JPMorganChase, Commerce Dept. Detail Quantum Supply Chain Gaps

The scale of quantum computing’s ambitions is forcing a reckoning with earthly supply chains. Nate Gemelke points to the repeated use of the word “laser” in his company’s process as indicative of a critical vulnerability, as the industry shifts from proving viability to building machines at scale. “We used to think that we needed to produce really very, very bright lasers,” Gemelke said.

“Now we’re realizing maybe we also need to be making reliable lasers.” A Quantum World Congress 2026 panel was moderated by Constanza M. Vidal Bustamante of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), whose recent report maps vulnerabilities across quantum’s enabling technologies. She was joined by Nate Gemelke, co-founder of; Joseph Broz of; Sara O’Rourke of JPMorganChase; and Melissa LaReau of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

QuEra Computing Highlights Laser and Crystal Dependencies in Quantum Builds

Optical crystal production rates present a fundamental limitation to scaling quantum computing hardware, according to QuEra Computing’s Nate Gemelke. The growth of these crystals, essential components in the lasers used to manipulate qubits, is governed by the laws of physics, meaning increased manufacturing capacity is not simply a matter of investment. Gemelke explained, “The world’s production rate of certain optical crystals is limited by the physics of crystal growth,” highlighting a constraint beyond typical supply chain bottlenecks.