Wolfspeed Launches Transparent Silicon Carbide for Quantum Computers and Augmented Reality Glasses

The American semiconductor manufacturer Wolfspeed has launched transparent silicon carbide on the commercial market under the TSiC brand. The material is designed for augmented reality (AR) glasses, optical systems, and quantum computers.

Silicon carbide is traditionally used in power electronics, but the optical version features extremely low light absorption and high wafer flatness. Due to its high refractive index, the material allows for replacing multilayer optics with a single thin wafer. This will help make augmented reality glasses lighter and expand their field of view.

The material is also suitable for quantum processors: the crystal can simultaneously hold qubits, maintain their quantum states, and transmit optical information. Most alternative semiconductors for these tasks require separate components.

Former Chief Technology Officer of Meta Reality Labs' optics division, Barry Silverstein, noted that the lack of suitable materials has hindered the creation of convenient augmented reality glasses for years. According to him, Wolfspeed's development can shift devices from the category of experimental novelties to everyday accessories.

Currently, Wolfspeed supplies wafers with diameters of 150 and 200 mm. Simultaneously, the company's engineers are preparing test samples of 300 mm standard substrates for future scalable quantum systems. Recall that in October, IBM researchers connected two 120-qubit Nighthawk R1 quantum processors and achieved an average quantum state transmission accuracy of 99%.