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.”

Why It Matters

An optical “cavity” is a piece of hardware that helps the lasers in quantum computers, clocks, and sensors perform better. It’s essential for ensuring the precision and reliability of quantum computers and sensors. Historically, these cavities have been large, fragile, tabletop instruments, limiting their ability to be deployed in the field and manufactured at scale.

The development of a prototype that can be manufactured at chip scale in commercial foundries paves the way for accelerated deployment in both new and existing applications. Near-term applications include quantum-enabled precision navigation and atomic timing for data centers and cell towers.

“The development of this new optical cavity opens the door to a world where quantum technology is more accessible than ever before,” said Dennis Assanis, Chancellor of UC Santa Barbara. “By working together, UC Santa Barbara, Infleqtion, and Honeywell Aerospace have combined their individual strengths to create a product that is poised to make a rapid impact on key industries across the globe. This is the power of collaboration in action.”

Collaboration across Infleqtion, UCSB and Honeywell Aerospace teams

Infleqtion‘s engineering team and UCSB’s OCAQπ Group co-designed the prototype, then built it at the Honeywell Aerospace foundry, using Honeywell Aerospace’s state-of-the-art silicon nitride photonic integration processes developed over the past decade. Led by UCSB Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Daniel J. Blumenthal, the OCAQπ Group has spent more than a decade moving cold-atom quantum experiments from optical tables to chip scale. This collaboration is the latest example of the team bringing research into a commercial fabrication environment with a clear path to volume production.

“We’ve been working toward the miniaturization of quantum systems for years, and this prototype represents a meaningful step forward. The fact that it’s manufacturable at commercial foundries means this technology has a genuine path to widespread deployment, not just in quantum computers, but in clocks, sensors and other devices that could benefit people in everyday life. Collaborations like this one are exactly how fundamental science makes its way into the real world,” said Blumenthal.

UCSB’s Role

This advantageous collaboration was facilitated by UCSB’s Office of Technology & Industry Alliances (TIA). TIA manages intellectual property developed through UCSB research and establishes relationships with industry partners, enabling collaboration and the development of world-changing technologies. TIA orchestrated the filing of over a dozen patent applications for the photonic technology that was the foundation of SiNoptiq, a photonic technology startup founded by Professor Blumenthal. SiNoptiq quickly became a leader in silicon photonics and was acquired by Infleqtion in 2024. The collaboration between UCSB, SiNoptiq, Infleqtion, and Honeywell Aerospace exemplifies TIA’s mission to build beneficial relationships between UCSB and industry leaders, driving technology transfer, startup formation, and innovation across diverse sectors.