TLDR
- IonQ stock jumped ~20% on Tuesday after the company linked two separate quantum systems using light — a first for its commercial systems.
- The company secured a new contract with DARPA under the HARQ program, focused on connecting different types of quantum systems into one network.
- IonQ partnered with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to achieve the interconnect milestone, which involved its synthetic diamond quantum memory chips.
- Broader market tailwinds also helped — the S&P 500 rose 1.1% and the Nasdaq climbed 1.9% on Iran war negotiation hopes.
- Analysts hold a Strong Buy consensus on IONQ, with an average price target of $65.91 — implying around 84% upside from current levels.
IonQ pulled off something it had never done before on Tuesday: it connected two of its own commercial quantum systems using light. The market noticed. IONQ stock surged 20.2% on the day, and by Wednesday pre-market, it was already up another 6%.
The company said it achieved a “photonic interconnect” — essentially using photons to link two separate trapped-ion quantum processors so they can share data across a distance. It’s the kind of plumbing that would be needed to build a proper quantum network, rather than just a single standalone machine.
CEO Niccolo de Masi called it “a pivotal moment in our roadmap as we move from individual quantum processors to distributed, networked architectures.”
The milestone came out of IonQ’s work with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, which has been a key partner in testing these interconnect capabilities.
DARPA Contract Adds to the Momentum
The same day, IonQ announced it had won a new contract under DARPA’s Heterogeneous Architectures for Quantum (HARQ) program. The program’s goal is to link different quantum technologies — trapped-ion, superconducting, photonic — into one unified network.
IonQ uses trapped-ion technology, while many competitors use different approaches. HARQ is designed to make those systems interoperable, and IonQ now has a seat at that table.
De Masi said the company’s interconnect technology “can enable modular scalability not only for ion traps, but for a wide range of quantum technologies.”
Central to this work are IonQ’s quantum memory chips — built from synthetic diamond — which are designed to store and transfer quantum data between systems. The company says they’re engineered for both data center use and long-range quantum networks.
This contract isn’t IonQ’s first rodeo with U.S. defense agencies. The company has an existing relationship with DARPA’s testing programs and launched a dedicated federal unit to handle government and defense work.
The Broader Market Gave It a Lift Too
Tuesday wasn’t just a good day for IonQ — it was a good day across the board. The S&P 500 gained 1.1% and the Nasdaq added 1.9%, boosted by reports that Iranian officials had reached out to resume peace talks. Growth-heavy tech names, including quantum computing stocks, benefited from the improved risk appetite.
Even with Tuesday’s big move, IONQ is still down roughly 56.5% from its peak last year. The stock has had a volatile ride.
Wall Street remains upbeat. IONQ carries a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 12 analyst ratings. The average price target sits at $65.91, which would represent an 84% gain from current levels.
IonQ is set to continue its HARQ work while building out its quantum memory chip capabilities for both commercial and defense applications.
🚨 Our April Stock Picks Are Live!
A new month means new opportunities. Our analysts have just released their top stock picks for April, highlighting companies with strong momentum that rank highly on our KO Score algorithm. We’re also now sharing trade ideas for both long-term and short-term investors, giving you more ways to spot potential opportunities in the market.
Sign up to Knockout Stocks today and get 50% off to unlock the full list and see which stocks made the cut.
Use coupon code Special50 for your exclusive discount!
Get 3 Free Stock Ebooks
Discover top-performing stocks in AI, Crypto, and Technology with expert analysis.
- Top 10 AI Stocks - Leading AI companies
- Top 10 Crypto Stocks - Blockchain leaders
- Top 10 Tech Stocks - Tech giants
