The Week in Quantum Computing - September 16th 2024 - Microsoft & Quantinuum break chemistry. Kipu, Q-Ctrl, DOE spends $65M
Issue #201
Quick Recap
Good days for error correction and logical qubits! Researchers T. Navickas, R. J. MacDonell, C. H. Valahu, and colleagues have made a significant breakthrough by performing the first quantum simulations of chemical reactions using an analog approach. Their study, published on arXiv, utilized a mixed-qudit-boson (MQB) analog simulator to encode information in both electronic and vibrational states of a trapped ion, demonstrating the potential of analog quantum simulators for near-term applications in complex chemical reaction simulations. Microsoft has demonstrated logical qubits with an error rate 800 times better than physical qubits, integrating quantum computing with cloud capabilities through their Azure Quantum platform. Quantinuum, in collaboration with Microsoft, has achieved a quantum volume of over two million and "three 9's" fidelity, marking a critical step towards a Quantum Supercomputer. Meanwhile, Osaka University and Fujitsu have developed a new calculation method that allows quantum computers to perform faster calculations than supercomputers with only 60,000 qubits, a significant reduction from the previously estimated 1 million. Kipu Quantum has started talking about the Commercial Quantum Advantage era by solving complex optimization problems on IBM's 156-qubit quantum processors using their Bias-Field Digitized Counterdiabatic Quantum Optimization (BF-DCQO) algorithm. This breakthrough allows industries such as logistics, finance, telecom, and energy to benefit from quantum computing today. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a $65 million investment in quantum computing research, funding 10 projects to further advance the field. In the US Boeing has shared their plans for a quantum entanglement satellite by 2026. I wonder if it will have a door and it will open midflight.
London Calling!
Next week! Learn about Quantum in Finance, Cybersecurity and Rock’n Roll.
The City Quantum & AI Summit 2024
Come join the 4th edition of The City Quantum & AI Summit on October 7th. Register here. A unique experience for six reasons:
The venue: a historic palace with golden statues in the heart of the City of London.
The principles: Gender-balanced panels; no lingo, no jargon, plain English only, accessible to all on price.
The networking opportunity with top end clients for quantum firms - from Airbus to HSBC, from Nvidia to the FCA, and many more.
The military/space component, with the former Head of Special Forces, NATO’s Head of Digital and its innovation fund, plus firms like Qinetiq.
Fireside chats with visionaries
A gala dinner in the Old Ballroom with the CEO of Novo Holdings, majority shareholder of Novo Nordisk, and a major investor in the industry.
And on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-city-quantum-and-ai-summit/
The Week in Quantum Computing
Paper: Experimental Quantum Simulation of Chemical Dynamics
Researchers T. Navickas, R. J. MacDonell, C. H. Valahu, and colleagues have achieved a significant milestone by performing the first quantum simulations of chemical reactions using an analog approach. Their study, published on arXiv, focuses on simulating photoinduced non-adiabatic dynamics, a complex problem in quantum chemistry. Utilizing a mixed-qudit-boson (MQB) analog simulator, they encoded information in both electronic and vibrational states of a trapped ion. This method demonstrated versatility by simulating the dynamics of three different molecules and open-system dynamics with significantly fewer resources than digital quantum simulations. This breakthrough underscores the potential of analog quantum simulators for near-term applications in complex chemical reaction simulations.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.04044v1
Osaka Univ., Fujitsu develop method to achieve practical quantum computing
Osaka University and Fujitsu have developed a new calculation method to advance practical quantum computing. This method allows quantum computers to perform faster calculations than supercomputers without needing a significant increase in qubits. Specifically, it requires only 60,000 qubits, compared to the previously estimated 1 million. The breakthrough suggests that quantum computers could analyze superconducting materials in about 10 hours, a task that would take supercomputers around five years. Sato Shintaro, head of Fujitsu's Quantum Laboratory, believes this achievement will expedite the realization of practical quantum computing.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240909_09/
First quantum cyberattack expected by 2030
IBM predicts the first quantum cyberattack, or Q-Day, could occur by the 2030s due to advancements in quantum computing. Antti Ropponen, IBM Cybersecurity Services leader, warns that highly resourced entities, including nation-states, may target high-value assets using quantum computers to break traditional cryptographic tools. Quantum computers, exponentially more powerful than traditional ones, could decrypt current 2,048-bit encryption in just 100 seconds. IBM is developing quantum-safe cryptographic solutions and emphasizes that organizations can achieve quantum safety without quantum computers. Regulators in Singapore, the US, and Germany are already incorporating quantum-safe encryption standards, particularly in the financial sector. The urgency for quantum-safe IT practices is growing as quantum computing capabilities advance.
https://techcentral.co.za/first-quantum-cyberattack-expected-2030/251246/
Paper: Hacking Cryptographic Protocols with Tensor Network Attacks
Researchers Borja Aizpurua, Siddhartha Patra, Josu Etxezarreta Martinez, and Roman Orus have introduced Tensor Networks (TN) to attack symmetric-key cryptography, utilizing Matrix Product States (MPS) and the Flexible-PEPS Quantum Circuit Simulator (FQCS). Their study benchmarks these methods against traditional brute-force and their own Variational Quantum Attack Algorithm (VQAA) on S-DES (10-bit keys), S-AES (16-bit keys), and Blowfish (32-bit keys). MPS outperforms VQAA and FQCS in speed for small keys, while FQCS is more efficient for larger keys. The findings underscore the potential of TN methods in quantum cryptanalysis, particularly in optimizing speed and efficiency, with entanglement becoming crucial as key sizes increase.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.04125v1
KIPU STARTS THE COMMERCIAL QUANTUM ADVANTAGE ERA, SOLVING OPTIMIZATION PROBLEMS WITH INDUSTRY RELEVANCE ON IBM 156-QUBIT QUANTUM PROCESSORS
Kipu Quantum has initiated the commercial quantum advantage era by solving complex optimization problems using IBM's 156-qubit quantum processors. Their breakthrough, the Bias-Field Digitized Counterdiabatic Quantum Optimization (BF-DCQO) algorithm, enhances efficiency on current hardware. This milestone marks the largest optimization quantum algorithm executed on an IBM quantum processor, demonstrating practical applications in logistics, finance, and manufacturing. Kipu Quantum's technology addresses higher-order unconstrained binary optimization (HUBO) problems without reducing them to lower-order formulations, improving solution quality and reducing resource consumption. CEO's statement: "We are starting the commercial era of quantum computing." This development signifies a pivotal shift, enabling immediate industry benefits from quantum computing.
Securing tomorrow: How NIST's post-quantum encryption standards will impact the financial sector
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has introduced three new standards—FIPS 203, 204, and 205—to safeguard against quantum computing threats. These post-quantum cryptography (PQC) protocols are designed to replace current encryption methods vulnerable to quantum attacks. Experts predict quantum computers could break modern encryption within 5 to 30 years, making immediate implementation crucial. The transition to these new standards is expected to take 10 to 15 years. FIPS 203 focuses on key-encapsulation mechanisms, while FIPS 204 and 205 offer public-key cryptosystems with different mathematical frameworks for redundancy. This move is vital for industries like finance, where secure data transmission is paramount.
Q-CTRL Integrates Fire Opal with Four Leading Quantum Computing Hardware Platforms to Deliver Unprecedented Capabilities
Q-CTRL expands native performance-management software integrations to accelerate quantum advantage with IBM Quantum, Rigetti, Oxford Quantum Circuits, and Diraq
The first time we saw over a factor of a thousand improvement on a commercial quantum computer we knew this could change the direction of the industry”
— Michael J. Biercuk, CEO and Founder of Q-CTRL
TYSONS, VA, UNITED STATES, September 10, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Q-CTRL, the global leader in quantum infrastructure software, today announced that itsperformance-management software, Fire Opal, will be natively integrated into four of the world's most advanced quantum computing platforms — IBM Quantum services, Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services (QCS®), Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) Cloud QCaaS devices, and Diraq’s Silicon quantum processors.
Microsoft announces the best performing logical qubits on record and will provide priority access to reliable quantum hardware in Azure Quantum
Microsoft has announced a significant milestone in quantum computing, demonstrating logical qubits with an error rate 800 times better than physical qubits. This advancement is part of their Azure Quantum platform, designed to integrate quantum computing with cloud capabilities. Collaborating with Quantinuum, Microsoft created and entangled 12 highly reliable logical qubits, the largest number on record. Additionally, they achieved the first end-to-end chemistry simulation combining logical quantum computation with cloud HPC and AI. Microsoft is also partnering with Atom Computing to develop the world's most powerful quantum machine. Jason Zander, EVP, emphasized, "We’re pioneering a new computing paradigm by bringing the power of the cloud and AI together with quantum." This marks a pivotal step towards scalable, practical quantum computing solutions.
Quantinuum accelerates the path to Universal Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing
Quantinuum, in collaboration with Microsoft, has made significant strides in quantum computing, achieving a quantum volume of over two million and "three 9's" fidelity. Their System Model H2, now upgraded to 56 qubits, is the most powerful and benchmarked quantum computer available. At the Quantum World Congress, Quantinuum announced plans to achieve universal fully fault-tolerant quantum computing by the decade's end. They demonstrated the creation of 12 reliable logical qubits and supported Microsoft's first chemistry simulation using AI and HPC, marking a critical step towards a Quantum Supercomputer. Quantinuum's H-Series devices are available on Microsoft Azure, with integrated InQuanto software accessible in Azure Quantum Elements' private preview.
DOE Invests $65M in Quantum Computing Research to Revolutionize Science
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a $65 million investment in quantum computing research, funding 10 projects with a total of 38 awards. This initiative aims to advance software, control systems, and algorithms, enhancing quantum computing's utility in scientific research. Ceren Susut, DOE Associate Director of Science for Advanced Scientific Computing Research, stated, “Quantum computers may ultimately revolutionize many fields by solving problems that are currently out of reach.” The funding supports the National Quantum Initiative Act, emphasizing error detection, prevention, and correction in quantum systems. The projects span up to five years, with $14 million allocated for Fiscal Year 2024, contingent on congressional appropriations.
(Dis)Entangling the Future : Horizon scanning for emerging technologies and breakthrough innovations in the field of quantum technologies
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission has published a comprehensive report on emerging quantum technologies. The document highlights significant advancements and potential breakthroughs in quantum computing, communication, and sensing. It underscores the collaborative efforts of European institutions and researchers in pushing the boundaries of quantum science. The report also identifies key areas for future investment and development, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a competitive edge in the global quantum race. "Quantum technologies are set to revolutionize multiple sectors," states a JRC spokesperson.
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC139022
Quantum Source secures $50 million Series A to advance photonic quantum computers
Quantum Source, an Israeli startup focused on photonic quantum computing, has raised $50 million in a Series A funding round led by Eclipse, with contributions from Standard Investments, Level VC, Canon Equity, and existing investors. This brings their total funding to $77 million. Founded in 2021 by Oded Melamed, Gil Semo, Dan Charash, and Professor Barak Dayan, the company employs 45 people, over half with PhDs. Their proprietary photonic chip technology promises four orders of magnitude better efficiency in photon generation and entanglement. CEO Melamed aims to position Israel prominently in the global quantum computing landscape, targeting a large-scale quantum computer by decade's end.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/sj2qwoanc
Boeing Pioneering Quantum Communications Technology with In-Space Test Satellite
Boeing has announced the 2026 launch of its Q4S satellite, aimed at demonstrating quantum entanglement swapping in space. This internally-funded mission seeks to advance quantum networking, potentially revolutionizing industries such as agriculture, climate science, and secure communications. Jay Lowell, Boeing's chief engineer for Disruptive Computing, emphasized the mission's goal to expand quantum networks beyond simple point-to-point communication. The project involves collaboration with HRL Laboratories, a joint venture between Boeing and GM, which has made significant strides in developing space-hardened payloads. Todd Citron, Boeing's CTO, highlighted the company's leadership in operationalizing quantum technologies for global applications.
Dear industry: Pentagon wants quantum GPS
The Pentagon is prioritizing the development of quantum sensors for navigation as a more accurate and secure alternative to GPS. John Burke, leading the Pentagon’s quantum science initiatives, emphasized the challenge of making quantum technology practical for military use at the Quantum World Congress. The Defense Department, with congressional support, has increased quantum research funding, focusing on seven key areas including atomic clocks, magnetic navigation, and ultra-secure communications. Boeing plans to demonstrate space-based quantum networking by 2026. Michael Hush of Q-CTRL highlighted quantum sensors' potential to detect GPS spoofing. Ryan McKenney of Quantinuum stressed the need for industry-government collaboration to ensure practical solutions.
Kipu Quantum and QCentroid Partner to Drive Quantum Computing from Bizkaia to Spain and the World
Kipu Quantum and QCentroid have announced a strategic partnership to advance quantum computing from Bizkaia to Spain and beyond. Kipu Quantum, led by Enrique Solano, specializes in novel quantum computing algorithms, while QCentroid, under CEO Carlos Kuchkovsky, provides Quantum-as-a-Service (QaaS). This collaboration aims to leverage their combined expertise to implement practical quantum solutions across various industries, including logistics, healthcare, and finance. Solano emphasized the partnership's potential to accelerate the commercialization of quantum applications in Spain. Kuchkovsky highlighted the tangible value these projects will bring to global stakeholders. This partnership marks a significant step in Spain's journey into the commercial quantum era.
What Should We Prioritize in Quantum Development?
A June 2024 survey of nearly 1,000 quantum computing community members reveals distinct priorities among manufacturers, end-users, and academia. Manufacturers emphasize scalability (35.6%) and environmental sustainability, focusing on increasing qubit capacity without losing coherence. End-users prioritize error correction (34.2%) and fault tolerance for reliable applications in cryptography and simulations. Academia seeks investment in hardware development and prefers domestic quantum computer development to safeguard intellectual property. While manufacturers see development pace as steady (42.2%), nearly half of researchers and end-users believe progress is faster than expected.
https://builtin.com/articles/prioritize-quantum-development
Moth aims to bring quantum technology to gaming
Moth, a London-based startup, is integrating quantum technology into gaming, appointing renowned researcher James Wootton as its first Chief Science Officer. Wootton, previously at IBM, is known for pioneering quantum gaming and will oversee Moth's scientific roadmap. Moth aims to revolutionize gaming through quantum computing in procedural generation, character AI, and graphics, enhancing game dynamics and visual detail. The company has raised over $3 million and targets both gaming and creative industries. CEO Ferdinand Tomassini emphasizes Wootton's unparalleled expertise, while Wootton expresses excitement about leveraging quantum computing for creative advancements.
https://venturebeat.com/ai/moth-aims-to-bring-quantum-technology-to-gaming/
IonQ and the University of Maryland Sign $9M Partnership To Drive Quantum Innovation.
IonQ and the University of Maryland (UMD) have announced a $9 million partnership to enhance quantum computing at the National Quantum Lab (QLab) in Maryland. UMD's 35-year investment in quantum research, including contributions from Nobel Laureate Dr. William Phillips, has established it as a quantum research leader. The collaboration aims to provide UMD students, faculty, and partners access to IonQ's advanced trapped ion quantum computers. IonQ President and CEO Peter Chapman emphasized Maryland's role as the "Capital of Quantum," while UMD President Darryll J. Pines highlighted the partnership's impact on academia, government, and the public sector.
https://ionq.com/news/ionq-and-the-university-of-maryland-sign-usd9m-partnership-to-drive-quantum
Infleqtion wins tech contract with Australian Army
Infleqtion has secured a contract with the Australian Army under the Quantum Technology Challenge (QTC) to enhance quantum system reliability using quantum physically unclonable functions (QPUFs). Collaborating with Sydney-based quantum computing firm Diraq, Infleqtion aims to bolster national security by preventing device spoofing and data falsification. Pranav Gokhale, Infleqtion's VP of Quantum Software, praised the Army's strategic focus on quantum technology. The project will leverage Infleqtion's Superstaq software and cold atom technology to develop and prototype QPUFs, ensuring their readiness for near-term deployment.
https://asiapacificdefencereporter.com/infleqtion-wins-tech-contract-with-australian-army/
The Quantum Insider Projects $1 Trillion in Economic Impact From Quantum Computing by 2035
A new report from The Quantum Insider forecasts quantum computing will generate $1 trillion in economic impact by 2035. Vendors are expected to capture $50 billion in revenue, with the sector creating 840,000 jobs by 2035, including 250,000 by 2030. Key industries like finance and defense will benefit significantly, with annual contributions of $20 billion and $10 billion, respectively, by 2030. The report highlights substantial investments in the USA, UK, Germany, France, China, and Japan. CEO Alex Challans emphasized quantum computing's transformative potential, stating, “Quantum computing is set to unlock material value across multiple trillion-dollar industries.”
hi,
the quantum simulation of chemical reactions using an analog approach was NOT performed by Microsoft researchers, you got that one wrong ;)