The Superposition Guy's Podcast

Sebastian Hassinger, host of The New Quantum Era podcast and author of a new book by the same name, is interviewed by Yuval Boger. Sebastian and Yuval have much in common beyond their work in quantum: both are podcasters, neither holds a PhD, and both are authors of new books — Sebastian's The New Quantum Era and Yuval's Quantum Bits, the Comic Book Guide to Quantum Computing. In a conversation more symmetric than the typical episode, they compare notes on the motivation and process of writing these books, the challenge of explaining quantum computing to non-physicists, and debate Hassinger's modality forecast. They also discuss their hypothetical dinner guests from the quantum greats, and much more.

Get the books at:
www.QuantumBitsComics.com/buy
www.TheNewQuantumEra.com

Klea Dhmitri of Hamamatsu joins Yuval to discuss the company’s role as a photonic component provider for trapped-ion and neutral-atom quantum computers. She explains key technologies such as photomultiplier tubes (PMTs), SPADs, and quantitative CMOS cameras, and how scaling to larger qubit arrays changes requirements for speed, resolution, and integration. Klea also shares how customer demand is pushing product innovation, reflects on her unconventional path into quantum, and offers advice for those looking to build careers in photonics and quantum technologies.

Yuval Boger interviews Brian Gaucher, an experienced engineer and IBM veteran who co-chaired ERVA’s report Engineering Research to Advance Quantum Technologies. Brian explains that while U.S. quantum science remains strong, global competition is accelerating and the key limiter is no longer physics discovery but engineering the path from “lab to fab”—scalable, manufacturable, reliable systems. They discuss why the U.S. should pursue a coordinated, semiconductor-like national strategy with shared pilot lines, standards, metrology, public-private investment, and a broader workforce—not just physicists. They also cover the report’s four pillars (materials, biology, computing, AI), the importance of domestic fabrication, and why biology and quantum sensing may deliver surprisingly near-term impact.

Yuval Boger interviews Michaela Eichinger, a product solutions physicist at Quantum Machines and the author of a widely read quantum computing newsletter. They discuss her transition from academia to industry, her fascination with systems-level views of the quantum stack, and the role of communication in building the quantum ecosystem. The conversation covers the state of quantum computing in 2026, realistic metrics for progress, superconducting qubits, and why classical processing and HPC integration are becoming central to useful quantum computers.

Yuval Boger interviews Lionel Martellini, finance professor at the EDHEC and founding director of the EDHEC Quantum Institute. Lionel describes his unusual path from finance to astrophysics and why business schools should teach quantum awareness to future leaders. They discuss core quantum concepts, the danger of overhyping “quantum washing,” and the real prospects for quantum applications in finance. The conversation also explores executive education, practical use cases, and how businesses should prepare for quantum technologies.