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Quantum mechanics famously allows objects to be in two places at the same time. The same principle can be applied to information, represented by bits: quantum bits can be both zero and one at the same time. The field of quantum information science seeks to engineer real-world devices that can store and process quantum states of information. It is believed that computers operating according to such principles will be capable of solving problems exponentially faster than existing computers, while quantum networks have provable security guarantees. The same concepts can be applied to making more precise sensors and measurement devices. Constructing such systems is a significant challenge, because quantum effects are typically confined to the atomic scale. However, through careful engineering, several physical platforms have been identified for quantum computing, including superconducting circuits, laser-cooled atoms and ions and electron spins in semiconductors.

Research at Princeton focuses on several aspects of this problem, ranging from fundamental studies of materials and devices to quantum computer architecture and algorithms. Our research groups have close-knit collaborations across several departments including chemistry, computer science and physics and with industry.

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Quantum Engineering | Electrical and Computer Engineering

A new type of quantum computer has proven that it can reign supreme, too.

A photonic quantum computer, which harnesses particles of light, or photons, performed a calculation thats impossible for a conventional computer, researchers in China report online December 3 in Science. That milestone, known as quantum supremacy, has been met only once before, in 2019 by Googles quantum computer (SN: 10/23/19). Googles computer, however, is based on superconducting materials, not photons.

This is the first independent confirmation of Googles claim that you really can achieve quantum supremacy, says theoretical computer scientist Scott Aaronson of the University of Texas at Austin. Thats exciting.

Named Jiuzhang after an ancient Chinese mathematical text, the new quantum computer can perform a calculation in 200 seconds that would take more than half a billion years on the worlds fastest non-quantum, or classical, computer.

My first impression was, wow, says quantum physicist Fabio Sciarrino of Sapienza University of Rome.

Googles device, called Sycamore, is based on tiny quantum bits made of superconducting materials, which conduct energy without resistance. In contrast, Jiuzhang consists of a complex array of optical devices that shuttle photons around. Those devices include light sources, hundreds of beam splitters, dozens of mirrors and 100 photon detectors.

Employing a process called boson sampling, Jiuzhang generates a distribution of numbers that is exceedingly difficult for a classical computer to replicate. Heres how it works: Photons are first sent into a network of channels. There, each photon encounters a series of beam splitters, each of which sends the photon down two paths simultaneously, in whats called a quantum superposition. Paths also merge together, and the repeated splitting and merging causes the photons to interfere with one another according to quantum rules.

Finally, the number of photons in each of the networks output channels is measured at the end. When repeated many times, this process produces a distribution of numbers based on how many photons were found in each output.

If operated with large numbers of photons and many channels, the quantum computer will produce a distribution of numbers that is too complex for a classical computer to calculate. In the new experiment, up to 76 photons traversed a network of 100 channels. For one of the worlds most powerful classical computers, the Chinese supercomputer Sunway TaihuLight, predicting the results that the quantum computer would get for anything beyond about 40 photons was intractable.

While Google was the first to break the quantum supremacy barrier, the milestone is not a single-shot achievement, says study coauthor and quantum physicist Chao-Yang Lu of the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei. Its a continuous competition between constantly improved quantum hardware and constantly improved classical simulation. After Googles quantum supremacy claim, for example, IBM proposed a type of calculation that might allow a supercomputer to perform the task Googles computer completed, at least theoretically.

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And achieving quantum supremacy doesnt necessarily indicate that the quantum computers are yet very useful, because the calculations are esoteric ones designed to be difficult for classical computers.

The result does boost the profile of photonic quantum computers, which havent always received as much attention as other technologies, says quantum physicist Christian Weedbrook, CEO of Xanadu, a Toronto-based company focused on building photonic quantum computers. Historically, photonics has been the dark horse.

One limitation of Jiuzhang, Weedbrook notes, is that it can perform only a single type of task, namely, boson sampling. In contrast, Googles quantum computer could be programmed to execute a variety of algorithms. But other types of photonic quantum computers, including Xanadus, are programmable.

Demonstrating quantum supremacy with a different type of device reveals how rapidly quantum computing is progressing, Sciarrino says. The fact that now the two different platforms are able to achieve this regime shows that the whole field is advancing in a very mature way.

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Light-based quantum computer Jiuzhang achieves quantum ...

[47] R. Barends, J. Kelly, A. Megrant, A. Veitia, D. Sank, E. Jeffrey, T.C. White, et al., 2014, Superconducting quantum circuits at the surface code threshold for fault tolerance, Nature 508(7497):500.

[48] L. DiCarlo, J.M. Chow, J.M. Gambetta, L.S. Bishop, B.R. Johnson, D.I. Schuster, J. Majer, A. Blais, L. Frunzio, S.M. Girvin, and R.J. Schoelkopf, 2009, Demonstration of two-qubit algorithms with a superconducting quantum processor, Nature 460:240-244.

[49] E. Lucero, R. Barends, Y. Chen, J. Kelly, M. Mariantoni, A. Megrant, P. OMalley, et al., 2012, Computing prime factors with a Josephson phase qubit quantum processor, Nature Physics 8:719-723.

[50] P.J.J. OMalley, R. Babbush, I.D. Kivlichan, J. Romero, J.R. McClean, R. Barends, J. Kelly, et al., 2016, Scalable quantum simulation of molecular energies, Physical Review X 6:031007.

[51] N.K. Langford, R. Sagastizabal, M. Kounalakis, C. Dickel, A. Bruno, F. Luthi, D.J. Thoen, A. Endo, and L. DiCarlo, 2017, Experimentally simulating the dynamics of quantum light and matter at deep-strong coupling, Nature Communications 8:1715.

[52] M.D. Reed, L. DiCarlo, S.E. Nigg, L. Sun, L. Frunzio, S.M. Girvin, and R.J. Schoelkopf, 2012, Realization for three-qubit quantum error correction with superconducting circuits, Nature 482:382-385.

[53] J. Kelly, R. Barends, A.G. Fowler, A. Megrant, E. Jeffrey, T. C. White, D. Sank, et al., 2015, State preservation by repetitive error detection in a superconducting quantum circuit, Nature 519:66-69.

[54] A.D. Crcoles, E. Magesan, S.J. Srinivasan, A.W. Cross, M. Steffen, J.M. Gambetta, and J.M. Chow, 2015, Demonstration of a quantum error detection code using a square lattice of four superconducting qubits, Nature Communications 6:6979.

[55] D. Rist, S. Poletto, M.-Z. Huang, A. Bruno, V. Vesterinen, O.-P. Saira, and L. DiCarlo, 2015, Detecting bit-flip errors in a logical qubit using stabilizer measurements, Nature Communications 6:6983.

[56] N. Ofek, A. Petrenko, R. Heeres, P. Reinhold, Z. Leghtas, B. Vlastakis, Y. Liu, et al., 2016, Extending the lifetime of a quantum bit with error correction in superconducting circuits, Nature 536:441-445.

[57] IBM Q Team, 2018, IBM Q 5 Yorktown Backend Specification V1.1.0, https://ibm.biz/qiskit-yorktown; IBM Q Team, 2018, IBM Q 5 Tenerife backend specification V1.1.0, https://ibm.biz/qiskit-tenerife.

[58] Ibid.

[59] M.W. Johnson, M.H.S. Amin, S. Gildert, T. Lanting, F. Hamze, N. Dickson, R. Harris, et al., 2011, Quantum annealing with manufactured spins, Nature 473:194-198.

[60] D Wave, Technology Information, http://dwavesys.com/resources/publications.

[61] John Martinis, private conversation.

[62] W.D. Oliver and P.B. Welander, 2013, Materials in superconducting qubits, MRS Bulletin 38:816.

[63] D. Rosenberg, D.K. Kim, R. Das, D. Yost, S. Gustavsson, D. Hover, P. Krantz, et al., 2017, 3D integrated superconducting qubits, npj Quantum Information 3:42.

[64] B. Foxen, J.Y. Mutus, E. Lucero, R. Graff, A. Megrant, Y. Chen, C. Quintana, et al., 2017, Qubit Compatible Superconducting Interconnects, arXiv:1708.04270.

[65] J.M. Chow, J.M. Gambetta, A.D. Corcoles, S.T. Merkel, J.A. Smolin, C. Rigetti, S. Poletto, G.A. Keefe, M.B. Rothwell, J.R. Rozen, M.B. Ketchen, and M. Steffen, 2012, Universal quantum gate set approaching fault-tolerant thresholds with superconducing qubits, Physical Review Letters 109:060501.

[66] See, for example, J.W. Silverstone, D. Bonneau, J.L. OBrien, and M.G. Thompson, 2016, Silicon quantum photonics, IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics 22:390-402;

T. Rudolph, 2017, Why I am optimistic about the silicon-photonic route to quantum computing?, APL Photonics 2:030901.

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5 Essential Hardware Components of a Quantum Computer ...

An ion chamber houses the brains of a Honeywell quantum computer.

The Commerce Department on Wednesdaybarred US firms from exporting quantum computing technology to eight Chinese companies and labs to try to keep the country from decrypting sensitive US communications and developing new military technology.

"Global trade and commerce should support peace, prosperity, and good-paying jobs, not national security risks," Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement.

Though still technologically immature, quantum computers eventually could crack conventional encryption. The US government also is leading an active program to develop post-quantum cryptography, but communications that are intercepted today could be exposed if quantum computers become powerful enough.

Quantum computers take advantage of the physics of the ultrasmall to perform a radically different type of computation than conventional computer chips in today's phones, laptops and supercomputers. But today they work only at small scales, are prone to errors that derail calculations and are finicky enough to require ultracold conditions.

The department also pointed to quantum computing military risks involving "counter-stealth and counter-submarine applications." It detailed in theFederal Registerthe Chinese organizations added to its entities list involving export controls.

Another market where quantum computers also have potential is simulating molecular structures that could lead to new materials. Military technology has benefited immensely from materials science in the past, so quantum computing could lead to new breakthroughs.

To capitalize on these breakthroughs, many US companies are investing billions of dollars in developing quantum computers. That includes Google, IBM, Microsoft, Honeywell, IonQ, Rigetti, D-Wave and Intel. Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai said in November thatChinese researchers are tied with Google in the race to develop quantum computing technology.

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US blocks export of quantum computing tech to Chinese organizations - CNET

Engage 2021, Princetons second annual innovation and entrepreneurship conference, will be held online Dec. 1 and 2, offering opportunities to learn about the transformation of discoveries into innovations that benefit society from biomedicine and clean energy to wireless, cryptocurrency and quantum computing.

The two-day virtual gathering, hosted by Princeton Innovation, will include tips and case studies on successful new technologies and academic-industry partnerships, as well as guidance on funding opportunities for research and entrepreneurship, with a special focus on the growing innovation ecosystem in New Jersey and the tri-state area.

Faculty, researchers, students and alumni from Princeton and other institutions, entrepreneurs and those entrepreneurially-minded, industry representatives and government policymakers, are invited to register for the conference, which which is free and open to everyone,

By bringing people together from across the regional and global innovation ecosystems, Princeton is helping to grow a robust and inclusive environment that brings positive impacts to the broader community, the economy, and to daily life, said Vice Dean for Innovation Rodney Priestley, the Pomeroy and Betty Perry Smith Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering.

Priestley leads Princeton Innovation, a University initiative that supports faculty, students and researchers as they transform discoveries emerging from science, engineering, social sciences and humanities into ventures and activities that can create a positive impact on society. Priestley will kick off Engage 2021 with updates on the initiative, which is part of Princetons Office of the Dean for Research.

Marian Croak, Class of 1977 and vice president of engineering at Google

Headlining the conference will be Marian Croak, Class of 1977 and vice president of engineering at Google, in a conversation with chair of computer science Jennifer Rexford about the contributions of women in STEM fields, the importance of mentorship, and being an intrapreneur andinnovator at a large company. This year, Croak became one of the first two Black women inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, in recognition of her work on advancing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technologies, a key development in audio and video conferencing.

Another keynote session will feature a conversation between Andrea Goldsmith, dean of Princetons School of Engineering and Applied Science, and Naveen Verma, director of the Keller Center for Innovation in Engineering Education. They will discuss developments and opportunities for innovation in the New Jersey region, and connections between entrepreneurship, research and teaching at Princeton.

This conference will help enable all of us seeking to make a positive difference engineers, scientists, humanists, social scientists, business leaders and startup enablers to engage with each other in fostering innovation that strengthens society, said Goldsmith, the Arthur LeGrand Doty Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, who has founded two companies around her expertise in wireless technology.

As part of the conference, the 13th annual Celebrate Princeton Innovation showcase will honor Princeton faculty-led discoveries in life sciences and technology that have the potential to become everyday innovations.

The showcase features 10 Princeton faculty experts discussing their discoveries on topics including a new technology to prevent smartphone theft, new anticancer therapeutic strategies, early detection of autism and other neurobehavioral conditions, clean and inexpensive lithium-ion battery recycling, electric bandages, and more. The keynote address will feature blockchain-technology startup Offchain Labs cofounder Edward Felten, the Robert E. Kahn Professor of Computer Science and Public Affairs, Emeritus.

Mohammad Seyedsayamdost, professor of chemistry, has been selected to receive Princetons second annual prize for innovative faculty, the Dean for Research Award for Distinguished Innovation, for the creation of a method for discovering new anti-infective agents, including drugs that treat bacterial, viral and fungal infections. Seyedsayamdost, who has cofounded the startup Cryptyx Bioscience, will receive the award and give a talk about his technology.

Engage 2021 will also feature a New Jersey startup showcase of academic scientists and engineers raising venture funds for companies based on their research, including Marcus Hultmark, an associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Princeton. Hultmark and his team recently received an Edison Patent Award from the Research and Development Council of New Jersey for their low-cost, nanotechnology-based industrial velocity sensors.

Hultmarks company, Tendo Technologies, was launched in 2018 with support from the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program and the eLab Summer Accelerator at Princetons Keller Center. Princeton is now the leading institution of the I-Corps Northeast Hub, which was announced earlier this year with a $15 million grant to accelerate the impact of federally funded research and advance diversity in entrepreneurship. I-Corps Northeast Hub leaders from Rutgers, Rowan and Drexel Universities will discuss the hubs activities and opportunities in a panel discussion.

Another panel discussion will cover the benefits of joining a startup accelerator, and how to choose the right accelerator and create a strong application. Representatives from the accelerators QED, VentureWell and FedTech will join the conversation, as will Garrett Winther of the HAX accelerator. HAX recently announced it would establish its U.S. headquarters in Newark, New Jersey, after a persuasive State of New Jersey pitch supported by Princeton Engineering dean Goldsmith on behalf of Princeton. HAX aims to invest $25 million in 100 new technology companies over the next five years with a focus on re-industrialization and decarbonization of the U.S.

Engage 2021 sessions will feature many Princeton science and engineering faculty members, along with panelists from industry and other universities, discussing emerging technologies in decarbonized transportation, cancer research, quantum computing, wireless communications, and artificial intelligence in bioengineering.

Our vision is for Princeton to be a catalyst for a diverse, inclusive and human-centered high-tech hub for the entire tri-state region, said Goldsmith. We have much exciting progress, but we need to keep building partnerships. I encourage anyone with a passion for building new ventures and harnessing technology for the good of humanity to join us.

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Tech pioneers to headline Princeton conference on innovation and entrepreneurship - Princeton University