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Inside A Quantum Computer

Were entering the second quantum revolution and marketers need to begin to understand its future implications. The first quantum revolution started 100 years ago in the 1920s with the discoveries of Albert Einstein and others, that lead to innovations like lasers, solar cells, atomic clocks used in GPS, semiconductors, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). For decades since, the tremendous potential of quantum in many areas has been largely theoretical, until that past 20 years when a number of critical developments emerged:

- Quantum information processing elements called quibits (quantum bits) began being manufactured.

- Refrigeration equipment was developed that can reach temperatures close to absolute zero (459.67 F), the temperature at which quantum systems are least disturbed by thermal noise. This extremely low temperature is required for quantum computers to do their work, isolated from the surrounding environment.

- Quantum algorithms and computing hardware began to be developed.

- It became possible to link many processor chips to work together, exponentially increasing computing power

Quantum computing involves the transfer and computation of information at the sub-atomic level. According to a January 2023 article Time Magazine as well as other sources, quantum computers can calculate millions of times faster than a personal computer. Quantum is expected to dramatically increase the capabilities of artificial intelligence. It can process many different scenarios simultaneously, to optimize solutions to problems. Vs. todays computer algorithms, quantum algorithms can be trained faster, you can run more hypotheses, and its better at determining correlations from massive amounts of data. Complex problems that would take several years for classical computers to figure out, can be solved in seconds with quantum.

Quantum has the potential to answer questions and open fields of discovery, previously unanswerable and unfathomable. Eduard Vallory, Director General of the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST) provided an analogy to the discovery of diseases. Before humans were able to see micro-organisms through a microscope, people didnt know diseases existed because they couldnt see them. The second Quantum revolution is expected to open entirely new areas of understanding because we will be able to see how the previously unseeable and unknowable works.

Victor Canivell, the CEO and co-founder of Qilimanjaro, the red-hot quantum start-up spun out of the world-renowned Barcelona Super Computer Center, the Institute for High Energy Physics (IFAE), and the University of Barcelona, shared another great reference for understanding what Quantum can do... trying to find your way out of out of a labyrinth. Presently, the only option would be following each pathway separately, until you find an exit. With quantum, you have an aerial view and can see all the potential pathways simultaneously. Somewhat analogous to Apple, Qilimanjaro is vertically integrated to include both hardware and algorithm design which helps them ensure smooth functioning between the two. Few start-ups in the space are vertically integrated in this way.

The World Economic Forum, estimated global public spending on quantum technology was $30 billion in 2022, with China making up approximately half, the European Union almost another quarter, and the remaining quarter spread primarily among nine countries, including the US, Canada, Japan, the UK, Singapore and Israel. In terms of private investment, the US and EU lead, with 59 and 53 quantum computing startups respectively. There were only two startups in all of South America, and none in Africa.

More and more governments, companies, and sectors around the world are viewing Quantum as a necessity for cyber security. Because quantum computers can check millions of options simultaneously with incredible speed, they are ideal for hacking. While the most obvious practical applications for quantum computing may not include Marketing, the competitive advantages quantum can bring organizations will have a huge impact on product and service features and attributes, and marketing claims for competitive advantage.

I spent the past few weeks speaking to the most brilliant people I could find in Spain, a leader in quantum computing in Europe. Spain, like other supercomputing eco-systems wants to be a leader in the emerging quantum growth sector because its an outstanding way to boost their economy and because of quantums massive potential to disrupt nearly every industry. To quote Gonzalo de la Torre, Global Head of Data & Analytics - IKEA for Business, Group Digital, who holds a PhD in quantum physics and is based in Madrid, I cant envision a world in which quantum wont change everything.

Albert Solana, Business Development Manager, Qilimanjaro

My guide and scientific translator for quantum immersion was Albert Solana, Business Developer Manager of Qilimanjaro, the firm that was just selected to assemble a new quantum computer that will be one of the worlds most powerful and the first in Southern Europe. It will be housed at the Barcelona Super Computing Center. Qilimanjaro is a spin-off started in 2020 from 3 Spanish technological centers. Alberts multi-disciplinary route to this fascinating role began when he studied and later worked in computer engineering. From there he pursued an MBA at ESADE Business School. Post MBA, Albert worked for a digital ad agency, then at a block chain start-up, and during COVID, he pursued a post-graduate degree in Quantum Engineering at UPC from Barcelona, with top professors from UAB, UB, and the world-reknown ICFO photonics research institution.

With knowledge of quantum, data analytics, computer engineering, cryptography, and marketing, I cant imagine anyone better to explain why nearly all functional groups in organizations need to get quantum ready. Here are 9 potential use cases for business applications with relevance for marketers. All involve problems for which a tremendous amount of data must be collected and processed.

1) Dynamic Pricing Optimization

The brilliant head of Repsols (Spains Largest Multinational Energy Company) quantum application efforts, Ricardo Enriquez, lists part of his LinkedIn title as Quantum Computing Optimist. Among all the ways Ricardo explained that Repsol and its customers can benefit from quantum, one stood out for me. In the future, technology will enable consumers to collect and save energy at the individual level from their solar panels and bio waste, and then sell the excess they capture back to energy companies and municipal power grids. Massive amounts of data will be required to optimize the pricing dynamically, by time of day, season, and location.

2) Utility And Companies Optimizing Operating Costs, Run Time and Energy Consumption

Complex optimization problems exist in many industries. The current general way of solving these problems requires heavy computations in large data centers that require a lot of energy consumption and dont reach an exact solution since approximations must be made to shorten the computing time. Quantum computing solutions are expected to be much faster, more accurate, cost-effective, and efficient in energy consumption, with so much computational power is compressed in processors that can be as small as an atom.

3) Product Development: Materials, Pharma, Medical, Chemical Companies, And Others

It will be far easier and quicker to conduct trial and error experiments among millions of compounds and analyze immense databases of medical treatment outcomes. Graphene, the material developed through quantum computing, is considered the strongest, most flexible and most conductive material. Its currently being used in products including tennis racquets, helmets, bikes, headphones, and light bulbs. Boeing is working to develop thedeveloping next generation materials for airplanes together with IBMs quantum teams. Quantum helps firms simultaneously evaluate and optimize multiple product features and attributes for new product development. It will accelerate finding new potential drugs by doing faster simulations at the molecular level.

4) Sustainability: According to Gema Garca Gonzalez, Director of Corporate Venturing, Open Innovation, and Technology Business Development at Repsol, who is working on proof-of-concept testing with Qilimanjaro, Repsol believes the partnership will accelerate getting solutions to market focused on decarbonization and help reach the companys goal of zero net carbon emissions by 2050.

5) Competitive Marketing Claims About Data Security

Banks, cloud computing companies like IBM and Salesforce, e-commerce players like Amazon, and social media companies process and store lots of data. Having the most secure data storage is a competitive advantage. At the February 2023 Mobile World Congress, IBMs booth featured the claim Were charting the roadmap for quantum-safe networks that protect user data.

6) Finance: Portfolio Optimization And Foreign Exchange Trading Profits:

Investment banking firm objectives are to improve the portfolio growth rates for clients and minimize downside risks. Quantum computing can significantly help in these areas and lead to marketing superiority claims.

7) Supply Chain, Warehousing, Logistics & Last Mile Delivery

Examples in the logistics sector include commercial distribution, airline route optimization, and efficiently packing containers on ships. Quantum can lower costs and energy through more efficient routing, and also improve customer service, and speed to market, resulting in performance advantages that can impact marketing claims.

8) Reducing Airline No Shows: Vueling, a subsidiary of International Airlines Group that includes British Airlines and Iberia, recently concluded a study to better understand and predict customer no-shows, so occurrences can be reduced. The quantum proof-of-concept findings proved statistically more accurate, nuanced, and helpful vs. results derived from classical computing (computing as we currently know it).

9) Digital Marketing And Marketing Mix Modeling Optimization

Marketing Mix Modeling optimization, like any other optimization problem, will likely eventually be solved by quantum computers. There will also likely be uses for quantum computers focussed on ad servers, applying the most efficient quantum algorithms to improve ad bidding processes.

While Quantum technology isnt completely ready, many companies are engaging in proof-of-concept tests with start-ups like Qilimanjaro to compare the speed, cost savings, and other benefits generated by quantum advances. Companies in functions and sectors including energy, retail, telecommunications, financial services, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, the postal service, sustainability, supply chain, logistics, transportation, last mile delivery, defense, cybersecurity, and materials are starting to experiment with Quantum.

Initiatives like Quantum Spain are finding success, synergy, and accelerating progress by bringing government support, academic institutions with cutting edge research and talent education, start-ups, and big business together in a mutually inspiring, learning eco-system.

Key Take-Aways For CMOs

1) Investigate quantum efforts that your company may have already started. Marketers are not always aware of them.

2) Think about the biggest pain points on your customers journeys and where there is significant data that might be analyzed to find quantum-based solutions.

3) Identify potential marketing and advertising claims that will have the biggest impact on attracting new customers that quantum might uncover or substantiate as a competitive advantage.

4) Try to involve marketing personnel in internal, multi-functional, start-up trial teams to provide perspectives on how quantum can affect the marketing function, and marketing problems identified through consumer insights.

5) Since quantum computing is complicated and challenging for lay people to understand, its critical that quantum leaders within firms be able to communicate in ways that are understandable and actionable for non-scientists.

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Perhaps The Most Disruptive Technology In History Is Coming And It's Expected To Change Everything. Businesses ... - Forbes

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CLEVELAND and ARMONK, N.Y. Today, Cleveland Clinic and IBM officially unveiled the first deployment of an onsite private sector IBM-managed quantum computer in the United States. The IBM Quantum System One installed at Cleveland Clinic will be the first quantum computer in the world to be uniquely dedicated to healthcare research with an aim to help Cleveland Clinic accelerate biomedical discoveries.

The unveiling comes as a key milestone in Cleveland Clinics and IBMs 10-year Discovery Accelerator partnership, announced in 2021, which is focused on advancing the pace of biomedical research through the use of high-performance computing, artificial intelligence and quantum computing. The system was unveiled at a formal event today featuring leaders from IBM and Cleveland Clinic; Susan Monarez, Ph.D., Deputy Director, Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H); Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11); Lt. Governor of Ohio Jon Husted; and Mayor of Cleveland Justin M. Bibb.

Quantum computing is a rapidly emerging technology that harnesses the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems that todays most powerful supercomputers cannot practically solve. The ability to tap into these new computational spaces could help researchers identify new medicines and treatments more quickly.

This is a pivotal milestone in our innovative partnership with IBM, as we explore new ways to apply the power of quantum computing to healthcare, said Tom Mihaljevic, M.D., Cleveland Clinic CEO and President and Morton L. Mandel CEO Chair. This technology holds tremendous promise in revolutionizing healthcare and expediting progress toward new cares, cures and solutions for patients. Quantum and other advanced computing technologies will help researchers tackle historic scientific bottlenecks and potentially find new treatments for patients with diseases like cancer, Alzheimers and diabetes.

With the unveiling of IBM Quantum System One at Cleveland Clinic, their team of world-class researchers can now explore and uncover new scientific advancements in biomedical research, said Arvind Krishna, IBM Chairman and CEO. By combining the power of quantum computing, artificial intelligence and other next-generation technologies with Cleveland Clinics world-renowned leadership in healthcare and life sciences, we hope to ignite a new era of accelerated discovery.

In addition to quantum computing, the Cleveland Clinic-IBM Discovery Accelerator draws upon a variety of IBMs latest advancements in computing technologies, including high performance computing via the hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence. Researchers from both organizations are collaborating closely on a robust portfolio of projects with these advanced technologies to generate and analyze massive amounts of data to enhance research.

The Cleveland Clinic-IBM Discovery Accelerator has generated multiple projects that leverage the latest in quantum computing, AI and hybrid cloud to help expedite discoveries in biomedical research. These include:

The Discovery Accelerator also serves as the technology foundation for Cleveland Clinics Global Center for Pathogen & Human Health Research, part of the Cleveland Innovation District. The center, supported by a $500 million investment from the State of Ohio, Jobs Ohio and Cleveland Clinic, brings together a team focused on studying, preparing and protecting against emerging pathogens and virus-related diseases. Through the Discovery Accelerator, researchers are leveraging advanced computational technology to expedite critical research into treatments and vaccines.

A significant part of the collaboration is a focus on educating the workforce of the future and creating jobs to grow the economy. An innovative educational curriculum is being designed for participants from high school to the professional level, offering training and certification programs in data science, machine learning and quantum computing to build the skilled workforce needed for cutting-edge computational research of the future.

Additionally, the two organizations are hosting research symposia, seminars and workshops intended for academia, industry, government and the public with a goal of building a critical mass of computing specialists in Cleveland.

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Cleveland Clinic and IBM Unveil First Quantum Computer Dedicated to Healthcare Research - Cleveland Clinic Newsroom

Quantum computing by its very nature is set to revolutionize how we think about computers and how we use them. But if the tech world knows one thing down to the chill in the marrow of its bones, its that every opportunity brings the shadow of a threat in its wake and vice versa.

In September, 2022, UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres included quantum computing among his list of perceived techno-threats for the times in which we live, claiming it could destroy cybersecurity.

The idea of any single breakthrough being able to destroy the whole notion of cybersecurity sounds like the plot of an as-yet-unmade James Bond movie (Hey, Eon Productions Ltd call us).

We sat down with Dr Ali El Kaafarani, a research fellow at Oxford Universitys Mathematical Institute, and founder of PQShield, to ask him whether the sky was really falling in.

THQ:

What exactly is the threat of quantum computing? Among everything else there is to worry about, whats the scope and the scale of the quantum threat? Why should we take it seriously?

AEK:

Quantum computers will have the power to solve computational problems that were previously thought impossible for a standard computer to crack. While this presents many opportunities, it also poses a significant security risk as it renders the traditional encryption methods used to protect virtually all of the worlds sensitive information obsolete.

Important and sensitive data, even when encrypted, is constantly being stolen and stored by bad actors who hope to decipher it one day. This is known as a harvest now, decrypt later attack. When powerful quantum computers arrive, all our data will be vulnerable to this kind of retrospective attack.

According to the US National Academy of Sciences, an initial quantum computer prototype capable of breaking current encryption methods could be developed in the next decade.

THQ:

Well thats pretty chilling.

AEK:

For nation states, the intelligence value of reaching this threshold is almost impossible to quantify. NIST says that once this threshold has been crossed, nothing can be done to protect the confidentiality of encrypted material that was previously stored by an adversary. Thats why data needs to be protected with quantum-resistant encryption today, even before these machines are a reality.

THQ:

So, when the Secretary-General said quantum computing could destroy cybersecurity, there wasnt even a hint of hyperbole in there? Any idea when within the next decade this could happen?

AEK:

According to Booz Allen Hamilton, the anticipated cracking of encryption by quantum computers must be treated as a current threat. Only late last year, top former US national security officials including the Deputy Director of National Intelligence, warned the world that the danger of these types of attacks was immediate.

THQ:

Well its been nice sleeping at night. So, for instance, how do businesses that want to outlive this development assess their vulnerability to quantum attack? What stages does such an assessment come in?

AEK:

There are many who recognize the seriousness of the quantum threat but dont actually know how to go about protecting themselves against it, or who feel overwhelmed thinking about the overhaul associated with migrating their systems to meet a new set of standards.

THQ:

We can imagine the overwhelm, certainly.

AEK:

However, if you break it down into smaller steps, the migration process is not so daunting.Transitioning from cryptosystem to cryptosystem is no trivial task, which is why it is best to start as early as possible.

As the NIST National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) points out: It is critical to begin planning for the replacement of hardware, software and services that use public-key algorithms now, so that the information is protected from future attacks.

Switching from one cryptosystem to another within a given security solution is unlikely to be a simple drop-in task, particularly for businesses that havent even begun planning for the post-quantum transition, which is likely to be the biggest cryptographic transition in decades.

THQ:

So were thinking this is not a particularly straightforward job?

AEK:

Well, the ease or difficulty with which certain cryptographic algorithms can be switched out in embedded hardware and software will determine the speed with which a transition can be achieved. Crypto-agility allows for a smoother transition between standards. If a system is crypto-agile, it means it is built with flexibility and futureproofing in mind, with cryptographic algorithms that are easy to update and replace over time with minimal disruption to the overall system.

THQ:

So the more agile a business is and the sooner it starts getting to grip with the invisible ticking clock of the quantum threat the more likely it is to be able to ride out the new paradigm?

Once businesses have an understanding of their quantum computing vulnerability, what can they actually do about it?

AEK:

We dont yet know for certain that a high-functioning quantum computer exists, because it is not unfeasible that a bad actor would choose to conceal its existence in order to maintain its technical advantage along with the element of surprise. The prudent way forward is to start preparing for the worst now because its a question of when, not if.

Post-quantum cryptography standards were announced in July last year. The first draft standards will be published in the next couple of months, with the final versions ready in the first half of 2024. In the meantime, it is possible and advised to use hybrid cryptography libraries that can support both classical and post-quantum standards in the transition phase.

In the meantime, businesses can ensure that their cryptography is FIPS 140-3 compliant. FIPS 140-3 is a good stopgap to aim for until more tailored standards are introduced, and because it is a mandatory standard for the protection of sensitive data within US and Canadian federal systems, it is a prerequisite for any contractors that want to do business with these governments.

Another place to look is the Department of Homeland Security, which published a post-quantum cryptography roadmap a useful guideline for establishing a transition plan before standards are finalized.

THQ:

Are we confident that NISTs new cryptographic standards are sufficient to meet the quantum threat of today? And is the threat likely to evolve as we go forward?

AEK:

Because the future capabilities of quantum computers remain an open question, NIST has taken a variety of mathematical approaches to safeguard encryption. Each mathematical approach has different advantages and disadvantages in terms of its practicality, implementation and design.

The logic to all this is that future research may discover new attacks or weaknesses that can be exploited to render any one particular algorithm obsolete. Its why NIST may ultimately choose multiple algorithms to standardize and hold another handful close at hand as backup options.

THQ:

If, as we gather, the threat is likely to evolve, how do we prepare now to meet it? Whats the scope for quantum cryptographic security over, say, the next five years?

AEK:

Meeting the threat relies on implementing post-quantum cryptography. So, naturally, in the next five years, well see different sectors moving to adopt post-quantum cryptography. In some cases, this wont be by choice they will be following mandatory timelines set out by the US Government and others.

Remember, according to the US National Academy of Sciences, a quantum computer prototype capable of breaking current encryption methods could be developed within the next decade.

By 2030, it will surprise no-one if there are fully functioning quantum computers already.

Dr Ali El Kaafarani, CEO of PQShield.

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The potential threat of quantum computing - TechHQ

TOKYO and OSAKA, Japan, March 23, 2023 Fujitsu and Osaka Universitys Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Biology (QIQB) today revealed the development of a new, highly efficient analog rotation quantum computing architecture, representing a significant milestone toward the realization of practical quantum computing.

The new architecture reduces the number of physical qubits required for quantum error correction a prerequisite for the realization of fault-tolerant quantum computing by 90% from 1 million to 10,000 qubits. This breakthrough will allow research to embark on the construction of a quantum computer with 10,000 physical qubits and 64 logical qubits, which corresponds to computing performance of approximately 100,000 times that of the peak performance of conventional high performance computers.

Moving forward, Fujitsu and Osaka University will further refine this new architecture to lead the development of quantum computers in the early FTQC era, with the aim of applying quantum computing applications to a wide range of practical societal issues including material development and finance.

Error Correction for Fault-tolerant Computing: Making Practical Quantum a Reality

Gate-based quantum computers are expected to revolutionize research in a wide range of fields including quantum chemistry and complex financial systems, as they will offer significantly higher calculation performance than current classical computers. Logical qubits, which consist of multiple physical qubits, play a major key role in quantum error correction technology, and ultimately the realization of practical quantum computers that can provide fault-tolerant results.

Within conventional quantum computing architectures, calculations are performed using a combination of four error-corrected universal quantum gates (CNOT, H, S, and T gate). Within these architectures, especially quantum error correction for T-gates requires a large number of physical qubits, and rotation of the state vector in the quantum calculation requires repeated logical T-gate operations for approximately fifty times on average. Thus, the realization of a genuine fault-tolerant quantum computer is estimated to require more than one million physical qubits in total.

For this reason, quantum computers in the early FTQC era using conventional architecture for quantum error correction can only conduct calculations on a very limited scale below that of classical computers, as they work with a maximum of about 10,000 physical qubits, a number far below that required for genuine, fault-tolerant quantum computing.

To address these issues, Fujitsu and Osaka University developed a new, highly efficient analog rotation quantum computing architecture that is able to significantly reduce the number of physical qubits required for quantum error correction, and enable even quantum computers with 10,000 physical qubits to perform better than current classical computers, accelerating progress toward the realization of genuine, fault-tolerant quantum computing.

Fujitsu and Osaka University have been promoting joint R&D in quantum error correction technology including new quantum computation architectures for the early FTQC era at the Fujitsu Quantum Computing Joint Research Division, a collaborative research effort of the QIQB, established on October 1, 2021 at the campus of Osaka University as part of Fujitsus Fujitsu Small Research Laboratory program.

About the Newly Developed Quantum Computing Architecture

By redefining the universal quantum gate set, Fujitsu and Osaka University succeeded in implementing a phase rotating gate a world first which enables highly efficient phase rotation, a process which previously required a high number of physical qubits and quantum gate operations.

In contrast to conventional architectures that required repeated logical T-gate operations using a large number of physical qubits, gate operation within the new architecture is performed by phase rotating directly to any specified angle.

In this way, the two parties succeeded in reducing the number of qubits required for quantum error correction to around 10% of existing technologies, and the number of gate operations required for arbitrary rotation to approx. 5% of conventional architectures. In addition, Fujitsu and Osaka University suppressed quantum error probability in physical qubits to about 13%, thus achieving highly accurate calculations.

The newly developed computing architecture lays the foundation for the construction of a quantum computer with 10,000 physical qubits and 64 logical qubits, which corresponds to computing performance of approximately 100,000 times that of the peak performance of conventional high performance computers.

About Fujitsu

Fujitsus purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. As the digital transformation partner of choice for customers in over 100 countries, our 124,000 employees work to resolve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Fujitsus range of services and solutions draw on five key technologies: Computing, Networks, AI, Data & Security, and Converging Technologies, which we bring together to deliver sustainability transformation. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$32 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 and remains the top digital services company in Japan by market share.

About Osaka University

Osaka University was founded in 1931 as one of the seven imperial universities of Japan and is now one of Japans leading comprehensive universities with a broad disciplinary spectrum. This strength is coupled with a singular drive for innovation that extends throughout the scientific process, from fundamental research to the creation of applied technology with positive economic impacts. Its commitment to innovation has been recognized in Japan and around the world, being named Japans most innovative university in 2015 (Reuters 2015 Top 100) and one of the most innovative institutions in the world in 2017 (Innovative Universities and the Nature Index Innovation 2017). Now, Osaka University is leveraging its role as a Designated National University Corporation selected by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to contribute to innovation for human welfare, sustainable development of society, and social transformation.

Source: Fujitsu

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Fujitsu and Osaka University Develop New Quantum Computing ... - HPCwire

By Kylianne Chadwick, NASA Space Grant Science Writing Intern, University Communications

Wednesday

This spring, "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" premiered in movie theaters across the U.S. The movie depicts a "quantum realm" a world among subatomic particles. While the ideas in the movie differ greatly from the current scientific consensus of the quantum world, applications of quantum mechanics aren't just fantasy; physicists around the globe are applying quantum principles to create powerful quantum computers that outperform conventional computers.

Quantum computers hold the promise of revolutionizing computing. Unlike conventional computers, they take advantage of quantum-mechanical effects that seem to fly in the face of how humans typically experience the world. Because quantum computers follow an entirely different set of rules than traditional computers, they can solve certain problems exponentially faster.

University of Arizona students have developed a computer game to make complex quantum computation concepts easier to grasp. The game challenges users to arrange puzzle pieces into a shape that models a quantum computing circuit. The game was designed to teach students, and even quantum researchers, an unconventional model of quantum computation.

Ashlesha Patil a doctoral student in University of Arizona Wyant College of Optical Sciences and the university-housed, National Science Foundation-funded Center for Quantum Networks presented the puzzle project at a virtual meeting of the American Physical Society on March 22. The project was done under the mentorship of Center for Quantum Networks director Saikat Guha, who is a professor in the Wyant College of Optical Sciences, and Don Towsley, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Patil relates the game to tangram, a puzzle game that was invented in China in the late 1700s. This game includes seven puzzle pieces, each a particular geometric shape and size. Even with just seven pieces, there are more than 1 billion possible ways the pieces can be arranged.

"Our game is much like tangram because the players are challenged to arrange colored blocks on a grid," Patil said. "The game isn't exactly 'real' quantum computation, but rather an educational tool to teach students and even scientists an unconventional, measurement-based way of mapping quantum circuits."

Patil and her teammate Yosef Jacobson, an undergraduate double majoring in computer science and game design and development, have almost wrapped up the development phase of the computer game. They are awaiting minor cosmetic changes before the game will be tested by a broad range of users. The current version is designed to educate students in middle school and high school, and Patil believes that the game could help prepare the upcoming generation to build and optimize quantum computers.

"The quantum information industry is growing and needs a workforce that is trained in quantum theory," Patil said, adding that quantum computers have the potential to model atoms and molecules in ways that are immensely useful for several applications, including new types of drugs, batteries, fertilizers and energy sources.

"Even if a player doesn't end up in a career related to quantum computation, we hope this game might inspire them to go into a STEM-related field," Patil said. "Our hope is that this game could generate excitement about science, in general, with young students."

Conventional computers rely on electrical charges to encode information typically represented by ones and zeroes, which in turn encode bits. Quantum computers, on the other hand, use quantum bits, or "qubits," which can assume a state of both zero and one simultaneously until the state is actually measured, a property called superposition. Because of this, groups of qubits can represent vastly more combinations than classic computer bits.

The states of bits and qubits can be changed by hardware called "gates." All digital devices use gates in their computer circuits.

"A classical computer uses gates, such as the NOT gate, which converts a zero bit into a one bit," Patil explained. "Similarly, there are quantum gates that act on single or multiple qubits simultaneously to change their state, which are represented by the puzzle pieces in our game."

Whether players are aware of it or not, they are modeling a quantum circuit as they drag and drop colored blocks quantum gates onto the game grid, with each horizontal line on the grid representing a qubit. Each round, a random quantum circuit is generated, and the user is prompted to arrange the gates for that quantum circuit while following specific rules. These rules are governed by a measurement-based model of quantum computation, abbreviated as MBQC.

"One way to implement this game is to let students have fun with the game first, then explain what they actually accomplished later," Patil said. "In this way, even young students can gain a more intuitive understanding of the model without having to know all the technical details."

The goal of the game, which is played by one player at a time, is to cover the least possible amount of area when aligning the puzzle blocks or quantum gates. If the player successfully solves the circuit, they are given a score based on how "tightly" they were able to pack the blocks and therefore solve the puzzle.

The game is based off the MBQC model, which takes into account another quirk of the quantum world that is extremely difficult to reconcile with our everyday experience: entanglement.

"Entanglement is a quantum phenomenon in which particles are 'connected,' even across vast distances," Patil said. "This means that a certain physical property of the particles is completely correlated so that if you measure the physical property of one particle, you can determine the property of the other particle."

To perform computation using the MBQC model, researchers initially prepare multiple qubits that are already locked in an entangled state. They then work backward by using the measurements, or whether the qubit ends up as a zero or one, on the entangled qubits to implement gates.

"MBQC is not a very intuitive model because it differs greatly from the way we understand classical computers," Patil said. "Even scientists in the quantum research community are less familiar with it, and that's why we developed this game."

Conventionally, researchers focus on gates when depicting quantum computation in a different model called the circuit model. This method closely relates to classical computers.

"Our game takes the intuitive part of a classic circuit model gates and maps them into puzzle blocks that signify measurements in the MBQC model," Patil said. "This reduces some of the confusion that comes with understanding MBQC measurements, making the model easier to grasp."

Like the centuries-old tangram, the student-developed computer game holds numerous possibilities.

"An optimal mapping of a quantum circuit to measurement-based quantum computation is an open problem that has not been completely solved," Patil said. "We're still figuring out the best way to 'pack' the puzzle blocks the most efficient way for real quantum circuits. Especially when there are many qubits, things get complicated."

The game project was funded by an engineering workforce development fellowship that Patil received from the Center for Quantum Networks, or CQN. UArizona was awarded $26 million under the National Science Foundation's Engineering Research Center program in September 2020 to establish the center, which is also supported by the Department of Energy.

CQN is laying the technical foundations of the first U.S.-based quantum network that can distribute quantum information at high speeds, over long distances. Along with these technological goals, the center prioritizes community-based outreach to students, offering them opportunities in quantum research.

"Our outreach focuses mostly on the lower income areas of Arizona where the students have never met scientists before," Patil said. "As you can imagine, the students get very excited to see the scientists from CQN."

Once the computer game is finished, Patil hopes it will be included in outreach efforts and eventually reach students in classrooms around the nation.

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Confused by quantum computing? Students are developing a ... - University of Arizona News