Xanadu Quantum Technologies and ASML are partnering to reduce optical loss in photonic quantum chips. The collaboration focuses on solving the problem of line edge roughness (LER), where microscopic imperfections in etched waveguides scatter light and lead to information loss.
This partnership marks ASML's entry into the quantum photonics sector. The Dutch company, known for its EUV lithography systems used by TSMC and Samsung, will develop lithography processes specifically tailored for Xanadu's hardware.
Xanadu, listed on NASDAQ and TSX under the ticker XNDU, aims to create more than 1,000 logical qubits by 2031. The company is also constructing a dedicated manufacturing facility in Toronto called Inception.
The Inception facility has a total cost of CAD 893 million, with CAD 195 million provided by Canadian federal funding. The collaboration with ASML will determine the tools and processes used at this site.
