Photonic quantum computers encode qubits in single photons rather than in superconducting circuits.

Is it true that Photonic quantum computers encode qubits in single photons rather than in superconducting circuits?

Partly. Several sources distinguish photonic quantum computing, which encodes qubits in single photons, from matter-based approaches such as superconducting circuits, and one photonic platform instead encodes qubits in defect electronic states. The evidence covers the contrast only in part and does not fully settle the claim as worded.

Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 4 sources for, 2 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

Photonic Quantum Computing. (n.d.). arxiv.org. https://arxiv.org/html/2404.03367v2

Superconducting quantum computing. (n.d.). en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superconducting_quantum_computing

A deterministic and efficient source of frequency-polarization hyper-encoded photonic qubits. (2024). hal.science. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2410.03454

A deterministic and efficient source of frequency-polarization hyper-encoded photonic qubits. (2024). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2410.03454

Deterministic and efficient source of frequency-polarization hyper-encoded photonic qubits. (2025). hal.science. https://doi.org/10.1364/opticaq.545703

Deterministic and efficient source of frequency-polarization hyper-encoded photonic qubits. (2025). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1364/opticaq.545703

Using wavepackets instead of photons in quantum computer. (2012). physics.stackexchange.com. https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/47641/using-wavepackets-instead-of-photons-in-quantum-computer

Modelling photon statistics of cavity QED systems for integrated photonic quantum computing. (2021). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.14288/1.0397223