Archive for the ‘Quantum Computer’ Category

What is IBM doing in the race towards quantum computing? – TechHQ

Quantum computing uses electrons rather than transistors, for a much more rapid solution to complex problems. Theres every likelihood that the technology will be able to rapidly reduce current encryptions to dust. The quantum race is largely between China and a handful of western companies.

We may be on the verge of revolutionary AI problem-solving with news of IBMs quantum computing advancements. (We say may in tribute to Werner Heisenberg and his famous principle, and because nothing since has ever been entirely certain in the quantum world).

We are living in a golden age of artificial intelligence, with innovations seemingly bombarding us every day. The trend has continued with IBM announcing advancements in a new kind of computing that is capable of solving extraordinarily complex problems in just a few minutes.

Why is this newsworthy? Surely thats what all computers do?

Yes, but todays supercomputers would need millions of years to solve problems as complex as the ones IBM is making progress with.

Welcome to the wonderful world of quantum.

Quantum computing is a technology being developed by companies like IBM and Google. Operating in a fundamentally different way to classical computing, it relies on quantum bits (qubits) and principles including superposition and entanglement. As the name suggests, quantum physics is an intrinsic part of quantum computing. We may even need a quantum computer to explain how this type of computing works, but this technology is without question changing the world.

Everything we know is pushed to the limits with quantum computing. From science to finances and from AI to computational power, this supercomputer offers the potential for solutions to problems that are currently intractable for classical computers.

The revolutionary nature of quantum computing lies in its potential to transform problem-solving approaches. It has the potential to tackle previously unsolvable problems, and impact many fields worldwide. It presents a paradigm shift akin to the introduction of classical computing, though in comparison, quantum computings possibilities are on a vastly different and exponentially more powerful scale.

IBM director of research Dario Gill believes quantum computing will have a significant impact on the world, but that society is not yet prepared for such changes.

It feels to us like the pioneers of the 1940s and 50s that were building the first digital computers, he said. Its plain to see how much impact digital computers have had on the world since the 1950s, but quantum computing is another kettle of deeply unusual fish.

We are now at a stage where we can do certain calculations with these systems that would take the biggest supercomputers in the world to do, Gill explained. But the potential of this technology is only just being realized. The goal is to continue the expansion of quantum computing capabilities, so that not even a million or a billion of those supercomputers connected together could do the calculations of these future machines.

A quantum computer from IBM the future appears to be agreeably steampunk.

We have already witnessed significant progress in this field of technology, but the difference now is that Dario Gill, and others working in the quantum field, have a clear plan or strategy in place for further advancements. That means the rate of progress is only expected to accelerate possibly at a pace that will surprise the world.

Today, computers process information on transistors, something they have done since the advent of the transistor switch in 1947. Over time, however, the speed and capabilities of computers have increased substantially. This is due to the continuous advancement of technology. This enhancement stems from the strategy of densely integrating an increasing number of transistors onto a single chip, reaching a scale of billions of transistors in todays computer chips.

Computers require billions of transistors because they are in either an on or off state. Known as complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology, quantum computing is now presenting alternatives to this hallmark of classic computing.

Rather than using transistors, quantum computing encodes information and data on electrons. These particles, thanks to the rules of quantum mechanics, can exist in multiple states simultaneously, much like a coin spinning in the air. Simultaneously, it shows aspects of both heads and tails. Unlike traditional computing methods, that deal with one bit of data at a time on a transistor, quantum computing uses qubits. These can store and process exponentially more information because of their ability to exist in multiple states at once.

Classical computers require a step-by-step process when finding information or solving problems. Quantum computers, on the other hand, are capable of finding solutions much faster by handling numerous possibilities concurrently.

Like any up-and-coming technology, countries around the world are vying for quantum supremacy. Currently, private free enterprises and state-directed communism are the main competitors. In other words, the race is between China on one side, and IBM, Google, Microsoft, [and] Honeywell, according to physicist Michio Kaku. These are the big boys of quantum computing.

America has approximately 180 private firms researching quantum computing, most of which fund themselves. The US also has a number of government initiatives investing heavily in quantum research. Along with IBM, Google, and Microsoft, institutions including NASA, DARPA, and NIST are at the forefront of quantum computing and technology development.

Quantum computing bringing the sci-fi home.

China has been making substantial investments in quantum development and research for a number of years. For instance, it has several state-backed initiatives and research institutions, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, all working on quantum technology. Large corporations, including Alibaba and Huawei, are also involved in quantum computing research.

The US government currently spends close to $1 billion a year on quantum research, whereas China has named quantum as a top national priority. New standards for encryption are to be published by the US in 2024, something that will cause waves (or potentially particles) in the quantum field.

If youre looking for revolutions in computing as big as quantum, youre probably looking back to the machine that cracked the Enigma code

The winner of this quantum race will have striking implications, as Kaku believes the nation or company that succeeds will rule the world economy.

Think OpenAI and ChatGPT, but with the potential to crack any code, open any safe, and of course, demand any price.

As we immerse ourselves in quantum computings promising possibilities and how it is a savior to all of humanitys problems, we must not forget the challenges it also faces. For instance, coherence times need to be enhanced and machines require scaling up to operate effectively with quantum computing.

Hartmut Neven, founder and manager of Googles Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab, believes that small improvements and effective integration of existing pieces are key to building larger quantum systems. We need little improvements here and there. If we have all the pieces together, we just need to integrate them well to build larger and larger systems.

Neven and his team aim to achieve significant progress in quantum computing over the next five or six years. He believes that quantum computing holds the key to solving problems in fields like chemistry, physics, medicine, and engineering that classical computers are currently, and will always, be incapable of. You actually require a different way to represent information and process information. Thats what quantum gives you, he explained.

Further challenges persist due to the delicate nature of qubits, which are prone to errors and interference from the surrounding environment. As James Tyrrell discusses here, efforts to mitigate this noise and enhance the reliability of quantum computers are underway. The expansion of the (Quantum-Computing-as-a-Service) QCaaS ecosystem is expected to shift the focus from technical intricacies to practical applications. This will potentially allow users to harness the power of quantum computing for real-world problem-solving.

The development of quantum computing is accelerating at an exponential rate. Over the next decade or so, Dario Gil sees no reason why quantum computing can expand to thousands of qubits. He believes that systems will be built that will have tens of thousands and even a 100 thousand qubits working with each other. Where quantum technology goes from here is (thank you, Werner!) distinctly uncertain, but if the excitement is anything to go by, it may potentially have the answers to all the worlds problems.

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What is IBM doing in the race towards quantum computing? - TechHQ

The Future of Quantum Computing: Harvard Team Achieves Major Error Correction Milestone – SciTechDaily

Quantum computing has made a significant leap forward with Harvards new platform, capable of dynamic reconfiguration and demonstrating low error rates in two-qubit entangling gates. This breakthrough, highlighted in a recent Nature paper, signals a major advancement in overcoming the quantum error correction challenge, positioning Harvards technology alongside other leading quantum computing methods. The work, a collaboration with MIT and others, marks a crucial step towards scalable, error-corrected quantum computing. Credit: SciTechDaily.com

Quantum computing technology, with its potential for unprecedented speed and efficiency, significantly surpasses the capabilities of even the most advanced supercomputers currently available. However, this innovative technology has not been widely scaled or commercialized, primarily because of its inherent limitations in error correction. Quantum computers, unlike classical ones, cannot correct errors by copying encoded data over and over. Scientists had to find another way.

Now,a new paper inNatureillustrates a Harvard quantum computing platforms potential to solve the longstanding problem known as quantum error correction.

Leading the Harvard team isquantum optics expert Mikhail Lukin, the Joshua and Beth Friedman University Professor in physics and co-director of theHarvard Quantum Initiative. The work reported in Nature was a collaboration among Harvard, MIT, and Boston-basedQuEra Computing. Also involved was the group ofMarkus Greiner, the George Vasmer Leverett Professor of Physics.

An effort spanning the last several years,the Harvard platformis built on an array ofvery cold, laser-trappedrubidium atoms. Each atom acts as a bit or a qubit as its called in the quantum world which can perform extremely fast calculations.

The teams chief innovation is configuring their neutral atom array to be able to dynamically change its layout by moving and connecting atoms this is called entangling in physics parlance mid-computation. Operations that entangle pairs of atoms, called two-qubit logic gates, are units of computing power.

Running a complicated algorithm on a quantum computer requires many gates. However, these gate operations are notoriously error-prone, and a buildup of errors renders the algorithm useless.

In the new paper, the team reports near-flawless performance of its two-qubit entangling gates with extremely low error rates. For the first time, they demonstrated the ability to entangle atoms with error rates below 0.5 percent. In terms of operation quality, this puts their technologys performance on par with other leading types of quantum computing platforms, like superconducting qubits and trapped-ion qubits.

However, Harvards approach has major advantages over these competitors due to its large system sizes, efficient qubit control, and ability to dynamically reconfigure the layout of atoms.

Weve established that this platform has low enough physical errors that you can actually envision large-scale, error-corrected devices based on neutral atoms, said first author Simon Evered, a Harvard Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences student in Lukins group. Our error rates are low enough now that if we were to group atoms together into logical qubits where information is stored non-locally among the constituent atoms these quantum error-corrected logical qubits could have even lower errors than the individual atoms.

The Harvard teams advancesare reportedin the same issue of Nature as other innovations led by former Harvard graduate studentJeff Thompson, now at Princeton University, and former Harvard postdoctoral fellowManuel Endres, now at California Institute of Technology. Taken together, these advances lay the groundwork for quantum error-corrected algorithms and large-scale quantum computing. All of this means quantum computing on neutral atom arrays is showing the full breadth of its promise.

These contributions open the door for very special opportunities in scalable quantum computing and a truly exciting time for this entire field ahead, Lukin said.

Reference: High-fidelity parallel entangling gates on a neutral-atom quantum computer by Simon J. Evered, Dolev Bluvstein, Marcin Kalinowski, Sepehr Ebadi, Tom Manovitz, Hengyun Zhou, Sophie H. Li, Alexandra A. Geim, Tout T. Wang, Nishad Maskara, Harry Levine, Giulia Semeghini, Markus Greiner, Vladan Vuleti and Mikhail D. Lukin, 11 October 2023,Nature. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06481-y

The research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energys Quantum Systems Accelerator Center; the Center for Ultracold Atoms; the National Science Foundation; the Army Research Office Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative; and the DARPAOptimization with Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum Devices program.

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The Future of Quantum Computing: Harvard Team Achieves Major Error Correction Milestone - SciTechDaily

Harvard, QuEra, MIT, and the NIST/University of Maryland Usher in New Era of Quantum Computing by Performing … – AZoQuantum

QuEra Computing, the leader in neutral-atom quantum computers, today announced a significant breakthrough published in the scientific journal Nature. In experiments led by Harvard University in close collaboration with QuEra Computing, MIT, and NIST/UMD, researchers successfully executed large-scale algorithms on an error-corrected quantum computer with 48 logical qubits and hundreds of entangling logical operations. This advancement, a significant leap in quantum computing, sets the stage for developing truly scalable and fault-tolerant quantum computers that could solve practical classically intractable problems.

"We at Moodys Analytics recognize the monumental significance of achieving 48 logical qubits in a fault-tolerant quantum computing environmentand its potential to revolutionize data analytics and financial simulations, said Sergio Gago, Managing Director of Quantum and AI at Moodys Analytics. This brings us closer to a future where quantum computing is not just an experimental endeavor but a practical tool that can deliver real-world solutions for our clients. This pivotal moment could redefine how industries approach complex computational challenges."

A critical challenge preventing quantum computing from reaching its enormous potential is the noise that affects qubits, corrupting computations before reaching the desired results. Quantum error correction overcomes these limitations by creating logical qubits," groups of physical qubits that are entangled to store information redundantly. This redundancy allows for identifying and correcting errors that may occur during quantum computations. By using logical qubits instead of individual physical qubits, quantum systems can achieve a level of fault tolerance, making them more robust and reliable for complex computations.

This is a truly exciting time in our field as the fundamental ideas of quantum error correction and fault tolerance are starting to bear fruit, said Mikhail Lukin, the Joshua and Beth Friedman University Professor, co-director of the Harvard Quantum Initiative, and co-founder of QuEra Computing. This work, leveraging the outstanding recent progress in the neutral-atom quantum computing community, is a testament to the incredible effort of exceptionally talented students and postdocs as well as our remarkable collaborators at QuEra, MIT, and NIST/UMD.Although we are clear-eyed about the challenges ahead, we expect that this new advance will greatly accelerate the progress towards large-scale, useful quantum computers, enabling thenext phase of discovery and innovation.

Previous demonstrations of error correction have showcased one, two, or three logical qubits. This new work demonstrates quantum error correction in 48 logical qubits, enhancing computational stability and reliability while addressing the error problem. On the path to large-scale quantum computation, Harvard, QuEra, and the collaborators reported the following critical achievements:

Creation and entanglement of the largest logical qubits to date, demonstrating a code distance of 7, enabling the detection and correction of arbitrary errors occurring during the entangling logical gate operations. Larger code distances imply higher resistance to quantum errors. Furthermore, the research showed for the first time that increasing the code distance indeed reduces the error rate in logical operations.

The breakthrough utilized an advanced neutral-atom system quantum computer, combining hundreds of qubits, high two-qubit gate fidelities, arbitrary connectivity, fully programmable single-qubit rotations, and mid-circuit readout.

The system also included hardware-efficient control in reconfigurable neutral-atom arrays, employing direct, parallel control over an entire group of logical qubits. This parallel control dramatically reduces the control overhead and complexity of performing logical operations. While using as many as 280 physical qubits, researchers needed to program fewer than ten control signals to execute all of the required operations in the study. Other quantum modalities typically require hundreds of control signals for the same number of qubits. As quantum computers scale to many thousands of qubits, efficient control becomes critically important.

"The achievement of 48 logical qubits with high fault tolerance is a watershed moment in the quantum computing industry, said Matt Langione, Partner at the Boston Consulting Group. This breakthrough not only accelerates the timeline for practical quantum applications but also opens up new avenues for solving problems that were previously considered intractable by classical computing methods. It's a game-changer that significantly elevates the commercial viability of quantum computing. Businesses across sectors should take note, as the race to quantum advantage just got a major boost."

"Today marks a historic milestone for QuEra and the broader quantum computing community, said Alex Keesling, CEO, QuEra Computing, These achievements are the culmination of a multi-year effort, led by our Harvard and MIT academic collaborators together with QuEra scientists and engineers, to push the boundaries of what's possible in quantum computing. This isn't just a technological leap; it's a testament to the power of collaboration and investment in pioneering research. We're thrilled to set the stage for a new era of scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computing that can tackle some of the world's most complex problems. The future of quantum is here, and QuEra is proud to be at the forefront of this revolution."

Our experience in manufacturing and operating quantum computers - such as our first-generation machine available on a public cloud since 2022 - coupled with this groundbreaking research, puts us in a prime position to lead the quantum revolution, added Keesling.

The work was supported by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency through the Optimization with Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum devices (ONISQ) program, the National Science Foundation, the Center for Ultracold Atoms (an NSF Physics Frontiers Center), and the Army Research Office.

QuEra also announced a special event on Jan 9th at 11:30 AM ET, where QuEra will reveal its commercial roadmap for fault-tolerant quantum computers. Register for this online event athttps://quera.link/roadmap

Source:https://www.quera.com/

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Harvard, QuEra, MIT, and the NIST/University of Maryland Usher in New Era of Quantum Computing by Performing ... - AZoQuantum

Disruptive Concepts: Quantum Revolution The Interconnected World of Krylov and Nielsen Complexity – Medium

Artistic depiction of the concept of quantum complexity, symbolizing the intricate nature of quantum systems.

Imagine stepping into a world where the laws of physics as we know them take a back seat, and a new set of rules, governed by quantum mechanics, reigns supreme. This is the world of quantum systems, a field so bewildering yet fascinating that it captures the imagination of scientists and enthusiasts alike. Today, were going to embark on an exciting journey into the depths of quantum evolution, exploring a groundbreaking study that links two complex concepts: Krylov and Nielsen complexity. This exploration is not just a theoretical exercise; it has profound implications for the future of quantum computing and our understanding of the quantum universe.

Before we dive deeper, lets break down these complex terms. In the realm of quantum physics, understanding how information spreads in a system is crucial. This is where Krylov complexity comes into play. It measures how a quantum state evolves over time, spreading across different levels of a quantum system.

On the other hand, Nielsen complexity approaches quantum evolution from a different angle. It is used in quantum computing and algorithms, focusing on finding the most efficient way to evolve one quantum state into another. Think of it as a GPS for quantum states, finding the shortest route from point A to point B in the complex network of quantum evolution.

The study we are focusing on, titled A Relation between Krylov and Nielsen Complexity, does something extraordinary. It finds a connection between these two seemingly unrelated aspects of quantum theory. This discovery is akin to finding a hidden bridge between two distant islands, each representing a different perspective on quantum evolution.

The researchers embarked on this journey by comparing the time-averaged Krylov complexity with the late-time value of the upper bound on Nielsen complexity. They found that despite their different starting points and applications, both complexities could be expressed through specific mathematical formulas that showed a tantalizing similarity. This revelation is not just a

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Disruptive Concepts: Quantum Revolution The Interconnected World of Krylov and Nielsen Complexity - Medium

Quantum Leaps: Unraveling the Mysteries of Quantum Computing | by ATHARV AMBADE | Dec, 2023 – Medium

In the heart of Silicon Valley, where innovation is the lifeblood and the future is always a step ahead, a group of brilliant minds embarked on a journey that would redefine the very fabric of computing. The air hummed with anticipation as whispers of quantum computing echoed through the corridors of tech giants and startups alike.

As the quantum dawn approached, a small but determined team of researchers at Quantum Innovations Inc. pushed the boundaries of classical computing, aiming to harness the power of quantum mechanics. Their quest was to unlock the secrets of quantum bits, or qubits, and propel us into an era where computational power would reach unprecedented heights.

The story begins in a nondescript lab, tucked away from the bustling streets of Palo Alto. Dr. Olivia Chen, a physicist with a penchant for the abstract, led the team. Armed with a vision of quantum supremacy, they faced the daunting challenge of taming the unruly world of quantum mechanics.

Months turned into years as the researchers grappled with the delicate dance of qubits. Unlike classical bits that exist in a state of either 0 or 1, qubits could exist in multiple states simultaneously due to the principles of superposition. It was a delicate balance, and every attempt to harness this quantum dance was met with both breakthroughs and setbacks.

The team encountered unforeseen challenges, such as quantum entanglement and decoherence, threatening to derail their progress. However, with each obstacle, they emerged stronger, armed with new insights and innovative solutions. The lab became a crucible of discovery, where failure was not the end but a stepping stone toward the ultimate goal.

Word spread through the tech community as Quantum Innovations Inc. published groundbreaking papers and held clandestine conferences to share their progress. Excitement grew as the implications of quantum computing became clear solving complex problems in minutes that would take classical computers eons, revolutionizing fields from cryptography to drug discovery.

One fateful day, the team achieved quantum supremacy, a moment that reverberated across the technological landscape. The quantum computer, now affectionately known as Quanta, solved a problem deemed impossible for classical computers in mere seconds. The breakthrough echoed through the industry, triggering a wave of investment, research collaborations, and a renewed sense of what was possible.

As Quanta continued to evolve, the boundaries of what we thought achievable in computing were shattered. The story of Quantum Innovations Inc. became a beacon of inspiration, symbolizing the relentless pursuit of knowledge and the triumph of human ingenuity over the complexities of the quantum realm.

The world watched in awe as the quantum revolution unfolded, ushering in an era where the impossible was merely a challenge waiting to be conquered. In the hallowed halls of Silicon Valley, the quantum pioneers continued to push the boundaries of technology, unveiling a future where quantum leaps were not just a metaphor, but a reality shaping the digital landscape for generations to come.

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Quantum Leaps: Unraveling the Mysteries of Quantum Computing | by ATHARV AMBADE | Dec, 2023 - Medium