# 483: An Ion of the Highest Fidelity

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2024-08-23
- Length: 1h 01m
- Episode: 483
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-08-23-483-an-ion-of-the-highest-fidelity
- Listen: https://embedded.fm/episodes/483

## Summary

Rick Altherr, a Senior Staff Software Engineer at IonQ, explains the real-time control systems required for trapped-ion quantum computers. He details the challenge of synchronizing 32 channels of arbitrary waveform generators to within picoseconds to manipulate ytterbium or barium ions using lasers and electro-optic modulators. Altherr also discusses the translation of high-level Python quantum circuits into low-level FPGA instructions, the current limitations of quantum utility versus classical simulation, and the emerging security considerations for these complex hybrid systems.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-08-23-483-an-ion-of-the-highest-fidelity#t=6) Introduction and Guest Background
- [4:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-08-23-483-an-ion-of-the-highest-fidelity#t=271) Trapped-Ion Quantum Computing Physics
- [8:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-08-23-483-an-ion-of-the-highest-fidelity#t=514) High-Speed Control and Synchronization
- [19:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-08-23-483-an-ion-of-the-highest-fidelity#t=1194) FPGA Architecture and Instruction Sets
- [32:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-08-23-483-an-ion-of-the-highest-fidelity#t=1924) Quantum Circuit Compilation and Calibration
- [43:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-08-23-483-an-ion-of-the-highest-fidelity#t=2596) Scaling Challenges and Entanglement
- [47:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-08-23-483-an-ion-of-the-highest-fidelity#t=2853) Security, DEF CON Demo, and Career Advice

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Analog & power electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/analog-and-power-electronics)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- IonQ (company)
- IBM (company)
- D-Wave (company)
- Qiskit (tool)
- PennyLane (tool)
- Yocto (tool)
- Rust (tool)
- Electro-optical modulator (tool)
- Acousto-optic modulator (tool)
- Arbitrary waveform generator (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Inside Quantum Computing Hardware with Šimon Marek | OnTrack](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-01-13-inside-quantum-computing-hardware-with-simon-marek-ontrack) (OnTrack)
- [Quantum Computing: Sci-Fi Technology Requires Real-World Engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2024-02-13-quantum-computing-sci-fi-technology-requires-real-world-engineering) (Moore's Lobby)
- [Yonatan Cohen | Quantum Computing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-01-27-yonatan-cohen-quantum-computing) (Being an Engineer)
- [Quantum Computing with Andrea Morello](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-06-28-quantum-computing-with-andrea-morello) (The Amp Hour)
- [When will quantum computing have its breakout moment?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-07-16-when-will-quantum-computing-have-its-breakout-moment) (Catalyst)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-08-23-483-an-ion-of-the-highest-fidelity. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.