The Week in Quantum Computing - April 17th
Issue #134
The Week in Quantum Computing. Brought to you by Sergio Gago (@piratecto).
Quick Recap
When I started this newsletter I would 'select' around 50% of the sources I read. Now it is less than 10%. I now know how to filter sources better and for example, some authors are a must include (Brian Lenahan, Russ Fein or Jack Rupansky among many others!). But we are getting more and more noise in the industry. EEEEEVERY single article starting with the old “A qubit is like a bit that can be in 0 and 1 at the same time”. This week has been Quantum Day and we have seen many articles here and there, many with great quality, some, not so much. I’m hoping that the more noise we get, the more useful this newsletter becomes! And if you have a publication, article, or content that can be useful for the quantum community, let me know and I’ll be happy to share.
This week I am very happy because for the first time we have a font that allows us to create circuits right in Word (bye bye, LaTeX!) thanks to Mark and then folks at Quantum Village. Brian (Lenahan) publishes another book (at this rate he’ll have more books than quantum coputers available out there). And Brian (Siegelwax) gives us his complete “menu” on quantum tools out there. A great interview to Antia Lamas, head of the Quantum Networks team at AWS who says that in just a few years, we will forget about qubits and circuits (A view that Krupansky shares in his article as well). We will just code the way we do Java today. Fluxonium makes its day with some very interesting applications. PQShield announces collaboration with NCCoE. Quantinuum releases a new version of Lambeq for QNLP as well as a proposal on a framework to make blockchain quantum resistant while Thales makes a great summary of how the EuroQCI consortium works and updates. BT makes more public their plans on quantum comms and its effect on Telcos. A new type of Superconductor has been apparently discovered, but not the one that SpinQ (the desktop - room temperature device) released with 20 qubits just this week. Japan adds $30M to its support on quantum applications with a focus on Finance. GPT4 (that has NOT created this summary) has passed one of Aaronson exams (surely has got a better grade than the one I would have got). We top the week up with important improvements on qubit’s coherence times by Yale researchers and a new paper on QEC, which is the hot topic today.
On the Shoulders of Giants
The nascent quantum industry, formed on the shoulders of giants distant and recent past inspire the scientists, entrepreneurs and enthusiasts of today in commercializing quantum technologies. From Bose-Einstein Condensate to GPS technology, these individuals created some of the most relevant devices we take for granted today. On the Shoulders of Giants - 10 Quantum Pioneers of the Past tells the stories of quantum pioneers as far back as 800 CE. Quantum industry expert and bestselling author Brian Lenahan, and respected journalist Kenna Hughes-Castleberry join forces in this quantum historical tour-de-force.
Next Conferences
Meet me in Boston on April 25th and 26th for two things: Talking about quantum in the finance industry and a private, invite only session for banks, insurance companies and asset managers. If you want your organization to take the leap on what is next in quantum, you can’t miss that session.
Want to attend the session? Register here: https://www.quantumtechcongress.com/register-now
and use the code MOODYSQUANTUM to get a discount.
Leveraging Quantum Computing at the U.S. Air Force
Dr. Michael J. Hayduk, Deputy Director, shares how the US Air Force Research Lab got into on-traditional computing architectures, how he's enabling his team to succeed with them, and what he's excited for in the year ahead.
The Week in Quantum Computing
The Quiet Contributors To Quantum Theory
Scientists are people. We tend to believe that these geniuses are gifted enough to breeze through life. Surprisingly not! If you want to know the stories of people who were powered with super-brains, look no further.
Link: https://ift.tt/5PwWO2G
April 11, 2023 at 04:30AM
What Is The Price of a Quantum Computer In 2023?
The quantum computer has become the focus of much attention in recent years as it has the potential to revolutionize computing. Quantum computers are incredibly powerful, and their applications range from data encryption and analysis to artificial intelligence and machine learning. However, due to their complexity, quantum computers cost a significant amount of money – but exactly how much?
Link: https://ift.tt/65tAgz0
April 11, 2023 at 08:30AM
Five Ways QSA is Advancing Quantum Computing
QSA is one of the Department of Energy’s five national quantum information science research centers with a focus on all three major technologies for quantum computing: superconducting circuits, trapped-ion systems, and neutral atoms.
“We believe there are synergies between these three big technologies and that each one may have unique abilities and applications for solving different kinds of problems,” said Rick Muller, the director of QSA and a senior manager at Sandia National Laboratories. “By looking at all three of them together, we can more easily find their strengths, apply innovations across technologies, and design a path forward to a universal quantum computer.”
Link: https://ift.tt/QUfNvGl
April 11, 2023 at 04:35PM
Antía Lamas, physicist: ‘In a few years, quantum computing will simply be another programming language’
The Spanish scientist, who is responsible for Amazon Web Services’ quantum networks, says that not all the possibilities are understood, nor is the effect of the intersection with artificial intelligence Antía Lamas Linares, 47, was born in Santiago de Compostela, in northwestern Spain.
Link: https://ift.tt/xp0oILt
April 11, 2023 at 05:31PM
A universal protocol that inverts the evolution of a qubit with a high probability of success
Researchers at the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI) in Vienna recently devised a universal mechanism to invert the evolution of a qubit with a high probability of success.
Link: https://ift.tt/X1ckvKb
April 11, 2023 at 07:30PM
Quantum Computing Product Menu
I have evaluated 57 quantum computing frameworks, platforms, and utilities. Out of those 57, only 10 are permanent tools in my toolkit. Out of the rest, there are a few that I am quite fond of, but that I just don’t need for projects.
Link: https://ift.tt/q5Iw4LP
April 12, 2023 at 05:31AM
Benchmarking 0-Setup Quantum Computing Simulators
What are Quantum Computing simulators? Quantum computing simulators are essential tools designed to emulate the behavior of quantum systems, offering researchers and enthusiasts an accessible platform to explore and develop quantum algorithms without the need for a physical quantum computer.
Link: https://ift.tt/QnVAvWm
April 12, 2023 at 05:32AM
Innovating quantum computers with fluxonium processors
Architectural blueprint of the proposed fluxonium-based quantum processor. The red and green colors represent data and auxiliary qubits in a surface code lattice. Components are connected to electronic instruments via microwave interconnects.
Link: https://ift.tt/3wcqzWE
April 12, 2023 at 06:30AM
PQShield collaborates with NCCoE and industry to ease the real-world implementation of quantum-resistant cryptography
WASHINGTON and LONDON, /PRNewswire/ -- PQShield, a cybersecurity company specialising in post-quantum cryptography, has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE), the cybersecurity division part of the National
Link: https://ift.tt/rlzPbYH
April 12, 2023 at 10:30AM
Quantum Algorithm Designers, Application Developers, and Users Shouldn’t Need to Know Anything…
Very few people who program or use a classical computer need to know anything about classical bits. The same should be true for quantum computers, eventually, although we aren’t even close, yet.
Link: https://ift.tt/cY2Vi3O
April 12, 2023 at 05:30PM
Sensing the future of quantum - How Quantum can benefit the public sector
If the future of quantum is likely to be transformational, but we cannot predict exactly how, what can government do to support or accelerate that future? The significant anticipated economic and national security implications of quantum technologies mean that doing nothing is not an option. To help nurture an unpredictable future, government should approach quantum like a gardener approaches their plot. Understanding the needs of the industry can help government provide needed resources, remove challenges, and set conditions for a flourishing quantum-enabled future—no matter what that future looks like.
Link: https://ift.tt/Klickmo
April 12, 2023 at 05:30PM
Physicists take step toward fault-tolerant quantum computing
Cornell researchers have recently taken a step toward fault-tolerant quantum computing: they constructed a simple model containing exotic particles called non-Abelian anyons, compact and practical enough to run on modern quantum hardware. Realizing these particles, which can only exist in two dimensions, is a move towards implementing it in the real world.
Link: https://ift.tt/9bjpHvA
April 13, 2023 at 05:30AM
Quantinuum, the World’s Largest, Standalone Quantum Computing Company, Introduces the Next Version of λambeq
A leading open-source software development tool for Quantum Natural Language Processing (“QNLP”) debuts integration with PennyLane, an Enhanced Training Package, and Support for Quantum Specialists new to NLP The quantum natural language processing team at Quantinuum, the world’s largest, stan
Link: https://ift.tt/RO1Cn69
April 13, 2023 at 05:30AM
Finding quantum advantage for analogue systems
Analogue quantum systems make use of a system’s natural quantum dynamics for computation and simulation. Unlike universal digital quantum computing, this approach does not require the implementation of logic gates.
CQT Principal Investigator Dimitris Angelakis says, “This puts a new perspective on what quantum advantage is and how to achieve it with current hardware in a different way.”
When Google first claimed quantum advantage in 2019, it was a milestone for the field. The Google team’s demonstration used random digital circuits built using superconducting qubits. Since then, other teams have demonstrated quantum advantage with boson sampling using photonic systems.
The CQT team’s work suggests a third option to demonstrate quantum advantage, by sampling from driven many-body systems. This could potentially be implemented on many more systems, including currently available platforms such as trapped ions and cold atoms.
Link: https://ift.tt/U7EoIjd
April 13, 2023 at 02:31PM
BT lays out its vision of a quantum computing powered future
UK telco group BT says quantum computing is going to bring about profound changes both to telecoms and wider society, and has detailed the projects it is working on in the nascent space.
Link: https://ift.tt/REBlLVv
April 13, 2023 at 02:31PM
Protecting Blockchain Networks from Quantum Threats: A Framework for Quantum Resistance
pioneer method in proposing a five-step end-to-end framework applicable to most blockchain networks that does not require critical modifications of the baseline protocols to add a post-quantum cryptographic layer that ensures resistance to attacks by quantum computers. The joint team has also developed a scalable implementation for Ethereum-based networks which has been deployed in LACChain, that uses Hyperledger Besu as the blockchain protocol
Link: https://ift.tt/slvSHEu
April 13, 2023 at 03:43PM
A new way to share secret information, using quantum mechanics
Experimental implementation of the continuous variable system for all-optical quantum state sharing. Credit: Yingxuan Chen, East China Normal University Quantum information is a powerful technology for increasing the amount of information that can be processed and communicated securely.
Link: https://ift.tt/YwCnNxt
April 13, 2023 at 04:56PM
New type of superconductor discovered
A type-II superconductor goes through an intermediate phase before its superconductivity breaks down. As the magnetic field becomes more intense, the material allows the field to pass but only through columns known as vortices. Inside these vortices there is no superconductivity but the rest of the material still behaves as a superconductor. If the magnetic field is raised even more, though, superconductivity disappears.
Link: https://ift.tt/3eFAG40
April 13, 2023 at 04:56PM
Skills shortages could pose threat to UK’s quantum ambitions
A shortage of skilled quantum computing professionals in the UK has been identified as one of the key factors that could negatively influence the nation's technological ambitions in the sector.
Link: https://ift.tt/kTlCWdg
April 13, 2023 at 06:06PM
A font for creating quantum circuits
This page is a demonstration page for a mono-spaced True-Type Font (TTF) that is designed to make diagrams of quantum circuits! But why?
Quite simply, it's designed to fill a gap in making diagrams for quantum information. At the moment you have precisely two choices: Make a circuit in software/online and export as an image. Learn LaTeX and make your documents with circuit diagrams that way. The first solution is very common with examples such as the Qiskit Textbook. The second solution is used almost universally by those who write academic papers and resources, and whilst we, too, use LaTeX it is not the most intuitive way to create content for someone new to the field.
Whilst there is nothing wrong with either of these solutions, they both have several limitations. For example, images do not scale very well if they get compressed or if you view them between different devices or screen sizes. Also, images universally take up much more memory/space/bandwidth that just text when it comes to sharing information - suppose you have a website full of quite lightweight images, they can quickly add up.
Link: https://ift.tt/lgXY698
April 14, 2023 at 11:30AM
The Death of Quantum Supremacy and Birth of Quantum Advantage
Quantum computing has been under development for decades and it is a potential game changer in several areas, including networking, security, and extremely large data set analysis.
Link: https://ift.tt/2uTyvet
April 14, 2023 at 07:30PM
Japan to offer $30m in aid for quantum computer sharing in industry, finance
TOKYO -- The Japanese government will provide 4.2 billion yen ($31.7 million) to support the expansion of shared quantum computing through a cloud platform available to businesses, Nikkei has learned.
Link: https://ift.tt/0w9RcxQ
April 14, 2023 at 07:30PM
SpinQ Releases 20-qubit Superconducting System and Chip EDA
On April 14th, the third "World Quantum Day", Shenzhen SpinQ Technology Company Limited held its 2023 strategic release conference online with the theme of "Two-wheel driven Strategy, accelerating the future".
Link: https://ift.tt/W1ZjdU8
April 15, 2023 at 03:30AM
POLARISqb Demonstrates Menu Optimization via Constrained Quadratic Model on D-Wave Annealing Quantum Computer
POLARISqb has published a white paper that demonstrates quantum annealing-based optimization using a Constrained Quadratic Model, or CQM. DURHAM, NC, USA, April 11, 2023/EINPresswire.
Link: https://ift.tt/9lxZoFd
April 15, 2023 at 03:30AM
GPT-4 gets a B on my quantum computing final exam!
As I’ve mentioned before, economist, blogger, and friend Bryan Caplan was unimpressed when ChatGPT got merely a D on his Labor Economics midterm. So on Bryan’s blog, appropriately named “Bet On It,” he made a public bet that no AI would score on A on his exam before January 30, 2029. GPT-4 then scored an A a mere three months later (!!!), leading to what Bryan agrees will likely be one of the first public bets he’ll ever have to concede (he hasn’t yet “formally” conceded, but only because of technicalities in how the bet was structured). Bryan has now joined the ranks of the GPT believers, writing
Link: https://ift.tt/5oVXsx4
April 15, 2023 at 07:30PM
Thales prepares to secure European infrastructures against attacks from future quantum computers
As a driving force in the second quantum revolution, Thales has joined forces with around twenty deep tech, academic and industry partners, as part of the EuroQCI initiative (European Quantum Communication Infrastructure), which aims to deploy a quantum communication infrastructure for EU member sta
Link: https://ift.tt/WVb4TPG
April 15, 2023 at 07:30PM
Tech leaders size up what it’ll take to turn Pacific Northwest into a ‘Quantum Valley’
California’s Silicon Valley may rule the roost for internet startups, and Kendall Square in the Boston area may set the pace for the biotech industry, but could the Pacific Northwest leap into the lead for quantum computing?
Experts who are exploring one of the computing world’s hottest frontiers say there’s a chance that Seattle could become the heart of a “Quantum Valley” — but it could take years for the promise of quantum computing to pay off.
Link: https://ift.tt/lDMPS79
April 15, 2023 at 07:30PM
Yale researchers achieve breakthrough in extending qubit’s lifetime above break-even point
Researchers at Yale have extended the lifetime of a qubit by 2.3 times, a major step in improving and proving the viability of quantum computers. Since the beginning of the quantum revolution in the early 20th century, scientists have been working to prove the functionality of quantum computing.
Link: https://ift.tt/KuYCdWO
April 16, 2023 at 12:30AM