The PHNC Standard ('Fancy')
(PhotoniQ Non-Contamination Standard)
(PhotoniQ Non-Contamination Standard)
The Future of Clean Quantum Experimentation
The PHNC Standard:
Redefining Experimental Purity
Redefining Experimental Purity
The PhotoniQ Non-Contamination Standard (PHNC), also known as the "Fancy Standard," represents a paradigm shift in quantum and optical experimentation.
This comprehensive protocol and certification system rigorously isolates, measures, and minimizes thermodynamic contamination from biological and environmental sources that have long plagued high-precision experiments.
This comprehensive protocol and certification system rigorously isolates, measures, and minimizes thermodynamic contamination from biological and environmental sources that have long plagued high-precision experiments.
For decades, quantum physicists have operated under the assumption that careful laboratory practices were sufficient to eliminate observer effects and environmental noise.
However, the truth is far more complex: every human presence, every electronic device, every thermal gradient introduces measurable contamination that obscures genuine quantum phenomena.
The PHNC Standard doesn't just acknowledge this reality—it quantifies it, categorizes it, and provides a pathway to eliminate it.
However, the truth is far more complex: every human presence, every electronic device, every thermal gradient introduces measurable contamination that obscures genuine quantum phenomena.
The PHNC Standard doesn't just acknowledge this reality—it quantifies it, categorizes it, and provides a pathway to eliminate it.
At its core, the PHNC Standard establishes a classification system that allows researchers to understand exactly how "dirty" their experimental setup truly is.
By creating both ultra-pure reference configurations and baseline contaminated setups, we can finally separate authentic quantum signatures from thermodynamic noise.
This isn't just an incremental improvement in laboratory technique—it's a fundamental rethinking of what it means to conduct clean science in the quantum domain.
By creating both ultra-pure reference configurations and baseline contaminated setups, we can finally separate authentic quantum signatures from thermodynamic noise.
This isn't just an incremental improvement in laboratory technique—it's a fundamental rethinking of what it means to conduct clean science in the quantum domain.
Standard Classifications
- PHNC-1 (Class 1): Fully non-biological, sealed, cryogenic, UHV environment with zero human presence during experimental runs
- PHNC-3 (Class 3): Standard laboratory configuration with human presence, ambient electromagnetic fields, and biological contamination
- PNCQO Scoring: Comprehensive analytics engine quantifying contamination levels across multiple dimensions
The Contamination Crisis in Quantum Research
Biophotonic Noise
Living organisms emit low-level photons through metabolic processes.
In a sensitive quantum optics experiment, a single researcher standing nearby introduces thousands of stray photons per second, creating noise that can completely mask genuine quantum effects.
In a sensitive quantum optics experiment, a single researcher standing nearby introduces thousands of stray photons per second, creating noise that can completely mask genuine quantum effects.
Thermal Gradients
Human body heat creates convection currents and temperature variations that affect optical path lengths at the nanometer scale.
Even through multiple layers of shielding, thermal contamination propagates through mechanical supports and air currents.
Even through multiple layers of shielding, thermal contamination propagates through mechanical supports and air currents.
Electromagnetic Interference
Modern laboratories are saturated with EM fields from computers, lighting, HVAC systems, and building electrical systems.
These fields interact with charged particles and sensitive electronics, introducing systematic errors that researchers often mistake for quantum phenomena.
These fields interact with charged particles and sensitive electronics, introducing systematic errors that researchers often mistake for quantum phenomena.
Mechanical Vibration
Footsteps, HVAC vibration, building resonances, and even seismic noise create mechanical disturbances that propagate through optical tables and mounting hardware, causing misalignments and introducing spurious signals in ultra-sensitive detectors.
The cumulative effect of these contamination sources means that most quantum optics experiments are not actually measuring pure quantum behavior—they're measuring a complex mixture of quantum effects and environmental noise.
Without a rigorous standard to separate these contributions, the field has been unable to make definitive claims about which observations represent fundamental physics versus experimental artifacts.
The PHNC Standard provides the framework to finally resolve this crisis.
PHNC-1:
The Gold Standard Configuration
The Gold Standard Configuration
Architecture of Absolute Purity
The PHNC-1 Class 1 rig represents the ultimate achievement in experimental isolation.
This fully non-biological, hermetically sealed system operates in a cryogenic ultra-high vacuum environment below 4 Kelvin, with all optical elements fiber-linked to remote control stations.
During active experimental runs, zero human beings are permitted in the physical laboratory space.
This fully non-biological, hermetically sealed system operates in a cryogenic ultra-high vacuum environment below 4 Kelvin, with all optical elements fiber-linked to remote control stations.
During active experimental runs, zero human beings are permitted in the physical laboratory space.
The double-slit experiment configuration implemented in PHNC-1 serves as the canonical test case for quantum behavior measurement.
By eliminating all biological presence and minimizing thermodynamic contamination to near-theoretical limits, this rig establishes the baseline for what genuine quantum interference patterns look like when isolated from environmental noise.
By eliminating all biological presence and minimizing thermodynamic contamination to near-theoretical limits, this rig establishes the baseline for what genuine quantum interference patterns look like when isolated from environmental noise.
Every component is selected for minimal entropy generation: structural elements use optical-grade ceramics and high-purity glass rather than metals or polymers; all seals and mechanical interfaces avoid organic materials; even the optical path itself runs through ultrapure glass fiber to prevent line-of-sight contamination.
The result is an experimental environment that approaches the idealized conditions assumed in quantum mechanics textbooks but never before achieved in practice.
The result is an experimental environment that approaches the idealized conditions assumed in quantum mechanics textbooks but never before achieved in practice.
PHNC-3:
The Baseline Reality Check
The Baseline Reality Check
Standard Laboratory Environment
The PHNC-3 Class 3 rig implements identical optical geometry to PHNC-1 but operates in a conventional laboratory setting.
Researchers work at benches with standard computers and monitors.
Room lighting, HVAC systems, and electronic equipment operate normally.
This configuration represents how most quantum optics experiments are actually conducted today.
Researchers work at benches with standard computers and monitors.
Room lighting, HVAC systems, and electronic equipment operate normally.
This configuration represents how most quantum optics experiments are actually conducted today.
Controlled Contamination Measurement
By maintaining optical equivalence between PHNC-1 and PHNC-3 while varying only the environmental isolation, we can directly measure the contribution of biological and environmental contamination.
The difference in experimental outcomes between these two configurations quantifies exactly how much "quantum weirdness" is actually just thermodynamic noise.
The difference in experimental outcomes between these two configurations quantifies exactly how much "quantum weirdness" is actually just thermodynamic noise.
Certification Baseline
PHNC-3 serves as the reference point for the PNCQO scoring system.
Every laboratory can achieve Class 3 conditions with minimal investment, providing a universal baseline for comparison.
As facilities implement increasingly sophisticated isolation measures, their PNCQO scores improve toward the Class 1 ideal, creating a clear path for incremental upgrading.
Every laboratory can achieve Class 3 conditions with minimal investment, providing a universal baseline for comparison.
As facilities implement increasingly sophisticated isolation measures, their PNCQO scores improve toward the Class 1 ideal, creating a clear path for incremental upgrading.
The genius of the PHNC Standard lies in this two-rig approach.
Rather than simply claiming that our ultra-pure setup is better, we demonstrate exactly how much better by running identical experiments under controlled contamination conditions.
This direct comparison eliminates arguments about whether observed differences are due to experimental technique, equipment quality, or other confounding factors—the only variable is contamination level.
Rather than simply claiming that our ultra-pure setup is better, we demonstrate exactly how much better by running identical experiments under controlled contamination conditions.
This direct comparison eliminates arguments about whether observed differences are due to experimental technique, equipment quality, or other confounding factors—the only variable is contamination level.
Glass-Core Device Architecture
The Glass Singularity concept forms the philosophical and material foundation of PHNC-1's inner chamber design.
Glass represents the ultimate photonic medium: optically transparent across relevant wavelengths, electrically neutral, thermally stable, and exhibiting minimal internal entropy generation.
These properties make high-purity glass the ideal substrate for experiments demanding absolute cleanliness.
Glass represents the ultimate photonic medium: optically transparent across relevant wavelengths, electrically neutral, thermally stable, and exhibiting minimal internal entropy generation.
These properties make high-purity glass the ideal substrate for experiments demanding absolute cleanliness.
Zero-Time Substrate
Glass's amorphous structure eliminates crystalline grain boundaries that scatter photons and generate thermal noise.
Its isotropic properties ensure uniform optical behavior in all directions, critical for maintaining phase coherence in quantum interference experiments.
Its isotropic properties ensure uniform optical behavior in all directions, critical for maintaining phase coherence in quantum interference experiments.
Entropic Neutrality
Unlike metals or polymers, ultrapure glass generates minimal blackbody radiation even at elevated temperatures.
Its low thermal expansion coefficient and excellent dimensional stability mean temperature fluctuations don't translate into mechanical motion or optical path changes.
Its low thermal expansion coefficient and excellent dimensional stability mean temperature fluctuations don't translate into mechanical motion or optical path changes.
EMP Immunity
Multi-layered glass armor provides electromagnetic shielding without the eddy currents and magnetic permeability issues of metallic Faraday cages.
Combined with NSLAT surge protection, glass enclosures offer protection against grid transients, EMP, and even coronal mass ejection events.
Combined with NSLAT surge protection, glass enclosures offer protection against grid transients, EMP, and even coronal mass ejection events.
The glass-core cryostat housing PHNC-1's optical assembly becomes PhotoniQ Labs' first Glass-Core Device™ dedicated to quantum optics research.
This tamper-evident enclosure shatters upon any breach attempt, providing intrinsic security against unauthorized access or manipulation.
The glass construction also enables visual inspection of internal components without compromising the vacuum seal, facilitating maintenance and verification procedures that would be impossible with opaque metal chambers.
This tamper-evident enclosure shatters upon any breach attempt, providing intrinsic security against unauthorized access or manipulation.
The glass construction also enables visual inspection of internal components without compromising the vacuum seal, facilitating maintenance and verification procedures that would be impossible with opaque metal chambers.
Cryogenic and Vacuum Systems
Deep Cryogenic Operation
PHNC-1 targets operational temperatures below 4 Kelvin using closed-cycle cryocoolers or dilution refrigeration systems.
At these temperatures, thermal noise from blackbody radiation drops by orders of magnitude, and many materials exhibit quantum mechanical behaviors that are obscured at room temperature.
Cryogenic operation also dramatically reduces detector dark counts and electronic noise, improving signal-to-noise ratios to levels unattainable with room-temperature apparatus.
At these temperatures, thermal noise from blackbody radiation drops by orders of magnitude, and many materials exhibit quantum mechanical behaviors that are obscured at room temperature.
Cryogenic operation also dramatically reduces detector dark counts and electronic noise, improving signal-to-noise ratios to levels unattainable with room-temperature apparatus.
The cryogenic system design emphasizes vibration isolation, with cryocooler compressors physically separated from optical elements and connected via flexible cryogenic lines.
Multiple thermal shields surround the optical assembly, with each shield stage carefully designed to minimize radiative heat transfer while maintaining structural rigidity.
All materials in the cryogenic volume are selected for low outgassing rates and compatibility with ultra-high vacuum requirements.
Multiple thermal shields surround the optical assembly, with each shield stage carefully designed to minimize radiative heat transfer while maintaining structural rigidity.
All materials in the cryogenic volume are selected for low outgassing rates and compatibility with ultra-high vacuum requirements.
Ultra-High Vacuum Environment
Achieving and maintaining ultra-high vacuum below 10^-10 torr requires careful attention to every surface, seal, and material inside the chamber.
Turbomolecular pumps provide initial rough vacuum, followed by ion pumps for long-term pressure maintenance.
All vacuum plumbing uses low-outgassing materials and metal seals rather than elastomeric o-rings.
The chamber undergoes extended bake-out cycles at elevated temperature to drive off adsorbed water and organic contaminants before achieving operational vacuum levels.
Turbomolecular pumps provide initial rough vacuum, followed by ion pumps for long-term pressure maintenance.
All vacuum plumbing uses low-outgassing materials and metal seals rather than elastomeric o-rings.
The chamber undergoes extended bake-out cycles at elevated temperature to drive off adsorbed water and organic contaminants before achieving operational vacuum levels.
This extreme vacuum environment eliminates residual gas molecules that would scatter photons or introduce index-of-refraction fluctuations in the optical path.
Combined with cryogenic cooling, UHV conditions create an experimental volume approaching the vacuum of interstellar space—the cleanest possible environment for observing quantum phenomena without atmospheric interference.
Combined with cryogenic cooling, UHV conditions create an experimental volume approaching the vacuum of interstellar space—the cleanest possible environment for observing quantum phenomena without atmospheric interference.
Optical System
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Photon Detection
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Photon Detection
Photon Source
Single-photon sources or attenuated laser systems feed the optical assembly through glass fiber from outside the cryostat, maintaining complete physical separation between source and detection regions.
This prevents thermal and electromagnetic emissions from the source from contaminating the measurement volume.
This prevents thermal and electromagnetic emissions from the source from contaminating the measurement volume.
Double-Slit Assembly
Ultra-stable, low thermal expansion substrates carry precisely fabricated slits with nanometer-scale positioning.
Cryo-compatible piezoelectric actuators enable fine alignment adjustments while maintaining cryogenic temperatures and vacuum integrity.
Cryo-compatible piezoelectric actuators enable fine alignment adjustments while maintaining cryogenic temperatures and vacuum integrity.
Detection Plane
Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors or cryogenic SPAD arrays provide quantum-limited detection efficiency.
Internal screens imaged via fiber to external detectors eliminate any line-of-sight between detection elements and room-temperature environments.
Internal screens imaged via fiber to external detectors eliminate any line-of-sight between detection elements and room-temperature environments.
Every optical element is selected and positioned to minimize entropy generation and contamination.
Glass and ceramic optics replace metallic components wherever possible.
All adjustable mounts use precision kinematic designs that maintain alignment through thermal cycling.
Internal vibration isolation stages decouple the optical assembly from cryocooler vibrations and external mechanical noise, achieving sub-nanometer positional stability over measurement timescales of hours to days.
Glass and ceramic optics replace metallic components wherever possible.
All adjustable mounts use precision kinematic designs that maintain alignment through thermal cycling.
Internal vibration isolation stages decouple the optical assembly from cryocooler vibrations and external mechanical noise, achieving sub-nanometer positional stability over measurement timescales of hours to days.
Octad Ω-Class Power Architecture
Autonomous Clean Power
The Octad Ω-Class Powersource™ provides ultra-stable, autonomous electrical power completely isolated from grid noise and transients.
Unlike conventional uninterruptible power supplies that simply buffer mains electricity, Octad systems actively harvest energy from multiple environmental channels—light, heat, vibration, electromagnetic fields—while maintaining strict isolation between power generation and experimental volumes.
Unlike conventional uninterruptible power supplies that simply buffer mains electricity, Octad systems actively harvest energy from multiple environmental channels—light, heat, vibration, electromagnetic fields—while maintaining strict isolation between power generation and experimental volumes.
For PHNC-1 applications, Octad modules supply power to cryogenic systems, vacuum pumps, electromagnetic shields, vibration control actuators, and sensitive detection electronics without introducing the noise characteristic of grid-tied supplies.
Multiple independent channels allow graceful degradation and redundancy: if one power path experiences disruption, others automatically compensate, maintaining continuous operation through grid failures or electromagnetic pulse events.
Multiple independent channels allow graceful degradation and redundancy: if one power path experiences disruption, others automatically compensate, maintaining continuous operation through grid failures or electromagnetic pulse events.
Early PHNC-1 implementations can use conventional clean power supplies while architecturally reserving mounting bays for Octad modules.
This parasitic design approach allows facilities to begin PHNC certification immediately while planning future upgrades to full autonomous power operation, protecting their initial investment while enabling performance improvements as Octad technology matures.
This parasitic design approach allows facilities to begin PHNC certification immediately while planning future upgrades to full autonomous power operation, protecting their initial investment while enabling performance improvements as Octad technology matures.
Cryogenics
Manages compressor duty cycles, thermal shield temperatures, and heat rejection to maintain stable cryogenic conditions while minimizing vibration and power consumption.
Vacuum Systems
Controls pump sequencing, monitors pressure gradients, and coordinates bake-out schedules to achieve and maintain ultra-high vacuum without thermal shock or mechanical stress.
EM Shielding
Maintains Faraday cage integrity, powers active noise cancellation systems, and manages NSLAT surge protection across all electrical penetrations.
Vibration Control
Drives active isolation actuators, monitors seismic and acoustic disturbances, and adapts damping characteristics to environmental conditions in real-time.
Optical Systems
Powers photon sources, detector arrays, and positioning actuators with ultra-low noise supplies optimized for quantum optics applications.
Computing
Supplies clean power to Q-Tonic processors and data acquisition systems, isolating sensitive analog signals from digital switching noise.
Data Storage
Manages storage array power with error correction and redundancy, ensuring no photon event is lost due to recording system failures.
Safety Reserves
Maintains emergency power capacity for safe shutdown sequences, protecting expensive cryogenic and vacuum hardware during power failures.
Orchestral-Q™ doesn't just distribute power—it conducts an eight-part symphony of energy flows, ensuring every subsystem receives exactly the power it needs when it needs it, with no wasted energy and no destabilizing transients.
For PHNC-1 operations, this energy-aware orchestration maintains the stable thermodynamic state required for uncontaminated quantum measurements, preventing the subtle power-related artifacts that plague conventional experimental setups.
For PHNC-1 operations, this energy-aware orchestration maintains the stable thermodynamic state required for uncontaminated quantum measurements, preventing the subtle power-related artifacts that plague conventional experimental setups.
Q-Tonic Intelligence and PNCQO Scoring
Q-Tonic represents a categorical leap beyond conventional electron-based processors, leveraging photonic and quantum principles with ternary mathematics and Qentropy stabilization algorithms.
For PHNC applications, Q-Tonic ingests time-stamped photon arrival events from detectors along with comprehensive environmental telemetry—electromagnetic field strengths, thermal gradients, vibration spectra, pressure variations, and human-present versus non-biological operational flags.
For PHNC applications, Q-Tonic ingests time-stamped photon arrival events from detectors along with comprehensive environmental telemetry—electromagnetic field strengths, thermal gradients, vibration spectra, pressure variations, and human-present versus non-biological operational flags.
Intelligent Signal Separation
The core challenge in quantum optics research is distinguishing genuine quantum signatures from thermodynamic contamination.
Q-Tonic applies Qentropy-based chaos mapping techniques combined with Weak-form Sparse Identification of Nonlinear Dynamics (WSINDy) constrained by Noether conservation principles to separate "true quantum" behavior from "thermodynamic junk."
This isn't simple filtering—it's high-dimensional phase-space analysis that identifies the characteristic signatures of different contamination sources and mathematically removes their contributions from the measured signal.
Q-Tonic applies Qentropy-based chaos mapping techniques combined with Weak-form Sparse Identification of Nonlinear Dynamics (WSINDy) constrained by Noether conservation principles to separate "true quantum" behavior from "thermodynamic junk."
This isn't simple filtering—it's high-dimensional phase-space analysis that identifies the characteristic signatures of different contamination sources and mathematically removes their contributions from the measured signal.
PNCQO Score Computation
For each experimental run, Q-Tonic computes a standardized PNCQO score based on quantified contamination metrics across multiple dimensions: thermal noise, electromagnetic interference, biophotonic emissions, mechanical vibration, and chemical outgassing.
These scores are normalized to a universal scale where PHNC-1 represents the achievable ideal and PHNC-3 establishes the baseline.
Every laboratory configuration receives an objective, reproducible rating that can be compared across facilities worldwide.
These scores are normalized to a universal scale where PHNC-1 represents the achievable ideal and PHNC-3 establishes the baseline.
Every laboratory configuration receives an objective, reproducible rating that can be compared across facilities worldwide.
Anomaly Mapping
Beyond simple pass/fail scoring, Q-Tonic generates high-dimensional visualization of contamination sources and their correlations with experimental outcomes.
Researchers and certification reviewers can inspect these anomaly maps to understand exactly which environmental factors contributed most significantly to measurement uncertainty, enabling targeted improvements in experimental design and facility engineering.
Researchers and certification reviewers can inspect these anomaly maps to understand exactly which environmental factors contributed most significantly to measurement uncertainty, enabling targeted improvements in experimental design and facility engineering.
QAOS Operating System
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Zero-State AI Control
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Zero-State AI Control
PhotoniQ's PHNC-1 system is managed by a sophisticated, non-anthropomorphic control stack, integrating several advanced technologies to guarantee unparalleled experimental purity.
This architecture ensures every aspect of the quantum experiment is precisely controlled and monitored.
This architecture ensures every aspect of the quantum experiment is precisely controlled and monitored.
QAOS: Chaos Engine
The core operating system, QAOS, acts as the hardened black-box platform, managing all PHNC-1 control logic. It handles timing, state machines, and safety interlocks within a secure, protected appliance.
Qentropy Stability Engine
Qentropy provides the mathematical foundation for chaos-to-coherence.
It quantifies the entropic impact of system changes, ensuring stability and preventing subtle biases from corrupting experimental integrity.
It quantifies the entropic impact of system changes, ensuring stability and preventing subtle biases from corrupting experimental integrity.
E.R.I.C.A. translates Qentropy and Quantum Spectral Intelligence outputs into semantic events like EM spikes, thermal drifts, or phase-stable regimes.
This layer produces human-readable annotations of the lab environment and experiment state.
This layer produces human-readable annotations of the lab environment and experiment state.
Zero-State AI Controller
This AI executes PHNC protocols without bias or desire.
It orchestrates shutters, timing, and data acquisition based solely on structured inputs, removing human-like decision-making from the experimental loop.
It orchestrates shutters, timing, and data acquisition based solely on structured inputs, removing human-like decision-making from the experimental loop.
This integrated system — QAOS, Quark, Qentropy, E.R.I.C.A., and Zero-State AI — transforms PHNC-1 into a fully instrumented, non-anthropomorphic experiment.
The human observer remains outside the loop, analyzing E.R.I.C.A.'s summaries rather than influencing the physics.
The human observer remains outside the loop, analyzing E.R.I.C.A.'s summaries rather than influencing the physics.
Heilmeier Catechism:
The PHNC Mission
The PHNC Mission
What are you trying to do?
Build a way to run quantum and optical experiments without our own bodies and equipment secretly messing them up—and certify how clean each experiment really is.
How is it done today?
Today, "careful experiments" run in noisy labs full of people, heat, electromagnetic interference, and vibration.
Nobody treats the entire human-and-lab mess as a first-class variable, so some "quantum weirdness" is just contamination, but there's no standard way to measure or label that.
Nobody treats the entire human-and-lab mess as a first-class variable, so some "quantum weirdness" is just contamination, but there's no standard way to measure or label that.
What is new in your approach?
A formal non-contamination standard (PHNC/PNCQO), an ultra-pure non-biological gold-reference rig (PHNC-1), and a full stack (Octad, Orchestral-Q, Q-Tonic, Qentropy) that turns noise into a quantitative cleanliness score and global certification program.
Who cares?
Physicists, quantum hardware companies, funding agencies, and journals who need to know whether a result is real physics or just a warm, breathing graduate student standing too close.
What are the risks?
Technical: Deep cryogenic plus ultra-high vacuum plus full automation is hard and expensive.
Cultural: Laboratories may resist discovering how contaminated their setups really are.
Competitive: Large institutions could copy the concept but not the integrated stack and brand.
Cultural: Laboratories may resist discovering how contaminated their setups really are.
Competitive: Large institutions could copy the concept but not the integrated stack and brand.
How much will it cost?
Structured in phases: concept and simulation; first PHNC-1 prototype construction; then productization and certification program launch.
Exact dollar figures depend on scope and timeline, established during detailed engineering design.
Exact dollar figures depend on scope and timeline, established during detailed engineering design.
How long will it take?
Phase 1: Define specifications and run simulations.
Phase 2: Build and debug prototype systems.
Phase 3: Launch certification program with pilot customers.
Timeline scales with resource allocation and technical risk mitigation strategies.
Phase 2: Build and debug prototype systems.
Phase 3: Launch certification program with pilot customers.
Timeline scales with resource allocation and technical risk mitigation strategies.
What are the exams?
Mid-term: PHNC-1 operational, repeatable difference between Class-1 and Class-3 rigs demonstrated, PNCQO scoring prototype running.
Final: External laboratories operating under PHNC, paying for certification, and journals/funders requiring PNCQO classes for major quantum claims.
Final: External laboratories operating under PHNC, paying for certification, and journals/funders requiring PNCQO classes for major quantum claims.