The Week in Quantum Computing - June 10th 2024 - Quantinuum, QuEra, Pasqal & IBM, Q-Ctrl dethrones D-Wave
Issue #189
The Week in Quantum Computing. Brought to you by Sergio Gago (@piratecto).
Quick Recap
MIT and MITRE unveiled a scalable, modular hardware platform for quantum computing, capable of integrating thousands of interconnected qubits onto a custom integrated circuit. This quantum-system-on-chip (QSoC) could potentially be linked via optical networking for a large-scale quantum communication network. Meanwhile, a research team led by Dimitris Alevras used utility-scale quantum computers to solve mRNA structures, suggesting a crucial role for quantum computing in designing RNA-based therapeutics. Quantum infrastructure software pioneer Q-CTRL used its technology on a 127-qubit IBM quantum computer to solve an optimization problem 1,500 times more likely correctly than an annealer, setting a new industry standard. Bye bye D-Wave! Q-Ctrl systems can solve QAOA algorithms that can be used for combinatorial problems. D-Wave has made repeated claims on quantum advantage over the years that have been contested by a large part of the scientific community.
Connecticut's "Innovation Clusters Program" is set to invest $100M over the next five years to bolster the state's tech ecosystem, with QuantumCT, a consortium between Yale and the University of Connecticut, preparing to apply for a $166M National Science Foundation grant.
Quantinuum launched the industry's first 56 trapped-ion qubit quantum computer, the H2-1, in partnership with JPMorgan Chase, setting a new world record for cross entropy. A “kind of” new claim on quantum advantage. Useful? Note quite yet, but in pointed in the right direction. In collaboration news, QPerfect and QuEra Computing are partnering to develop tensor network methods for accurate modeling of quantum error correction. IBM and Pasqal are collaborating to develop quantum-centric supercomputers and promote application research in chemistry and materials science. Cleveland Clinic, IBM, and the UK's Hartree Centre have formed a partnership to advance healthcare and life sciences through AI and quantum computing. Finally, researchers introduced the Latent Style-based Quantum GAN (LaSt-QGAN), a novel hybrid classical-quantum approach to training Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) for complex data generation.
In short: The race is still on with neutral atoms pushing hard (Pasqal and QuEra). While trapped Ions from Quantinuum / Honeywell make good strides from their fantastic research last week. Meanwhile companies like Q-Ctrl push the error correction / mitigation boundary, so even IBM’s Eagle chip with 127 qubits can start showing some interesting results. Is this the end of annealers?
The Week in Quantum Computing
Modular, scalable hardware architecture for a quantum computer
Researchers from MIT and MITRE have developed a scalable, modular hardware platform for quantum computing, integrating thousands of interconnected qubits onto a customized integrated circuit. This quantum-system-on-chip (QSoC) allows precise tuning and control of qubits, with multiple chips potentially linked via optical networking for a large-scale quantum communication network. The team utilized diamond color centers to create qubits, leveraging their scalability and long coherence times. The new architecture enables a proposed protocol of "entanglement multiplexing" for large-scale quantum computing. Linsen Li, the lead author of the paper, stated the new architecture and fabrication technology can support the scalability requirements of a quantum computer.
https://news.mit.edu/2024/modular-scalable-hardware-architecture-quantum-computer-0529
Paper: mRNA secondary structure prediction using utility-scale quantum computers
Recent advancements in quantum computing have enabled scientists to predict the secondary structure of mRNA, a complex problem previously intractable for classical computers. This research, led by Dimitris Alevras and nine other authors, used utility-scale quantum computers to solve mRNA structures with sequence lengths up to 60 nucleotides. The team employed a Conditional Value at Risk-based VQE algorithm on IBM's Eagle and Heron quantum processors. Despite minimal error mitigation and fixed-depth circuits, the quantum solutions matched the accuracy of classical solver CPLEX. This breakthrough suggests quantum computing could play a crucial role in designing RNA-based therapeutics, marking a significant stride in the intersection of quantum computing and biotechnology.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.20328v1
How Quantum Computers Can Give Fintech a Major Boost
Quantum computing, leveraging probabilities, has the potential to revolutionize the financial sector through enhanced market predictions. This technology could enable unprecedented precision in forecasting the impact of market fluctuations on future economies. The integration of quantum computing into fintech could therefore represent a significant advancement in the field.
https://internationalbanker.com/technology/how-quantum-computers-can-give-fintech-a-major-boost/
Q-CTRL Transforms Quantum Advantage Outlook, Breaking Records for Optimization Problems & Outperforming Competitive Tech
Q-CTRL has achieved a significant breakthrough in quantum computing. Using its innovative technology on a 127-qubit IBM quantum computer, it solved an optimization problem 1,500 times more likely correctly than an annealer, setting a new industry standard. The company's methods, combining hardware execution innovations and performance-management infrastructure software, resulted in a 4X increase in the size of an accurately solvable optimization problem. Julian van Velzen, CTIO & Head of Capgemini's Quantum Lab, suggests that these tools can bring potential quantum advantage years closer. Q-CTRL's results underscore the transformative potential of quantum computing in tackling complex problems.
(The Paper): Quantum optimization using a 127-qubit gate-model IBM quantum computer can outperform quantum annealers for nontrivial binary optimization problems
A team of researchers, led by Natasha Sachdeva, has developed a quantum solver that outperforms any published alternative in binary combinatorial optimization problems. Using a 127-qubit gate-model IBM quantum computer, the solver consistently delivers correct solutions, demonstrating its ability to solve Max-Cut instances for random regular graphs using up to 120 qubits. It also successfully searched for the ground state energy of a 127-qubit spin-glass model. This quantum solver increases the likelihood of finding the minimum energy by up to 1,500 times compared to a D-Wave annealer, marking the first time a gate-model quantum computer has outperformed an annealer for binary optimization problems.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.01743v1
Connecticut’s Innovation Cluster Commits $100M to Tech
Connecticut's "Innovation Clusters Program" is set to invest $100M over the next five years, aiming to match private funds to bolster the state's tech ecosystem. The funding could support lab spaces, operations for promising companies, or super-computing data centers. The initiative will focus on areas such as advanced manufacturing, genetics and genomics, drug development, and financial and insurance tech. A key component of the state's tech base growth strategy is QuantumCT, a consortium formed between Yale and the University of Connecticut, preparing to apply for a $166M National Science Foundation grant. UConn President
https://www.govtech.com/infrastructure/connecticut-innovation-clusters-commits-100m-to-tech
Quantinuum Launches Industry-First, Trapped-Ion 56-Qubit Quantum Computer, Breaking Key Benchmark Record
Quantinuum, the world's largest integrated quantum computing company, has launched the industry's first 56 trapped-ion qubit quantum computer, the H2-1, achieving a 100x improvement over existing benchmarks in partnership with JPMorgan Chase. Using a Random Circuit Sampling (RCS) algorithm, the team set a new world record for cross entropy, surpassing Google's 2019 results. The H2-1 also demonstrated a 30,000x reduction in power consumption compared to classical supercomputers. CEO Rajeeb Hazra emphasized the firm's focus on quality over quantity of qubits, while Marco Pistoia, Head of Global Technology Applied Research at JPMorgan, highlighted the system's potential for industrial and financial use cases.
QPerfect and QuEra Announce Collaboration to Propel Simulations of Quantum Error Correction and Logical Quantum Algorithms
QPerfect and QuEra Computing have announced a collaboration to develop tensor network methods for accurate modeling of quantum error correction. The partnership will utilize QPerfect's MIMIQ, a virtual quantum computer and quantum simulation framework, for large-scale simulations of logical quantum algorithms. This will support QuEra in evaluating error-corrected algorithms for their atomic quantum computers. Both companies, part of the QAI Ventures ecosystem, are committed to advancing fault-tolerant quantum computing.
IBM and Pasqal Initiate Collaboration to Define Classical-Quantum Integration for Quantum-Centric Supercomputers
IBM and quantum computing firm Pasqal have announced a collaboration aimed at developing quantum-centric supercomputers and promoting application research in chemistry and materials science. The partnership aims to define the software integration architecture for a quantum-centric supercomputer that manages computational workflows across quantum computers and advanced classical compute clusters. They aim to stimulate utility-scale industry adoption in materials science and chemistry, areas where quantum-centric supercomputing shows potential. Jay Gambetta, IBM Fellow and Vice President, IBM Quantum, emphasized the potential of quantum-centric supercomputing in high-performance computing. Georges-Olivier Reymond, CEO of Pasqal, marked the collaboration as a significant milestone in the quantum computing industry.
Cleveland Clinic, IBM and the Hartree Centre Collaborate to Advance Healthcare and Life Sciences through Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing
Cleveland Clinic, IBM, and the UK's Hartree Centre have formed a collaborative partnership to advance healthcare and life sciences through artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing. Two research projects have been initiated, one led by Dr. Charles Knowles, applying AI to quantify patient care impact, and the other led by Dr. Lara Jehi, using quantum computing to identify molecular features predicting surgical responses in epilepsy patients. The projects will be supported by the Hartree National Centre for Digital Innovation, a joint venture between IBM and Hartree Centre. The collaboration aims to leverage advanced computing for healthcare improvement and treatment acceleration globally.
Paper: Latent Style-based Quantum GAN for high-quality Image Generation
Researchers Su Yeon Chang, Supanut Thanasilp, Bertrand Le Saux, Sofia Vallecorsa, and Michele Grossi have introduced the Latent Style-based Quantum GAN (LaSt-QGAN), a novel hybrid classical-quantum approach to training Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) for complex data generation. The LaSt-QGAN maps original image datasets into a latent representation using classical auto-encoders, then generates fake features in this latent space. The technique has been successfully trained on realistic computer vision datasets like Fashion MNIST and SAT4 with 10 qubits. The researchers also proposed a method to mitigate the barren plateau phenomena in continuous quantum generative models.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.02668v1
"UChicago and Swedish Researchers Discover Nearly Noiseless Qubits in Calcium Oxide, Boosting Quantum Computing Prospects"
Researchers from UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and collaborators in Sweden have discovered that defects in calcium oxide can produce nearly noiseless qubits, crucial for quantum computing. The team, led by Professor Giulia Galli, used theoretical and computational approaches to identify that lone atoms of bismuth embedded within calcium oxide can act as qubits. The findings, published in Nature Communications, highlight that these qubits have an extremely low level of noise, can hold information for a long time, and are not made from expensive materials. Galli's team is now collaborating with experimental groups to test these predictions.
https://phys.org/news/2024-06-calcium-oxide-quantum-secret-noiseless.html
ORCA Computing to Supply Montana State University with Quantum Photonics Systems, Boosting Quantum Capabilities
Quantum computing company ORCA Computing is set to supply two PT-1 quantum photonics systems to Montana State University (MSU), a move funded by a U.S. Air Force grant. These systems will be housed at the MSU Innovation Campus and will support the university's quantum technology applications in fields like security, communications sensing, and computing. ORCA CEO Richard Murray and MSU Professors Yves Idzerda and Krishna Rupavatharam have expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. ORCA has previously supplied PT Series units to the UK Ministry of Defense and the Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Center. This collaboration is expected to significantly boost MSU's quantum capabilities.
NEC and AIST Pioneer Superconducting Circuit for Large-Scale Quantum Computing, Boosting Signal Density by 1000x
Researchers from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Yokohama National University, Tohoku University, and NEC Corporation have proposed and successfully demonstrated a superconducting circuit for qubit control in large-scale quantum computer systems. The circuit, which operates at a low temperature of 4.2K in liquid helium, can control multiple qubits via a single cable using microwave multiplexing. This development could increase the density of microwave signals per cable by approximately 1,000 times, significantly expanding the number of controllable qubits and contributing to the development of large-scale quantum computers.
https://phys.org/news/2024-06-superconducting-circuit-qubit-large-scale.html
United Nations proclaims 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology
The United Nations (UN) has declared 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, aiming to celebrate quantum science contributions and raise global awareness of its significance for sustainable development. The initiative also aims to expand access to quantum education and opportunities globally.
Quantum internet breakthrough after 'quantum data' transmitted through standard fiber optic cable for 1st time
A recent study by Imperial College London, the University of Southampton, and the Universities of Stuttgart and Wurzburg in Germany has achieved a breakthrough in quantum internet. For the first time, 'quantum data' was transmitted, stored, and retrieved using standard fiber optic cables. The research used a specialized photon source, a quantum dot, to transmit this data more reliably than previous methods. Professor Sarah Thomas of Imperial College, London, highlighted the use of a high-bandwidth, low-noise quantum memory and a photon source fabricated to match the memory's wavelength.