The Week in Quantum Computing - January 18th - (19th issue)
The Week in Quantum Computing. Brought to you by Sergio Gago (@piratecto) and The Quantum World Association.
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Quick Recap
Quantum Internet is the trend lately and one of the key reasons countries look for it as a national security strategy, but teleportation also has its space this week. Bavaria sets the scene with their new Munich Quantum Valley initiative. Quantum hackatons all over the world (a group of us is joining, if you want to pair up let me know!) And some bold (and contested) claims on the future of quantum busineses, such as being close to a general AI. Do you have a few hours (or days) available? End of January will be the month of quantum hackatons!
Featured Content
Event: Randomness and Quantum Entropy talk with Carlos Abellan (Quside). Wednesday 20th at 6pm CET Quantum Barcelona will have the first meetup of the year. (And online due to COVID19). Randomness is extremely important, yet all we can do is simulate it… until now! If you want to know why, join us!
https://www.meetup.com/es-ES/meetup-group-quantumbarcelona/events/275236892/Devs, the series on quantum computing:
I might be late for this, but screen time is limited! Still I wanted to partially draw the line between the science and the fiction of the series. Don’t worry, no spoilers here. I recommend watching it. Now, is it BS or real?
The series sits on top of very real theories. From their discussion of the current interpretations of quantum mechanics (Copenhagen, Pilot wave, Von Neumann-Wigner and Everett’s (many worlds) different interpretations. The “Quantum computer” that appears is somewhat real (we only see the “fridge” though. And thorugh the series they never venture to say how many qubits they have. However we do see a piece or the source code they run in their computer. How real that code is? Suprisingly more real than it could look in your typical scifi series!
The code is written in Python and appears to use the Qikit library by IBM (one of the most widely used today). The IDE is unknown to me. The things in the right look like the quantums state simulator and the gate process running, but the actual code in the middle is quite real (whether it outputs something real is another thing, since it is only a snippet).
The code has three parts. In one part they create a circuit with the QuantumCircuit() function, put it in superposition (applying a Hadamard gate) and doing a unitary rotation (u1). Then they apply the Quantum Fourier Transform using the framework library (doQFT() ) that is either defined somewhere else, or a made up funcion (Qiskit’s is just qft() )
Then they execute the code, but instead of running it on one of IBM’s backends using their libraries, they use DEVSQ (of course fictional). Then they use the results of that circuit as the input for a shor function (here we have shor.qft()). Which is the algorithm used for factoring. A.k.a cracking the RSA encryption of the internet. (So this code apparently is meant to crack some RSA code).
Of course this is NOT possible today. But hey, it is great when science fiction really does its job! (and if you have seen the series, the actual product they build is definetely not possible, at least with what we know today!)
Lastly. How the media turns good news into hyper fuelled - hype - clickbait news. Last week we talked about how two groups of scientists discovered how to reduce the number of operations required to solve nonlinear equations. While it is a great discovery, it is just one more step towards our quantum future.
However in the article mentioned in the tweet, they thought talking about Bose-Einstein condensates was very “condensed” (pun intended) so they went the sci-fi route.
Quantum Definitions (by @quantumfyed)
The folks at @quantumfyed are creating amazing infographies explaining quantum mechanics and quantum computing concepts. We will be posting some of them here. Follow them for great content: Twitter: https://twitter.com/quantumfyed and Instagram: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quantumfyed/
The Summary of the Week
Quantum Computing: Boehringer Ingelheim and Google Partner for Pharma R&D
Boehringer Ingelheim announced today a collaborative agreement with Google Quantum AI (Google), focusing on researching and implementing cutting-edge use cases for quantum computing in pharmaceutical research and development (R&D), specifically including molecular dynamics simulations. The new partnership combines Boehringer Ingelheim’s leading expertise in the field of computer-aided drug design and in silico modeling with Google’s outstanding resources as one of the leading developers of quantum computers and algorithms.
Link: https://ift.tt/2K2xjDC
January 11, 2021 at 12:33PM
Researchers achieve on-demand storage in integrated solid-state quantum memory
Researchers from CAS Key Laboratory of Quantum Information of the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have demonstrated on-demand storage of photonic qubits in an integrated solid-state quantum memory for the first time. This work was published in Physics Review Letters.
Link: https://ift.tt/38s3vtI
January 11, 2021 at 02:33PM
IonQ CEO Peter Chapman on quantum computing adoption, innovation and what's next
IonQ has a plan to commercialize quantum computing and Peter Chapman is CEO expected to make it happen. […] Chapman joined IonQ in the summer of 2018 because he is betting that quantum computing can achieve Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
Link: https://ift.tt/38vCwx8
January 11, 2021 at 11:33PM
Is the Schrödinger Equation True?
[…] Reality, great sages have assured us, is essentially mathematical. Plato held that we and other things of this world are mere shadows of the sublime geometric forms that constitute reality. Galileo declared that “the great book of nature is written in mathematics.” We’re part of nature, aren’t we? So why does mathematics, once we get past natural numbers and basic arithmetic, feel so alien to most of us?
Link: https://ift.tt/397DCyd
January 11, 2021 at 11:33PM
Paper Pricing Financial Derivatives with Exponential Quantum Speedup (by Quantum Mads)
Pricing financial derivatives, in particular European-style options at different time-maturities and strikes, is a relevant financial problem. The dynamics describing the price of vanilla options when constant volatilities and interest rates are assumed, is governed by the Black-Scholes model, a linear parabolic partial differential equation with terminal value given by the pay-off of the option contract and no additional boundary conditions. Here, we present a digital quantum algorithm to solve Black-Scholes equation on a quantum computer for a wide range of relevant financial parameters by mapping it to the Schrödinger equation.
Link: https://ift.tt/39q90by
January 12, 2021 at 10:33AM
A tiny germanium; silicon nanowire takes a big step towards a scalable quantum computer
To perform calculations, quantum computers need qubits to act as elementary building blocks that process and store information. Now, physicists have produced a new type of qubit that can be switched from a stable idle mode to a fast calculation mode.
Link: https://ift.tt/3oGKLMM
January 12, 2021 at 09:33PM
MIT 2021 iQuHack Hackaton
iQuHACK (interdisciplinary Quantum HACKathon) 2021 is MIT's second annual quantum hackathon. We aim to bring people from a diverse set of backgrounds, including physics, computer science, and chemistry, together to explore improvements and applications of near-term quantum devices.
Link: https://ift.tt/3oG2Ji6
January 12, 2021 at 09:33PM
Researchers realize efficient generation of high-dimensional quantum teleportation
In a study published in Physical Review Letters, a team led by academician Guo Guangcan from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has made progress in high dimensional quantum teleportation.
Link: https://ift.tt/38teeEd
January 13, 2021 at 12:33PM
The Quantum Computer Revolution Must Include Women
Physics is still dominated by men, which means we’re largely missing out on the talents of half the population. The discovery of quantum mechanics in the early 20th century spawned a revolution that tore through scientific disciplines with abandon. […] Physics, computer science and engineering have only about 20 percent of degree recipients identifying as women for the last decade.
Link: https://ift.tt/3oGSQAZ
January 13, 2021 at 10:33PM
12 Best New Quantum Computing Books To Read In 2019 (still relevant today!)
Link: https://ift.tt/39yekJJ
Introduction to quantum software development with QPath
In quantum programming everything is new and, in this context, to develop quantum software we must pay attention to its most determining factors:
· Quantum computing new paradigm
· Quantum computing hardware
· Quantum programming languages
· Quantum software development kits (SDKs)
Link: https://ift.tt/3bAdBup
January 14, 2021 at 01:33PM
Important Milestone in the Creation of a Quantum Computer That Uses Transistors As Qubits
One of the obstacles for progress in the quest for a working quantum computer has been that the working devices that go into a quantum computer and perform the actual calculations, the qubits, have hitherto been made by universities and in small numbers.
Link: https://ift.tt/2XHyUlD
January 15, 2021 at 08:33AM
Release of the National Quantum Initiative Supplement To The President’s FY 2021 Budget
The National Quantum Initiative (NQI) Act became Public Law 115-368 in December 2018 to accelerate American leadership in quantum information science and technology. This is the first Annual Report on the NQI Program budget, as required by the NQI Act.
Link: https://ift.tt/35H2OLb
January 15, 2021 at 08:33AM
Quantum Computing’s New Dynamic Duo: John Martinis And Michelle Simmons
Professor John M. Martinis is one of the world's top quantum scientists. As a follow-up to our conversation a few months ago, I had a chance to talk to him while he was temporarily working with Michelle Simmons, CEO of Silicon Quantum Computing, in Australia.
Link: https://ift.tt/3hZVTle
January 15, 2021 at 09:33AM
Bavarian Quantum Computing companies in Munich Quantum Valley sign declaration of intent
Minister-President Söder and the respective presidents of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the Ludwig Maximilian University, the MPG, and TUM jointly sign a declaration of intent.
Link: https://ift.tt/35EOq64
January 15, 2021 at 11:33AM
Drones could help create a quantum internet
The quantum internet may be coming to you via drone. Scientists have now used drones to transmit particles of light, or photons, that share the quantum linkage called entanglement.
Link: https://ift.tt/3oN1TAj
January 15, 2021 at 06:33PM
Women in STEM: IBM’s Jennifer Glick on navigating the quantum career path
The STEM field is growing, creating tremendous opportunity for well-trained applicants. While STEM has traditionally been a male-dominated field, cultivating interest at the undergraduate level can help draw in more women who may have the necessary skills but have never considered STEM as a career path. In TBR’s monthly series Women in STEM, we discuss how female leaders have successfully pursued careers in STEM and are encouraging more female representation by passing on the lessons they’ve learned to other women who are pursuing this path.
Link: https://ift.tt/39FdESY
January 15, 2021 at 09:33PM
Quantum projects launched to solve the universe’s mysteries
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is supporting seven projects with a £31 million investment to demonstrate how quantum technologies could solve some of the greatest mysteries in fundamental physics.
Link: https://www.ukri.org/news/quantum-projects-launched-to-solve-the-universes-mysteries/
January 16, 2021 at 08:33PM
A “no math” (but seven-part) guide to modern quantum mechanics
Some technical revolutions enter with drama and a bang, others wriggle unnoticed into our everyday experience. And one of the quietest revolutions of our current century has been the entry of quantum mechanics into our everyday technology.
Link: https://ift.tt/2XtyoYo
January 16, 2021 at 08:33PM