Inside Quantum Technology

What’s shakin’?

Brian Siegelwax
Quantum computer chip crams more info into less volume – by vibrating

Image generated by Google's language model AI.

Thanks to ETH Zurich researchers, The Quantum Dragon learned from “Quantum computer chip crams more info into less volume – by vibrating” that he could improve his memory and become more svelte, at the same time, simply by vibrating. The neighbors, led by me, are trying to complain, but there’s one teenie-weenie little problem: he’s a dragon.

This week’s IQT News:

This week’s The Premium Quantum Dragon (Substack):

This week’s Friends of The Quantum Dragon (inline):

In this edition:

Is digital music still music?

The Quantum Dragon has a record player in his cave. It still works. His favorite album, you guessed it, is “Puff, the Magic Dragon.” And the question posed by the fine folks over at DecaQ is whether or not the song ceases to be music the moment we digitize it and upload it to YouTube, Spotify, or what have you.

Experimental: Ask Inside Quantum Technology

We’re actively building an AI knowledge base of quantum information. No, not that kind of quantum information. This kind of quantum information. You can ask questions about our news archives, upcoming conferences, and the quantum technologies industry more broadly. We’re continuously adding more to it, so try it out and let us know if you find it helpful.

“Getting more from existing oil and gas infrastructure [is] more important than ever.”

Following the announcement that Classiq and Israel Natural Gas Lines applied quantum optimization to a real-world natural gas transmission problem, Simon Fried, VP Corporate Communications at Classiq, provided this exclusive comment:

“Global energy insecurity makes getting more from existing oil and gas infrastructure more important than ever. Quantum computing holds promise for the complex optimization problems involved in planning networks and managing capacity. Our work with INGL and IonQ explores an approach in which quantum algorithms identify promising gas transmission scenarios that can then be validated using established classical engineering tools. Building validation into application development gives operators a practical way to assess where quantum could add value, with the engineering rigor that critical infrastructure demands.”

“Gartner’s recognition validates the gap in the market.”

Following QuSecure’s recognition in the Gartner® Coolest Vendor Innovations in Data Security Report, Rebecca Krauthamer, CEO and co-founder of QuSecure, provided this exclusive quote:

“Being named a Gartner Cool Vendor is meaningful validation, but the reason matters more than the recognition itself. Security is moving from static, point-in-time defenses to continuous, adaptive protection. That is precisely the shift QuSecure’s QuProtect R3 was built to address.

Many vendors can identify cryptographic weaknesses. Far fewer can remediate them at scale, and almost none can sustain cryptographic agility as an ongoing operational capability rather than a one-time migration project. QuProtect R3 brings discovery, remediation, and continuous agility into a single platform.

That is why defense agencies, financial institutions, and critical infrastructure operators are moving now, ahead of the federal mandates taking effect in January 2027. Gartner’s recognition validates the gap in the market. Our customers are already validating the solution.”

Hulk… not smash?!?!?

Last week’s “Bring that FIYAH.” linked to a Family Guy meme promoting J. M. Landsberg’s book “Quantum Computation and Quantum Information (Graduate Studies in Mathematics).” He’s now using Professor Hulk, which means that this is probably going to be an ongoing trend on Reddit if you’d like to follow it.

Vescent’s David Clark is just awful at golf.

The key takeaway of this post is probably supposed to be that Vescent has a new International Business Development Manager, but as someone who has sacrificed many golf balls to the gods of water hazards and trees, I appreciate the opening line. In fact, I would love to post more self-deprecating humor myself, but I’m just not funny. This link may require a LinkedIn account.

Parental Advisory: Quantumly Explicit Content

QuEra’s short-form video series, hosted by Chief Commercial Officer Yuval Boger, is Q-Rated for quantum audiences. Academic guidance is suggested. I don’t recall ever seeing The Quantum Dragon blush before, especially since his skin color is red, but it may be about time to have “the talk” with him. This link may require a LinkedIn account.

Saxon Q says neutral atoms and ions are vacuum tubes.

Their diamond NV centers are, of course, transistors in comparison. But whereas making this particular case literarily is ordinarily a bit cliché by now, making the case with a technical-looking illustration is a nice touch. They even made the designs somewhat resemble their respective analogies. This link may require a LinkedIn account.

Nobel Laureate John Martinis wants to plant an orchard.

The analogy starts at 48:55 in this 2:04:29 interview. While I’ve placed The Quantum Dragon in an orchard before, that was just a play on words for Orange Quantum System’s OrangeQS Juice. I don’t otherwise recall using an orchard as a proper analogy, so kudos to Prof. Martinis for boldly going where I haven’t gone before.

Buy QuEra’s half-dead cat.

You can go to your nearest animal shelter and adopt a fully living cat for a low cost, or even for free, or you can go to the QuEra Store, buy a QuEra Bloqs Schrödinger’s Cat, and enjoy assembling and disassembling a half-dead LEGO cat in the privacy of your own home. I care for a dragon, so just know that I’m not going to be judging you.

Brian Lenahan’s Quotes Over The Years

This is paywalled, but I’m awarding admittedly worthless bonus points not only for the original concept, but also for having memorable quotes. My only memorable quote is, “Did I do that?” No, wait, that wasn’t me. Well, I guess I don’t have any memorable quotes of my own, so my New Year’s Resolution is going to be to try to start being memorable in 2027.

What does maple syrup have to do with building a quantum computer?

The Quantum Kid asks questions that are guaranteed to make you both smarter… and hungry. I’m awarding admittedly worthless bonus points for the sunglasses-wearing dog. Now the big question is: Who’s going to market a maple syrup quantum computer for home science purposes? You can learn with it, and then you can eat it!

Nature is quantum. And messy, dammit.

This article by Inés de Vega, Chief Scientist at IQM, is serious, but it makes me wonder when “bullshit” overtook “dammit” as the industry’s favorite potty word. I would say that “dammit” appears on slides far more often, typically with a photo of Prof. Feynman, but “bullshit” is so common these days that it has become more of a quasi-technical term than a profane one.

Understanding Quantum Technologies 2026

Quantum Fiery Voice Olivier Ezratty‘s encyclopedia is a must-have for your digital library. I have personally started many a market report by screening this document for an initial set of organizations to reach out to. It’s a whopper of a document, so be sure to note that you can download it in different paper sizes, in parts, and as a short “key takeaways” version.

The Quantum Pirates Bullshit Detector

The Quantum Dragon’s uncle, Sergio Gago, outdoes himself by not only specifying how his system works in detail, but also by publishing what is essentially a Hall of Fame of bullshit claims. He’s so spot on with his analysis that I can’t even list the companies here, because some are softly excluded or even outright banned by The Quantum Dragon.

300 Things Sergio Gago Has Learned About Quantum

Thematically for The Quantum Dragon, I like 002, 005, 012, 018, 028, 047, 048, 049/050, 056, 057, 062, 072, 079, 083, 085, 087, 097, 098, 113-120, 124, 128-130, 131, 137, 139, 140, 145, 154, 156, 160, 165, 200, 212, 219, 222, 223, 227, 231-233, 240, 243, 253, 255, 260, 274, 275, 284, 286, 290, 291-292, and 300. Heck, you might as well read the whole thing…

“In 1440, the printing press sparked a knowledge revolution. We carry that spirit forward, cutting through the noise and algorithm-driven feeds, to bring fact-driven knowledge to everyone.”

Beyond the Mainstream Media

IQT Sunday Edition covers mainstream media coverage of quantum. I recently discovered 1440, which promises unbiased news. It’s still too early to give it an endorsement, but in the meantime, it caught my attention that this week’s Science & Technology newsletter has a story about quantum computer research at Duke University.

QuEra is placing classified ads.

Not literally, but kudos on the old-school design. Technically, it’s actually a display ad on the Classifieds page, but nostalgia demands that I not care about such subtleties. The point is, when was the last time you saw a Classifieds section in print? I feel like going out and buying a newspaper, if I could actually find one. This link may require an X account.

Advancing Quantum Computing with Zinc Oxide Quantum Dots

I’m not commenting on the research done by Tohoku University; I’m just saying that I find it funny to see zinc oxide with any non-topical, non-medical application. In the Philippines, inexpensive little sachets of this stuff are ubiquitous. Zinc oxide is about as much of a household staple as Vicks VapoRub and Betadine (povidone-iodine).

Quantum computers are like politicians.

If you ever find yourself needing to explain quantum to someone who just doesn’t get it, but who has plenty to criticize when it comes to politics, to put it nicely, then you may or may not find this post helpful. I’m hoping someone turns this post into an audition for one of those “Got Talent” shows. This link may require a Reddit account.

It’s a little early for a haunted house.

Fermilab doesn’t explicitly use a haunted house in this analogy, but a ghost is clearly visible in one of the windows. That’s not the scary part, though. The scary part is that I know physicists who are definitely going to be unhappy with Fermilab’s characterization of how quantum computers work. This link may require an X account.

Search for dark matter with quantum sensors.

Fermilab’s animation of quantum sensors detecting single photons from axions is simple, but it counts. I don’t know if it’s important to note that the axion looks unusually happy up until its detection, but I’m noting it anyway. Interestingly, the dark matter particles are indeed illustrated as being dark.  This link may require an X account.

Image generated by an AI model provided by Microsoft Copilot.

Quantum Noise Detector

Alan Ho and Prof. Michael Biercuk inspired the Resuscitated Quantum Bullshit Detector, but the original(?) has resurfaced on Bluesky. It’s back to reposting a simple “bullshit” or “not bullshit,” so The Quantum Dragon will continue to monitor for challenges, controversies, and debates under this new name from Dr. Bob Sutor.

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