Yaqumo and SCREEN Holdings Partner on NEDO Project to Build Optical Modules for Neutral-Atom QPUs

Japanese neutral-atom quantum computing startup Yaqumo Inc. (a spin-off from Kyoto University and the Institute for Molecular Science) has been selected by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) for a national R&D grant under the Post-5G Information and Communication Systems Infrastructure Enhancement R&D Project. Following the award, Yaqumo launched a joint research initiative with semiconductor equipment and precision optics manufacturer SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd. to develop, modularize, and domestically manufacture high-performance optical core devices for neutral-atom quantum processors.

Advanced Optical Core Components and Modular Integration

Neutral-atom quantum architectures manipulate neutral atom arrays using laser beams in free space. The initiative addresses two main hardware bottlenecks in neutral-atom control chains—insufficient component refresh speeds and a fragmented supply chain—by engineering integrated, mass-producible optical modules:

• High-Speed SLM Modules: SCREEN Holdings will leverage its micro-scale optical control and direct imaging manufacturing capabilities to engineer Spatial Light Modulator (SLM) modules with high refresh rates, enabling high-speed, large-scale individual atom addressing and shorter cycle times.
• Multi-Wavelength Objective Lenses: Developing multi-wavelength objective lenses to deliver flexible optical illumination, aiming to increase gate execution speeds and two-qubit gate fidelity.
• Environmentally Robust Optical Sub-Assemblies: Utilizing low-thermal-expansion materials to maintain optical alignment over long-term operations.
• Standardized Module Architecture: Formulating a standardized optical interface system designed for functional units that can be integrated across multiple neutral-atom hardware vendors, alongside a long-term roadmap toward Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs).