Elena Kazakova
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MicroAlign, a fiber array manufacturing company specializing in alignment of optical fibers, has achieved a major milestone in high-accuracy fiber array technology.
The company successfully scaled its fiber array port count from 12 to 24 channels while maintaining 100-nanometer fiber-core pitch accuracy, enabling ultra-low-loss fiber-to-photonic chip coupling for quantum computing applications. This achievement surpasses the current state-of the-art.
Achieving ultra-low coupling loss between photonic chips and optical fiber arrays is a fundamental requirement for advancing the performance and scalability of quantum photonic computing systems.
The fiber-core position within fiber arrays is a critical factor in reducing the fiber-to-chip loss per port. Traditional V-groove-based fiber arrays typically provide a core position accuracy of approximately 0.5 µm which is insufficient to meet the requirements of next-generation quantum photonic computers.
”It is crucial that we keep a fast innovation pace to timely intercept the industry requirements of photonic quantum computing, and of photonic high-end applications where every bit of optical energy is precious." said Simone Cardarelli, CEO of MicroAlign
MicroAlign introduces a novel concept of ultra-high-accuracy fiber arrays, in which each fiber core is actively aligned during the manufacturing process. Unlike passive alignment methods, this technique enables simultaneous, closed-loop alignment of all fibers, resulting in a new benchmark for efficient optical fiber connectivity.
“This milestone further demonstrates how the unique features of MicroAlign fiber manipulation technology can enable the manufacturing of fiber arrays with large number of channels without compromising the core position accuracy” says Marco Fattori, CTO of MicroAlign
The company will present the results of its 24-channel fiber arrays, at the upcoming SPIE Photonics West Conference, the world’s leading event for lasers, biomedical optics, optoelectronics, and emerging technologies spanning biophotonics, quantum, and vision systems.
Presentation Details:
Paper: “Towards Next Generations of Fiber Arrays Driven by Active Alignment”
Presenter: Marco Fattori, MicroAlign
Date: January 20, 2026 (to be confirmed)
Event: SPIE Photonics West Conference [https://spie.org/photonics-west/presentation/Towards-next generations-of-fiber-arrays-driven-by-active-alignment/13903-7]
This achievement marks a significant step toward enabling scalable, low-loss optical interconnects critical for quantum computing, communication, and sensing applications.