Shows
The New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyPeaked quantum circuits with Hrant GharibyanIn this episode of The New Quantum Era, Sebastian talks with Hrant Gharibyan, CEO and co‑founder of BlueQubit, about “peaked circuits” and the challenge of verifying quantum advantage. They unpack Scott Aaronson and Yushuai Zhang’s original peaked‑circuit proposal, BlueQubit’s scalable implementation on real hardware, and a new public challenge that invites the community to attack their construction using the best classical algorithms available. Along the way, they explore how this line of work connects to cryptography, hardness assumptions, and the near‑term role of quantum devices as powerful scientific instruments.Topics CoveredWhy verifying...
2025-12-1229 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyDiamond vacancies and scalable qubits with Quantum BrillianceEpisode overviewThis episode of The New Quantum Era features a conversation with Quantum Brilliance co‑founder and CEO Mark Luo and independent board chair Brian Wong about diamond nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers as a platform for both quantum computing and quantum sensing. The discussion covers how NV centers work, what makes diamond‑based qubits attractive at room temperature, and how to turn a lab technology into a scalable product and business.What are diamond NV qubits? Mark explains how nitrogen vacancy centers in synthetic diamond act as stable room‑temperature qubits, with a nitrogen atom ad...
2025-12-0636 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyMacroscopic Quantum Tunneling with Nobel Laureate John MartinisEpisode overviewJohn Martinis, Nobel laureate and former head of Google’s quantum hardware effort, joins Sebastian Hassinger on The New Quantum Era to trace the arc of superconducting quantum circuits—from the first demonstrations of macroscopic quantum tunneling in the 1980s to today’s push for wafer-scale, manufacturable qubit processors. The episode weaves together the physics of “synthetic atoms” built from Josephson junctions, the engineering mindset needed to turn them into reliable computers, and what it will take for fabrication to unlock true large-scale quantum systems.Guest bioJohn M. Martinis is a physicist whose expe...
2025-11-2649 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyTrapped ions on the cloud with Thomas Monz from AQTThomas Monz, CEO of AQT (Alpine Quantum Technologies), joins Sebastian Hassinger on The New Quantum Era to chart the evolution of ion-trap quantum computing — from the earliest breakthroughs in Innsbruck to the latest roll-outs in supercomputing centers and on the cloud. Drawing on a career that spans pioneering research and entrepreneurial grit, Thomas details how AQT is bridging the gap between academic innovation and practical, scalable systems for real-world users. The conversation traverses AQT’s trajectory from component supplier to systems integrator, how standard 19-inch racks and open APIs are making quantum computing accessible in Europe’s top HPC center...
2025-11-1835 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyQuantum Materials and Nano Fabrication with Javad ShabaniQuantum Materials and Nano-Fabrication with Javad ShabaniGuest: Dr. Javad Shabani is Professor of Physics at NYU, where he directs both the Center for Quantum Information Physics and the NYU Quantum Institute. He received his PhD from Princeton University in 2011, followed by postdoctoral research at Harvard and UC Santa Barbara in collaboration with Microsoft Research. His research focuses on novel states of matter at superconductor-semiconductor interfaces, mesoscopic physics in low-dimensional systems, and quantum device development. He is an expert in molecular beam epitaxy growth of hybrid quantum materials and has made pioneering contributions to understanding fractional...
2025-11-1233 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyIncubating quantum innovation with Vijoy Pandey of Outshift by CiscoVijoy Pandey joins Sebastian Hassinger for this episode of The New Quantum Era to discuss Cisco's ambitious vision for quantum networking—not as a far-future technology, but as infrastructure that solves real problems today. Leading Outshift by Cisco, their incubation group and Cisco Research, Vijoy explains how quantum networks are closer than quantum computers, why distributed quantum computing is the path to scale, and how entanglement-based protocols can tackle immediate classical challenges in security, synchronization, and coordination. The conversation spans from Vijoy's origin story building a Hindi chatbot in the late 1980s to Cisco's groundbreaking room-temperature quantum entanglement chip de...
2025-10-3139 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyNobel Laureate John Martinis Discusses Superconducting Qubits and QolabThis episode is a first for the show - a repeat of a previously posted interview on The New Quantum Era podcast! I think you'll agree the reason for the repeat is a great one - this episode, recorded at the APS Global Summit in March, features a conversation John Martinis, co-founder and CTO of QoLab and newly minted Nobel Laureate! Last week the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences made an announcement that John would share the 2025 Nobel Prize for Physics with John Clarke and Michel Devoret “for the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an...
2025-10-1337 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyCarbon nanotube qubits with Pierre DesjardinsPierre Desjardins is the cofounder of C12, a Paris-based quantum computing hardware startup that specializes in carbon nanotube-based spin qubits. Notably, Pierre founded the company alongside his twin brother, Mathieu, making them the only twin-led deep-tech startups that we know of! Pierre’s journey is unconventional—he is a rare founder in quantum hardware without a PhD, drawing instead on engineering and entrepreneurial experience. The episode dives into what drew him to quantum computing and the pivotal role COVID-19 played in catalyzing his career shift from consulting to quantum technology.C12’s Technology and Unique AngleC12...
2025-09-2726 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyQuantum sensitivity breakthrough with Eli Levenson-FalkDr. Eli Levenson-Falk joins Sebastian Hassinger, host of The New Quantum Era to discuss his group’s recent advances in quantum measurement and control, focusing on a new protocol that enables measurements more sensitive than the Ramsey limit. Published in Nature Communications in April 2025, this work demonstrates a coherence stabilized technique that not only enhances sensitivity for quantum sensing but also promises improvements in calibration speed and robustness for superconducting quantum devices and other platforms. The conversation travels from Eli’s origins in physics, through the conceptual challenges of decoherence, to experimental storytelling, and highlights the collaborative foundation underpinning this...
2025-09-1933 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyMechanical Quantum Memories with Mohammad MirhosseiniAssistant Professor Mohammad Mirhosseini (Caltech EE/APh) explains how his group built a mechanical quantum memory that stores microwave-photon quantum states far longer than typical superconducting qubits, and why that matters for hybrid quantum architectures. The discussion covers microwave photons, phonons, optomechanics, coherence versus lifetime (T2 vs. T1), current speed bottlenecks, and implications for quantum transduction and error mechanisms. The discussion centers on a paper from Mirhosseini's paper from December of 2024 titled, “A mechanical quantum memory for microwave photons,” detailing strong coupling between a transmon and a long‑lived nanomechanical oscillator for storage and retrieval of nonclassical states.Gues...
2025-09-1437 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyA Programming Language for Quantum Simulations with Xiaodi WuIn this episode, host Sebastian Hassinger sits down with Xiaodi Wu, Associate Professor at the University of Maryland, to discuss Wu’s journey through quantum information science, his drive for bridging computer science and physics, and the creation of the quantum programming language SimuQ.Guest IntroductionXiaodi Wu shares his academic path from Tsinghua University (where he studied mathematics and physics) to a PhD at the University of Michigan, followed by postdoctoral work at MIT and a position at the University of Oregon, before joining the University of Maryland.The conversation highlights Wu’s formative experiences, earl...
2025-09-0554 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyBuilding a Quantum Ecosystem with Alexandre BlaisHost Sebastian Hassinger interviews Alexandre Blais, professor of physics at the Universite de Sherbrooke and scientific director of the Insitut Quantique. Alexandre discusses his academic journey, starting from his master's and PhD work in Sherbrooke, his move to Yale, and his collaborations with both theorists and experimentalists. He outlines the development of circuit QED (quantum electrodynamics) and its foundational role in the modern superconducting qubit landscape. Blais emphasizes the interplay between fundamental physics and technological progress in quantum computing, highlighting both academic contributions and partnerships with industry. He also describes the evolution and mission of Institut Quantique, stressing its...
2025-08-2935 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyFrom Exascale to Quantum Advantage with Bert de JongIn this episode, Sebastian Hassinger sits down with Bert de Jong, a leading computational chemist and Director of the Quantum Systems Accelerator at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. They explore Bert’s journey from high-performance classical computing to the front lines of quantum research, his vision for the future of the U.S. National Quantum Initiative (NQI) center he leads, and the scientific and engineering challenges that will define the next era of quantum computing.Key Topics CoveredCareer Arc: Bert reflects on his 27-year career in the national lab system, moving from classical computational chemistry and HP...
2025-08-2232 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyQuantum Careers for Gen Z with Deeya ViradiaEpisode OverviewJoin Sebastian Hassinger in conversation with Deeya Viradia, a Gen Z voice and rising researcher in the quantum computing field. Deeya discusses her multifaceted journey—from early inspiration and undergraduate research to hackathons, quantum clubs, and her ambitions in commercialization. This episode is packed with resources, perspectives on education, and advice for newcomers in quantum technology.Key Topics & HighlightsDeeya’s Quantum Origin StoryInspired by curiosity and early science exposure—especially an episode of "Martha Speaks" with Neil deGrasse Tyson—which led to an ongoing passion...
2025-08-1535 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologySilicon Spin Qubits with Andrew Dzurak from DiraqHost: Sebastian HassingerGuest: Andrew Dzurak (CEO, Diraq)In this enlightening episode, Sebastian Hassinger interviews Professor Andrew Dzurak. Andrew is the CEO and co-founder of Diraq and concurrently a Scientia Professor in Quantum Engineering at UNSW Sydney, an ARC Laureate Fellow and a Member of the Executive Board of the Sydney Quantum Academy. Diraq is a quantum computing startup pioneering silicon spin qubits, based in Australia. The discussion delves into the technical foundations, manufacturing breakthroughs, scalability, and future roadmap of silicon-based quantum computers—all with an industrial and commercial focus.Key Topics and Insights...
2025-08-0833 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyHybrid Quantum Materials with Charlotte BøttcherThis episode of The New Quantum Era podcast, your host, Sebastian Hassinger, has a conversation with Dr. Charlotte Bøttcher, Assistant Professor, Stanford University. Dr. Bøttcher is an experimental physicist working with superconducting quantum devices, and shares with us her areas of focus and perspective on this critical area of materials research for quantum information science and technology. Episode HighlightsMeet Dr. Charlotte Bøttcher: Dr. Bøttcher shares her journey from Harvard (PhD) and Yale (postdoc with Michel Devoret) to launching her own experimental quantum materials group at Stanford. She discusses the excitement (and chal...
2025-08-0126 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyNeutral Atom Qubits with Mark SaffmanIn this episode of The New Quantum Era, host Sebastian Hassinger sits down with Dr. Mark Saffman, a leading expert in atomic physics and quantum information science. As a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Chief Scientist at Infleqtion (formerly ColdQuanta), Mark is at the forefront of developing neutral atom quantum computing platforms using Rydberg atom arrays. The conversation explores the past, present, and future of neutral atom quantum computing, its scalability, technological challenges, and opportunities for hybrid quantum systems.Key TopicsEvolution of Neutral Atom Quantum ComputingThe history and development of Ry...
2025-07-2531 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyBridging Theory and Experiment in Quantum Error Correction with Liang JiangIn this episode, Sebastian Hassinger sits down with Dr. Liang Jiang from the University of Chicago to explore the exciting intersection of quantum error correction theory and practical implementation. Dr. Jiang discusses his group's work on hardware-efficient quantum error correction, the recent breakthroughs in demonstrating error correction thresholds, and the future of fault-tolerant quantum computing.Key Topics CoveredCurrent State of Quantum Error CorrectionRecent milestone achievements including Google's surface code experiment and AWS's bosonic code demonstrationsThe transition from purely theoretical work to practical implementations on real hardwareHardware platforms showing high fidelity...
2025-07-2133 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologySuperposition in quantum cavities with Yvonne GaoIn this episode of The New Quantum Era, your host, Sebastian Hassinger sits down with Dr. Yvonne Gao, a leading experimental physicist specializing in superconducting devices and quantum cavities. Recorded at the American Physical Society's Global Summit, the conversation explores the intersection of curiosity-driven research and technological advancement in quantum physics.Key Topics Discussed1. Research Focus: Quantum Cavities and SuperpositionDr. Gao shares her team's work on using cavities (harmonic oscillators) coupled with a single qubit to probe fundamental quantum effects.The experiments focus on quantum superposition and entanglement using minimal hardware—ju...
2025-07-1027 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyQuantum Co-design with Andrew HouckIn this episode, your host Sebastian Hassinger sits down with Andrew Houck to explore the latest advancements and collaborative strategies in quantum computing. Houck shares insights from his leadership roles at both Princeton and the Center for Co-Design of Quantum Advantage (C2QA), focusing on how interdisciplinary efforts are pushing the boundaries of coherence times, materials science, and scalable quantum architectures. The conversation covers the importance of co-design across the quantum stack, the challenges and surprises in improving qubit performance, and the vision for the next era of quantum research.KEY TOPICS DISCUSSEDMission...
2025-07-0429 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyFostering quantum education with Emily EdwardsIn this episode of The New Quantum Era, Sebastian is joined by Dr. Emily Edwards, a co-founder of the Q12 initiative, an NSF-funded effort aimed at enhancing quantum science education from middle school through early undergraduate levels. Emily brings her expertise in organizing and motivating educators, as well as her passion for science communication. In this episode, we delve into the unique challenges of teaching quantum science and explore effective strategies to make this abstract field more accessible to learners of all ages.Key PointsChallenges in Quantum Communication and Education: Emily discusses the...
2025-06-2030 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyQuantum noise with Daniel LidarIn this episode of The New Quantum Era, your host Sebastian Hassinger talks with Dr. Daniel Lidar. Dr. Lidar is a pioneering researcher in quantum computing with over 25 years of experience, currently a professor at the University of Southern California. His work spans quantum algorithms, error correction, and quantum advantage, with significant contributions to understanding quantum annealing and noise suppression techniques. Lidar has been instrumental in exploring practical quantum computing applications since the mid-1990s.Key Topics Discussed:Dr. Lidar discussed how his experiments have demonstrated computational advantages on D-Wave and IBM quantum devices using...
2025-05-1942 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyQuantum creativity with James WoottonIn this episode, Sebastian Hassinger welcomes back James Wootton, now Chief Science Officer at Moth Quantum, for a fascinating conversation about quantum computing's role in creative applications. This is a return visit from James, having appeared on episode 2, this time to talk about his exciting new role. Previously at IBM Quantum, James has been a pioneer in exploring unconventional applications of quantum computing, particularly in gaming, art, and creative industries.Key TopicsOrigins of James's Quantum JourneyStarted in Arosa, Switzerland (coincidentally where Schrödinger developed his wave equation)Initially skeptical about commercial a...
2025-05-1234 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologySuperconducting Quantum Materials and Systems with Anna GrassellinoIntroduction: In this milestone 50th episode of The New Quantum Era, your host Sebastian Hassinger welcomes Dr. Anna Grassellino, a leading figure in quantum information science and the director of the Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center at Fermilab, or SQMS. Dr. Grassellino discusses the center’s mission to advance quantum computing and quantum sensing through innovations in superconducting materials and devices. The conversation explores the intersection of quantum hardware development, high energy physics applications, and the collaborative efforts driving progress in the field. We recorded our conversation at the APS 2025 Global Summit with assistance from the American Ph...
2025-05-0226 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyQuantum control with Yonatan CohenIntroductionIn this episode of The New Quantum Era podcast, host Sebastian Hassinger delves into an insightful conversation with Yonatan Cohen, CTO and co-founder of Quantum Machines. As a pioneer in quantum control systems, Quantum Machines is at the forefront of tackling the critical challenges of scaling quantum computing, and they also provided support for my interviews conducted at the American Physical Society’s Global Summit 2025. APS itself also graciously provided support for these episodes. Yonatan shares exciting updates from their latest demos at the APS conference, discusses their unique approach to quantum con...
2025-04-2531 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyQolab Emerges from Stealth Mode with John MartinisWelcome to episode 48 of The New Quantum Era podcast! Another episode recorded at the APS Global Summit in March, today's special guest is true quantum pioneer, John Martinis, co-founder and CTO of QoLab, a superconducting qubit company seeking to build a million qubit device. In this enlightening conversation, we explore the strategic shifts, collaborative efforts, and technological innovations that are pushing the boundaries of quantum computing closer to building scalable, million-qubit systems. This episode was made with support form The American Physical Society and Quantum Machines, Inc. (BTW I know I said episode 49 in the intro to this episode...
2025-04-1436 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyMegaquop with John Preskill and Rob SchoelkopfIn this episode of The New Quantum Era podcast, your host Sebastian Hassinger interviews two of the field's most well-known figures, John Preskill and Rob Schoelkopf, about the transition of quantum computing into a new phase that John is calling "megaquop," which stands for "a million quantum operations." Our conversation delves into what this new phase entails, the challenges and opportunities it presents, and the innovative approaches being explored to make quantum computing perform better and become more useful. This episode was made with the kind support of the American Physical Society and Quantum Circuits, Inc. Here’s what yo...
2025-04-0234 minThe New Quantum Era - innovation in quantum computing, science and technologyQuantum memories with Steve GirvinIn this episode of The New Quantum Era podcast, host Sebastian Hassinger speaks with Steve Girvin, professor of physics at Yale University, about quantum memory - a critical but often overlooked component of quantum computing architecture. This episode was created with support from the American Physical Society and Quantum Circuits, Inc.Episode HighlightsIntroduction to Quantum Memory: Steve explains that quantum memory is essential for quantum computers, similar to how RAM functions in classical computers. It serves as intermediate storage while the CPU works on other data.Coherence Challenges: Quantum bits (qubits) struggle to faithfully hold...
2025-03-2637 min