Infleqtion, Honeywell and UCSB Develop Chip-Scale Optical Cavity

Insider Brief

• Infleqtion, Honeywell Aerospace and UC Santa Barbara developed a chip-scale optical cavity designed to reduce the size of quantum sensors and other quantum systems.
• The prototype was fabricated on a silicon nitride chip using photonic manufacturing processes developed at Honeywell Aerospace’s foundry.
• The teams said the chip-scale design could support commercial production and applications including precision navigation and atomic timing for data centers and cell towers.

PRESS RELEASE — Infleqtion (NYSE: INFQ), a global leader in quantum computing and quantum sensing powered by neutral atom technology, in collaboration with Honeywell Aerospace and Distinguished Professor Daniel J. Blumenthal of UC Santa Barbara (UCSB), announced development of a new integrated optical “cavity” that helps shrink quantum sensors down to handheld size. Fabricated on a silicon nitride chip at Honeywell Aerospace’s photonics foundry, the prototype reduces the space needed to keep lasers stable inside quantum systems. It is built using a manufacturing process common in the semiconductor industry, so it can be produced at scale across many existing commercial facilities.

“Quantum technology has incredible potential, but realizing that potential means making these systems smaller, more stable, and manufacturable at scale,” said Pranav Gokhale, CTO of Infleqtion. “This prototype is an important step toward that future and it’s a direct result of bringing together world-class academic research, cutting-edge fabrication capabilities, and deep quantum systems knowledge. We appreciate the exceptional partnership with Professor Blumenthal’s team at UCSB and Honeywell Aerospace’s fabrication expertise.”