3 Questions with Johannes Jobst, Founder QuantaMap

As part of the Dutch delegation attending the APS Global Physics Summit, Johannes Jobst, founder and CEO of QuantaMap, will present the first data from a new microscope developed with Leiden University and QuantWare. The research focuses on accurately measuring how quantum chips perform at each stage of their development and fabrication using a multimodal microscope — insights that are critical for producing high-quality quantum chips at scale.  

Earlier this month, QuantaMap introduced this new type of multimodal microscope, which can reveal the four critical properties of a chip: heat, magnetism, structure, and electrical behaviour, simultaneously and at the nanoscale. This gives researchers and companies a much clearer picture of what is happening inside a device long before it reaches a full quantum computer, helping to improve chip performance, reduce costly redesigns, and accelerate innovation and commercial potential. 

QuantaMap is commercialising these microscope systems for quantum materials research and quantum chip manufacturing and is currently looking for launching customers. 

Ahead of APS, we asked Johannes a few questions about the impact of this work on the future of quantum chip development and his plans for making connections in Denver.   

For companies building quantum chips or academic researchers improving their methods, what practical advantages does the new microscope give them compared to existing testing methods? 

For the first time, they can directly see what is happening on the chip. Without images, they must infer where performance limitations arise by analysing very global parameters, such as coherence time, which is influenced by almost everything on the chip. This can be difficult and sometimes misleading. On every quantum chip we have imaged so far, we have observed features that our customers did not expect. 

Most quantum chips are only fully evaluated at the very end of the development cycle, when issues are costly and time‑consuming to diagnose. How does being able to test chips at earlier stages change the pace of innovation and reduce risk for industry partners? 

Our imaging can identify where defects are located on the chip and during which processing step they were introduced. This allows producers to adjust designs based on real chip data rather than simulations. They can also detect process deviations and variability much earlier. 

You’re presenting this work at the APS Global Physics Summit with the Dutch delegation. What message do you hope to bring to the international community about the Netherlands’ role in advancing quantum materials and next generation chip diagnostics? 

The Netherlands has a strong history in semiconductor tooling — ASML being the most well-known example — and in building a robust value chain of specialised companies that dominate their core markets. We believe this focus is essential to continually push the cutting edge. The fact that no one else can currently provide insights into quantum chips in the way QuantaMap can proves this point. 

Johannes will present the talk, “Tapping-mode SQUID-on-tip microscopy for materials research and quantum chip diagnostics,” on Tuesday, 17 March at 14:12 MST at the APS Global Physics Summit in Denver, Colorado.