What Quantum Opus does

Quantum Opus, LLC is a Plymouth, Michigan-based designer and manufacturer of superconducting nanowire single-photon detection (SNSPD) systems serving academic research, aerospace, biomedical, and quantum communications customers globally. Its flagship product, the Opus One, is a compact 3U-rack turnkey system integrating a desktop cryostat (supporting up to 16 pre-installed nanowire detectors), water-cooled compressor, bias and high-speed amplifier electronics, and software control libraries; the company's proprietary nanowire materials enable operation above 2K, allowing approximately three years of continuous unattended operation without cryogen recharge. Standard nanowire detectors are optimized for 950 nm (>90% efficiency) and 1550 nm (>80% efficiency), and the company also supplies a QO-SIM electronics module, multi-element photon-number-resolving arrays, mid-infrared (2–5 μm) devices, custom cryogenic systems, and nanowires fabricated directly onto integrated photonic circuits.

The business model is hardware sales through two channels — direct consultative sales for custom engineering engagements and global distribution via Opto-Electronic Components — with pricing not publicly disclosed and each system representing a high-value, configuration-driven capital sale. The customer base is concentrated in research institutions (USTC, Northwestern, Universität des Saarlandes, Harvard/MGH, DLR, NASA Glenn) and has expanded into mission-grade applications, most visibly the laser communication terminal co-developed with Observable Space for NASA's Artemis II mission, which demonstrated 260 Mbps transmission from lunar orbit in April 2026. Founded in 2014 by Aaron J. Miller (PhD, Stanford; ex-NIST), Josh A. Cassada (PhD, Rochester; NASA Crew-5 astronaut), and Holly B. Miller (MBA, CPA; ex-PwC), Quantum Opus remains a privately held LLC with no institutional funding disclosed.

Name

Quantum Opus

Legal name

Quantum Opus, LLC

Website

https://quantumopus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Quantum Opus designs and manufactures superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD) systems — including the Opus One turnkey platform — for academic quantum optics, aerospace, biomedical imaging, and quantum communications researchers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Single-Photon Detection Instrumentation

NAICS

Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Quantum RF & Microwave Sensing (Quantum Receivers) (HDAGAHAG)

Keywords

• Superconducting photon detectors
• Single-photon detection systems
• Quantum optics instrumentation
• Nanowire detector electronics
• Cryogenic photon counting

Headquarters

HQ city

Plymouth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Superconducting Nanowire Detection Systems: Sale of Opus One turnkey detection systems and component superconducting nanowire detectors to research institutions, quantum optics laboratories, and aerospace customers. Products can be purchased individually or as integrated systems.
2. Custom Product Engineering: Custom engineering solutions for specialized nanowire response, mid-infrared photon counting, custom cryogenic systems, and integration with waveguides and photonic chips.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Quantum Opus designs, manufactures, and sells superconducting nanowire single-photon detection systems and supporting electronics. Its flagship Opus One is a compact (3U-rack sized), turnkey detection system integrating a desktop cryostat with up to 16 preinstalled nanowire detectors, a water-cooled compressor, bias and high-speed amplifier electronics, and software control libraries. The company also offers individual superconducting nanowire detectors, the QO-SIM electronics module, and custom-engineered solutions such as multi-element photon-number-resolving arrays, mid-infrared detectors (2–5 μm), photonic-chip-integrated nanowires, and custom cryogenic systems.

Product overview

Quantum Opus offers superconducting nanowire single-photon detection systems and components. The core product is the Opus One, a compact, turnkey detection system that integrates a cryostat, nanowire detectors (up to 16), compressor, and electronics into a single package. Standard superconducting nanowire detectors are available optimized for 950 nm and 1550 nm wavelengths with >80-90% efficiency. The company also provides custom engineering solutions including multi-element arrays for photon number resolution, mid-infrared photon counting (2-5 μm), integrated photonics, and compact custom cryogenic systems. A supporting product is the QO-SIM electronics module for system control.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Opus One: A compact, turn key, high-efficiency superconducting nanowire single-photon detection system. The detection system includes customized compact desktop cryostat (up to 16 nanowire detectors), water-cooled compressor, bias and high-speed amplifier electronics, and easy-to-use software control libraries.
• Magnum Opus
• QO-SIM

Products and services

• Opus One Detection System A compact, turnkey superconducting nanowire single-photon detection system designed for researchers conducting quantum optics, optical quantum computation, single-photon communication, and quantum networking experiments. The 3U-rack-sized system integrates a desktop cryostat with up to 16 preinstalled nanowire detectors, water-cooled compressor, bias and high-speed amplifier electronics, and easy-to-use software control libraries, and is usable by researchers with no cryogenics experience.
• Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors (SNSPDs) Standalone superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) for researchers and OEMs requiring high-efficiency single-photon detection. Standard products are optimized for 950 nm (greater than 90% efficiency) or 1550 nm (greater than 80% efficiency), with custom wavelength options, broadband response devices, and mid-infrared devices covering the 2–5 μm range.
• QO-SIM Electronics Module An electronics module that integrates superconducting nanowire biasing and amplification circuitry into the Stanford Research System SIM900 laboratory mainframe, enabling push-button operation of nanowire detectors with serial control. For research laboratories using SIM900-based test setups.
• Custom Nanowire Architectures Custom-engineered multi-element nanowire arrays with photon-number-resolving capability, and nanowire photon detectors fabricated directly onto integrated photonic circuits or added using flip-chip technology. Designed for research customers requiring bespoke detector architectures.
• Mid-Infrared Photon Counting Systems Custom superconducting nanowire detection systems optimized for single-photon detection at customer-selected wavelengths in the 2–5 μm mid-infrared range. Targeted at research applications in mid-infrared photon counting where standard visible/near-infrared detectors are insufficient.
• Compact Cryogenic Systems Custom compact cryogenic systems engineered to cool below 2.5K in various form factors, with customizable size, base temperature, and cooling power. For research groups and integrators requiring bespoke cryogenic platforms for superconducting photon detection.
• Tailored Bandwidth Nanowires Nanowire detectors with customer-tailored spectral response, optimized for specified wavelengths, broad high-efficiency response across visible and near-infrared bands, or custom-selected peak wavelengths. For research programs with specialized wavelength requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Detection efficiency >90% at 950 nm, >80% at 1550 nm
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Observable SpacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Quantum Opus partnered with Observable Space to build laser communication terminals for NASA's Artemis II mission. Together they developed a low-cost terminal (built for under $5 million) for the O2O system that successfully demonstrated 260 Mbps data transmission from lunar orbit, delivering over 400 GB of data including 4K video. The partnership enabled the Australian National University terminal that received pristine footage from the Moon.
• Australian National UniversitysupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 April 2026Australian National University worked with Quantum Opus and Observable Space to build and host a laser communication receiving terminal as part of NASA's Artemis II mission ground receiver network. The terminal successfully received high-resolution footage from lunar orbit.
• University of MichigansupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Quantum Opus participates in a University of Michigan Engineering-led team that received a $4 million NSF Phase 2 award for developing plug-and-play quantum photonic chips under NSF's National Virtual Quantum Laboratory competition. The project targets GPS-free quantum navigation and quantum cameras for attosecond measurement speeds, with potential $50 million center funding in 2028.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Scontel: Russian/Russian-aligned supplier of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors and arrays for quantum optics and quantum communications research. Direct peer in SNSPD hardware.
• ID Quantique: Switzerland-based quantum photonics company producing SNSPDs, single-photon detectors, and quantum-key-distribution systems. Closely comparable product portfolio and customer base in academic and government quantum communications.
• Single Quantum: Dutch SNSPD manufacturer offering high-efficiency single-photon detection systems and multi-pixel arrays. Direct competitor to Quantum Opus across telecom and quantum-research customers.
• Radiation Monitoring Devices (RMD): US-based manufacturer of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors and cryogenic systems for scientific, medical imaging, and defense customers. Direct SNSPD peer.
• Photon Spot: US-based SNSPD manufacturer specializing in high-efficiency, low-dark-count single-photon detectors for quantum information and bio-imaging. Direct peer to Quantum Opus in detector performance and customer applications.

Broad incumbents

• Thorlabs: Major photonics equipment supplier offering single-photon detectors, APDs, and custom photonics solutions. Sells to similar quantum optics and photon-starved research customers.
• Excelitas Technologies: Large photonics component manufacturer offering single-photon counting modules, APDs, and detector subsystems. Broader portfolio than Quantum Opus but overlaps in single-photon detection for scientific instrumentation.
• Hamamatsu Photonics: Global photonics incumbent manufacturing photomultiplier tubes, APDs, and infrared detectors. Adjacent competitor in single-photon detection with broader product range and deeper commercial reach.
• Laser Components: Photonics distributor and manufacturer with a single-photon detector portfolio including SNSPD products. Comparable as a photonics supplier to research and quantum customers.

Emerging players

• Pixel Photonics: German start-up developing waveguide-integrated SNSPDs scalable for photonic quantum computing and networking. Emerging competitor in the integrated-photonics detection niche Quantum Opus is pursuing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/quantum-opus-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Quantum Opus