Hello and welcome to the first issue of This Week in Quantum — a weekly digest of the most important news, research, and developments in the world of quantum computing. The goal is simple: cut through the noise and bring you what actually matters, every week.
Whether you are a researcher, developer, or just quantum-curious — this is for you.
Industry News
D-Wave acquires Quantum Circuits Inc. for $550 million
In one of the biggest deals in quantum computing history, D-Wave announced an agreement to acquire Quantum Circuits Inc. (QCI) — a Yale-based developer of error-corrected superconducting gate-model systems — for $550 million ($300M in stock + $250M cash). The combined company aims to be the first capable of addressing the full quantum market with both annealing and gate-model technology. An initial dual-rail system is planned for general availability in 2026. Dr. Rob Schoelkopf, inventor of the transmon qubit, will lead a new R&D center in New Haven, Connecticut.
Quantum Computing Inc. acquires NuCrypt
QCi (Nasdaq: QUBT) completed the acquisition of NuCrypt LLC for $5 million, adding quantum communications systems and patents in quantum optics, RF-photonics, and photonic signal processing to its portfolio. The combined companies will showcase integrated technologies at the OFC Conference in Los Angeles, March 17–19.
Xanadu inches closer to public listing
Canada’s Xanadu cleared a major regulatory hurdle as the SEC declared its Form F-4 registration effective for its planned SPAC merger with Crane Harbor Acquisition Corp. If completed as expected in late March, Xanadu (ticker: XNDU) will become the world’s first publicly traded pure-play photonic quantum computing company, listing on both Nasdaq and the Toronto Stock Exchange at a pre-money valuation of $3.6 billion.
Research Highlights
Quantum structured light packs more information per photon
An international team including researchers from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona published a review in Nature Photonics examining quantum structured light — a technique that shapes photons into complex, high-dimensional states. The approach could make quantum communication more secure, simplify quantum circuit designs, and enable far more sensitive sensors. Researchers say the field is hitting a turning point where real-world impact may soon follow discovery.
Chip-sized optical phase modulator for quantum computers
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder, in collaboration with Sandia National Laboratories, developed an optical phase modulator nearly 100x thinner than a human hair, published in Nature Communications. The device controls laser frequencies with extreme precision while using far less power than current systems — and crucially, it is manufactured using standard chip fabrication methods, making mass production viable. This could enable quantum machines with millions of qubits.
The Bigger Picture
2026 is shaping up to be the year quantum computing moves from research labs to customer hands. Microsoft’s framework defines this as “Level 2” — small but error-corrected machines. Microsoft (with Atom Computing), QuEra, and now D-Wave+QCI are all racing to deliver exactly that this year.
As Srinivas Prasad Sugasani of Microsoft put it: “Lots of work that happened over the last so many years is coming to fruition now.”
Upcoming Events
- March 10–11 — Cantor Global Technology & Industrial Growth Conference, New York City (QCi presenting)
- March 17–19 — OFC Conference and Exhibition, Los Angeles (QCi + NuCrypt booth #5105)