EU Laser Manufacturer Trumpf Investigates Quantum Computing for Laser Technology Improvement

Trumpf, a prominent EU laser manufacturer known for its role in producing lasers used in ASML's EUV chipmaking tools, is investigating the potential of quantum computing to enhance its laser technology. According to reports from Tom's Hardware and s Hardware, Trumpf is collaborating with the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT) and the Dahlem Center at Freie Universität Berlin. This collaboration aims to explore if advanced quantum computers could optimize CO2 laser systems better than current classical supercomputers. These CO2 laser units are critical in semiconductor production, particularly in light sources for DUV and EUV lithography tools like those developed by Cymer for ASML's NXE and EXE tools, and have applications in silicon photonics and the broader non-semiconductor industry.

The initiative has received support amounting to 1.8 million euros from Germany's Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The research focuses on two main areas: typical industrial applications of CO2 lasers and scientific inquiries into microscopic behavior. Quantum mechanics plays a crucial role here, as the physics governing CO2 lasers involves vibrational and rotational energy exchanges, molecular collisions, and population-inversion dynamics, which are inherently quantum phenomena. Traditional supercomputers struggle to accurately model these complex interactions due to the exponential growth in the number of states that need to be represented.

In contrast, quantum computers can represent quantum states natively, allowing them to encode a 2n-dimensional state space without the limitations of classical DRAM. This capability positions quantum hardware as potentially superior for simulating the many-body interactions that dictate gain, loss, and energy transfer within CO2 lasers. The primary task of the research group is to determine whether quantum hardware can effectively handle the intricate quantum-mechanical interactions that control how particles generate and amplify light.

The Fraunhofer ILT contributes its expertise in simulating semiconductor devices, while the Dahlem Center focuses on molecular collision dynamics. A significant aspect of the project involves adapting established energy-transfer models into formats suitable for quantum algorithms. Trumpf is tasked with developing initial iterations of these quantum algorithms and coordinating their testing. A particular focus is on the processes governing CO2-laser amplification, where precise predictions about energy transfer between molecular states are vital for optimizing laser performance. The team has begun reviewing current simulation methods and benchmarking early quantum approaches for possible advantages.

While today's quantum computers are still in prototype stages and not robust enough for large industrial workloads, the project emphasizes building the necessary knowledge to use more advanced quantum machines in the future. Additionally, insights gained into microscopic behavior could inform future laser design, potentially leading to higher performance, reduced energy consumption, or more compact devices. Trumpf also notes that improved modeling of CO2 lasers through quantum algorithms might eventually lessen the environmental impact of laser-based technology. However, as the research is in its infancy, the tangible effects of integrating quantum computing into CO2 laser applications remain largely speculative at this point.