Connecting Quantum: MIT's Interconnect & Record Satellite Links

Dear Quantum Enthusiast!

Another week, another whirlwind in the quantum realm! It feels like trying to track individual photons in a light storm sometimes, doesn't it? This weekly roundup is all about the latest quantum developments from March 17th to 23rd, 2025:

• ⚛️ Quantum Computing: New materials tricks, surprising heat physics, and a big push for hybrid systems.

• 🛰️ Quantum Communications: Record-smashing satellite links and clever ways to connect processors.

• 🔒 Post-Quantum Crypto: Governments are starting to set deadlines – the quantum-safe future is getting real.

If you’re trying to navigate the rapidly shifting landscape of quantum technologies, wondering which breakthroughs truly matter and how they might shape the future (or just trying to sound smart at virtual water coolers), then here are the resources you need to dig into the key happenings from last week.

Weekly Resources List

1. QuEra @ Pawsey: Quantum Past, Present & Future (Approx. 5 min read) A great high-level summary of Jonathan Wurtz's talk covering the big application areas (optimisation, simulation, ML, crypto-breaking), different computing modes (adiabatic, analog, digital, error-corrected), and hardware types (neutral atoms, ions, superconductors, photonics). Useful context on QuEra's neutral atom approach and the importance of co-design.

2. Twisted Layers Make Artificial Atoms (Approx. 3 min read) University of Rochester researchers found that twisting 2D materials like molybdenum diselenide at large angles (up to 40 degrees, not the usual tiny 'magic' ones) creates optically controllable excitons ('artificial atoms') that retain information well. A surprising route to potential qubits, differing from typical moiré physics.

3. Quantum Heat Oscillations in a Semimetal? (Approx. 4 min read) Scientists observed unexpected quantum oscillations in heat conduction in the semimetal ZrTe5 near absolute zero. Strong magnetic fields couple electrons and lattice vibrations (phonons), letting phonons 'inherit' quantum behaviour. This revises understanding of heat transport and offers a new probe for quantum effects in materials like graphene too.

4. Record 12,900km Quantum Satellite Link (Approx. 3 min read) South Africa and China used the Jinan-1 microsatellite for the longest intercontinental Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) link yet, smashing the previous 7,600km record. Real-time secure key generation and one-time pad image transmission were demonstrated, marking a big step for global quantum-secure communication.

5. MIT's Quantum Interconnect (Approx. 5 min read) MIT researchers developed a scalable device allowing direct 'all-to-all' communication between quantum processor modules using photons shuttled along a superconducting waveguide. They demonstrated remote entanglement between modules using controlled photon emission/absorption (optimised via RL), a key step for building larger, distributed quantum computers.

6. Nvidia GTC Quantum Day Highlights (Reading time varies - browse sessions) Nvidia's GTC featured its first Quantum Day, heavily focused on integrating quantum with classical GPUs using CUDA-Q and cuQuantum. Featuring talks from Nvidia leaders and partners (like Infleqtion, HPE, AWS), it emphasised the hybrid future and Nvidia's ecosystem-building efforts for accelerating quantum R&D.

7. UK Sets PQC Migration Direction (Approx. 2 min read blog, guidance doc longer) The UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) released guidance outlining key milestones for migrating to post-quantum cryptography. It views migration as a major tech transition, urging large organisations and CNI operators to start planning now, signalling increasing governmental focus on the quantum threat.

Favourite Insight of the Week

Lastly, here's my favourite insight about scalable quantum systems of the week.

It’s from the MIT Interconnect research and this completely changed how I thought about linking up quantum processors effectively.

We often think of quantum computers as monolithic beasts, but the reality, especially in the near term, might look more like networked modules. The challenge is connecting them without losing quantum information or introducing too much noise. Current methods are often point-to-point, like a bucket brigade, losing fidelity at each step.

Here’s a quick breakdown of MIT's clever approach:

Step 1: Photon Shuttle: Use a superconducting waveguide as a shared 'bus' that multiple processor modules can plug into.

Step 2: Directed Emission/Absorption: Use carefully controlled microwave pulses to make a qubit in one module emit a photon in a specific direction along the bus, and have a qubit in another module absorb it efficiently (using reinforcement learning to pre-shape the photon!).

Step 3: Remote Entanglement: By only completing the emission pulse halfway, they create a state where the photon is shared between modules, entangling them even when physically separate. This 'all-to-all' connectivity is much more flexible than point-to-point.

Hope this helps visualise how we might build bigger quantum systems!

Other Industry News

Want to stay on the cutting edge?

Here’s what else has been happening in Quantum you should know about:

• Twisted 2D Materials: According to ScienceDaily (reporting on Uni Rochester) , researchers found twisting layers of molybdenum diselenide at large angles creates artificial atoms (excitons) with interesting optical properties. This is a big deal because it's a different approach to engineering quantum states in materials, potentially offering new pathways for qubits that are optically controllable yet environmentally protected. Personally, I think this means we might see more exploration of 'twistronics' beyond the usual small angles, potentially uncovering unexpected quantum phenomena in familiar materials.

• Quantum Heat Dynamics: According to ScienceDaily (reporting on HZDR et al.), scientists figured out why quantum oscillations appear in the heat conduction of semimetals like ZrTe5 under strong magnetic fields near absolute zero. It turns out the electrons and lattice vibrations (phonons) get strongly coupled, making the phonons behave quantum-mechanically. This is a big deal because it revises our understanding of heat transport in these exotic conditions and provides a new tool to probe quantum effects. Personally, I think this highlights how much fundamental physics we're still uncovering as we push materials to their limits, which could feed back into designing better quantum devices.

• Nvidia GTC Quantum Focus: According to Nvidia's GTC coverage, their Quantum Day heavily emphasised hybrid quantum-classical computing, using GPUs to accelerate simulations and manage quantum workflows via platforms like CUDA-Q. This is a big deal because it shows a major player betting heavily on the synergy between classical HPC and quantum processors, rather than seeing them as purely separate domains. Personally, I think this means the development of practical quantum applications will likely rely heavily on sophisticated classical software and hardware for the foreseeable future.

• IQM at APS Summit: According to IQM's blog , the company presented numerous papers at the APS Global Physics Summit covering calibration, fabrication, simulation, and error correction/detection for superconducting qubits. This is a big deal because it shows steady, broad progress across the many technical hurdles needed to scale up quantum hardware. Personally, I think this reflects the incremental, multi-faceted engineering effort required, moving beyond just qubit counts to address the practicalities of building reliable machines.

• UK PQC Timeline: According to the NCSC blog , the UK's cyber security agency released guidance setting direction and milestones for migrating to post-quantum cryptography. This is a big deal because it adds governmental weight and a sense of timeline to the PQC transition, urging organisations (especially critical infrastructure) to start planning seriously. Personally, I think this signals a shift from theoretical concern to practical preparation for the quantum threat to current encryption.

TL;DR

OK for those of you who are ultra-pressed for time, this is the summary of this week (March 17-23). Quantum communication took a leap with a record-breaking 12,900 km satellite QKD link between China and South Africa, while MIT showed a clever way to directly connect quantum processors for better scalability. On the computing front, researchers are finding new tricks with twisted 2D materials and uncovering surprising quantum effects in heat transport, while Nvidia's GTC highlighted the push for hybrid GPU-QPU systems. Finally, the UK's NCSC nudged everyone to get serious about post-quantum crypto migration planning. The quantum future isn't just theoretical anymore; the building blocks and the transition plans are actively being laid.

That’s it!

As always, thanks for reading.

Hit reply and let me know what you found most helpful this week - I’d love to hear from you!

See you next Monday.

Phil.