In this episode, we explore the future of superconductor electronics—a promising post-CMOS computing paradigm offering ultra-low energy consumption and ultra-high processing speeds. Dr. Sasan Razmkhah of USC’s SPORT Lab joins the conversation to discuss cutting-edge research aimed at making superconductor very-large-scale integration (sVLSI) a practical reality.

We dive into the development of Fast-Phase Logic (FPL), a next-generation logic family that uses π-Josephson junctions and stacked zero-Josephson junctions to dramatically increase logic density while reducing power requirements. The discussion also covers hybrid system architectures that integrate superconductor logic with CMOS, spanning multiple temperature zones to balance performance, efficiency, and manufacturability.

Together, these advances outline a roadmap toward scalable, energy-efficient computing systems—pointing to a future where superconductors play a central role in high-performance and AI-driven computing.

This deep-dive episode explores the ideas from Jeff Shainline’s recent seminar on superconducting optoelectronic networks (SOENs) and the radical rethink of AI hardware they represent. We unpack how SOENs combine analog superconducting circuits, integrated memory, and single-photon optical communication to bypass the von Neumann bottleneck and deliver massive gains in speed, energy efficiency, and scalability. If you’re curious about brain-inspired hardware, trillion-parameter AI, or the future of computation, this episode guides you through the key concepts and why they matter.