5.8M AFRL contract for quantum networking project

Rigetti Computing Inc. (NASDAQ: RGTI) announced it received a three-year, $5.8 million contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory to develop superconducting quantum networking technology. The Berkeley-based quantum computing company will collaborate with Dutch startup QphoX on the project.

The contract focuses on creating systems that enable entanglement between superconducting qubits and optical photons, which serves as a building block for quantum networking. The technology aims to convert microwave signals used to control superconducting qubits into optical photons that can travel through fiber optic cables.

The collaboration builds on previous work between Rigetti and QphoX demonstrating optical single-shot qubit readout using qubit-transducer systems. The project will combine Rigetti's superconducting microwave qubits with QphoX's single-photon microwave-optical transducers.

"By joining Rigetti's leadership in designing, fabricating, and operating superconducting qubits with QphoX's world-class transduction technology, and AFRL's expertise in hybrid networked quantum systems, this is an exciting opportunity to advance superconducting quantum networking," said Dr. Subodh Kulkarni, Rigetti's chief executive officer.

AFRL principal research physicist Matt LaHaye said the laboratory is developing heterogeneous quantum interconnects for integrating superconducting qubits within telecom-based quantum local area networks in Rome, New York. The interconnects linking superconducting qubit processors with telecom networks represent a step toward entanglement distribution for research and military operations.

The information is based on a company press release statement.

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