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Those in the field of quantum computing have long been working on pushing forward developing quantum processors, of course, but the prospect of quantum RAM just popped onto the scene, thanks to new research into so-called time crystals.

As Toms Hardware (opens in new tab), which spotted this, points out, the idea of time crystals is not a new one, and they were first theorized a decade ago by Frank Wilczek, a theoretical physicist who scooped a Nobel.

Then in 2016, two groups of scientists laid claim to creating the first time crystals, and now, in a new paper published via Nature (opens in new tab), researchers from the Aalto University in Finland have successfully experimented with a pair of coupled time crystals, and this could potentially point the way to the creation of quantum RAM as mentioned.

What exactly is a time crystal? Its a quantum system with particles in a periodic pattern of motion which repeats and is sustained in perpetuity, without burning or creating energy.

In other words, this is a system that achieves a stable state of motion without energy yet still obeys the laws of thermodynamics. Theres no work carried out in the system, or energy that can be tapped from it.

The researchers created their system of two coupled time crystals in helium-3 in a superfluid state (achieved by cooling to just a tiny amount above absolute zero), using a laser to create the time crystals (pumping energy into them).

In this experiment, the time crystals movement continued not indefinitely, but for almost 17 minutes, although that really is an absolute age in quantum computing (where coherence times are measured in milliseconds, and not even seconds let alone minutes).

And its long enough to prompt the speculation that time crystals could eventually be the key to unlocking the quantum computing equivalent of RAM, acting as a system with the potential for lasting storage that the quantum processor can access. Whats more, the researchers have also theorized that this system of coupled time crystals could be made to work at room temperature (rather than having to be cooled to very nearly absolute zero, as is the case with this experiment, which is not very practical of course).

In short, there seem decent prospects that this idea of quantum RAM made with time crystals could eventually see the light of day; although in reality, theres still a whole lot of road to travel down (and thats true enough about the broader world of quantum computers, of course).

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Never mind DDR5, quantum RAM could be a thing thanks to time crystals - TechRadar

Recent incidents of electric vehicle (EV) catching fire has shocked the Indian ecosystem and hindered the broad adoption of these vehicles. Before March of this year, there has been a substantial rise in the demand for electric vehicles and rapid advances in innovation and technology. Improvements in the battery technology, through increased efficiency and range, have made the EVs more accessible to the mass public, as the sector is currently dominated by two-wheelers and three-wheelers in India. According to Mordor Intelligence, Indias electric vehicle market was valued at $1.4 trillion in 2021, and it is expected to reach $15.4 trillion by 2027, recording a CAGR of 47.09% over the forecast period (2022-2027). Since March, the challenge in EV has shifted from affordability, charging, and range anxiety to safety. Safety has been of prime importance and an EV catching fire has led to dire consequences and even fatal.

The question is, why is this happening?

A report by the Defence Research and Development Organisations (DRDO) Centre for Fire Explosive and Environment Safety points it to the EV batteries. The issues highlighted includes poor quality cells, lack of fuse, issues with thermal management, and battery management system (BMS).

The highlighted issues cause the batteries to experience Thermal Runaway problem, leading to the fires. This phenomenon occurs when an increase in temperature changes the conditions in a manner that causes further increase in temperature, often leading to a destructive result. The issue highlighted by the DRDO report are all potential causes of thermal runaway. Lets explain why.

Local atmospheric temperature directly affects the operating temperature of battery. For efficient performance, batterys operating temperature should be around 20-35 C. To keep the battery at this temperature, EVs need battery thermal management system (BTMS). Now, with rising temperatures in our cities, the BTMS are being challenged and possibly due to the poor thermal management system of EV batteries, thermal runaway is being caused.

Another cause for the thermal runaway, is possibly due to the rapid battery charging. With the evolution of battery technology, charging technology is also advancing. While the fast charging can greatly improve the convenience of EVs, it increases the risks related to batteries. Fast charging an EV can overheat the battery system, enough to melt the electrical wires and cause short circuits, leading to explosive consequences, as already seen by several charging-related incidents.

While hot weather conditions and inadequate thermal management systems of the battery can negatively impact performance and shorten life, they alone cannot cause thermal runaway. As mentioned by DRDO report, inefficient, or even absence of, fuse as a fail-safe mechanism is a missing component causing thermal runaway.

The causes of thermal runaway highlighted above could be due to either inefficient design or not enough testing by EV manufacturers. But the manufacturers cannot spend more time on increased testing due to time-to-market constraints.

Whats the solution?

As stated, design and testing phase are very important phases of any product manufacturing. Since the era of industry 4.0, all design and testing have moved digitally and carried out on large-scale powerful computers through what is called Engineering Simulations (referred to as Simulations hereafter). Simulations can be of various types some of which are thermal (studying the effect of heat and temperature on object), structural (studying effect of objects strength, stress, and failure), fluid (studying effect of flow in and around an object), and electrochemical (studying effect of chemistry on electricity). Thermal runaway is a complex engineering problem, entailing all the types of simulations mentioned above. With the right simulation tools, simulations allow to mimic every possible physical condition, rising temperature, fast charging, or fuse placement and find areas of problem. After identifying, it can also aid in testing different solutions and hence avoid thermal runaway all together.

The question then becomes why are we seeing the news at all?

Biggest issue EV manufactures have with performing numerous simulations is the duration of time. To run a series of simulations, it can take months to obtain results with minimal flaws and defects (high accuracy simulations). Manufacturers cannot afford this as it greatly hampers the time to market. Thus, companies opt for simulations that can provide solutions but with several minor flaws and defects (low accuracy simulations) to them, leading to large mishaps like EV explosions, system failures, and affecting human lives. In addition, if the companies do find some time to perform these simulations with minimum flaws and defects (high accuracy simulations), the cost that manufacturers incur is very high due to the need for supercomputers whether on-premises (setup and maintenance cost) or on cloud (due high duration time of the computing).

So the real issue is the computing technology bottleneck. This is where the next-generation computing technology of Quantum computers can step in and revolutionize the industries like EV and Battery Design. This new technology is much more powerful, enabling exponential abilities to these industries.

Prospect of Quantum-powered simulations

The power Quantum computers is showcased by its ability to perform the same simulations in much less time compared to classical supercomputers. Hence, this technology can significantly help EV manufacturers in their time to market.

Moreover, the ability to obtain high accuracy from simulations is vital in using them in the product development process. Since high accuracy simulations took lot of time before, making them prohibitive, quantum-powered simulations can now enable the manufacturers to perform accurate simulations at reasonable time, in hours instead of months. Added accuracy will not only help companies create more efficient designs and improve the reliability of their vehicles, but also help in saving something invaluable, i.e., Lives. In addition, the speedup from Quantum computations enables lower computing usages, decreasing the overall cost and making it affordable for EV manufacturers.

Whats next?

In the computing sphere, Quantum Computing is the revolutionizing system, changing our understanding of computations and shows tremendous potential as shown by various use cases. While the prospect of Quantum-powered simulations offers the advantage of Better, Faster, and Cheaper, the development is very challenging as the Quantum computers work in entirely different ways.

Good news is that companies are already developing & building Quantum-powered simulation software, which can solve problems of thermal runaway and optimization of BTMS. Quantum Computing is here and now!

Views expressed above are the author's own.

END OF ARTICLE

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Quantum computing can solve EVs safety woes - Times of India

The University of Ottawa is teaming up with a Toronto-based company to develop and commercialize high-powered quantum computing technology.

The university said this week its signed a memorandum of understanding with Xanadu, one of the worlds leading suppliers of quantum hardware and software, to create new courses aimed at training the next generation of quantum computing experts as well as develop algorithms to make high-speed quantum computers even more powerful.

The one-year agreement, which has the option of being renewed, is expected to take effect in September. Sylvain Charbonneau, the universitys vice-president of research and innovation, said it will make uOttawa a leader in discovering real-world applications for quantum computing.

This partnership will help elevate emerging quantum research by giving our students and researchers access to the cutting-edge technologies and expertise held at Xanadu, he said in a statement.

It has the potential to change lives as we train the next generation of quantum pioneers, and work with industry experts to develop and commercialize real-life applications.

Xanadu will provide an undisclosed amount of funding for the research program. The federal government which last year said it planned to invest $360 million in a national strategy to advance quantum research is also expected to help fund the project.

Combining uOttawa's deep knowledge in quantum photonics with Xanadu's industry-leading expertise in quantum hardware and software will pave the way for tackling today's most important scientific and engineering challenges, Josh Izaac, Xanadu's director of product, said in a statement.

Under the agreement, uOttawa researchers will use Xanadus hardware and software to test quantum computing technology in real-world settings and help find ways of commercializing it.

Charbonneau said Xanadu which was founded in Toronto in 2016 and now employs more than 130 people will also help the school create new quantum diploma and certificate programs that straddle the border between science and engineering.

Quantum computing uses the laws of quantum physics, tapping into the world of atoms and molecules to create computers that are many times faster and more powerful than traditional digital computers.

Charbonneau said the technology has a wide range of applications, including encrypting data to make it more difficult for hackers to crack and creating ultra-powerful sensors for industries such as health care and mining.

The veteran academic said recent market research suggests quantum computing will be an $86-billion industry by 2040.

Its going to be big, he told Techopia on Wednesday afternoon. If youre (the Department of National Defence) and you want to communicate securely between A and B, youre going to use quantum cryptography for sure.

Charbonneau said uOttawa currently has more than 70 faculty members involved in quantum research, from faculties as diverse as engineering, law and physics. About a dozen of them will be part of the universitys quantum research team, and they will be assisted by upwards of 100 graduate and PhD students.

The new deal with Xanadu promises to boost uOttawas growing expertise in the field of quantum research.

The agreement comes seven years after the launch of the Max Planck uOttawa Centre for Extreme and Quantum Photonics. The facility was created to provide a forum for researchers from the university and the Max Planck Society, a non-profit association of German research institutes, to work together on technology such as high-intensity lasers.

Charbonneau said quantum computing is getting closer to becoming mainstream, and uOttawa hopes to lead the pack when it comes to training developers and programmers.

Talent really is the new currency, and were capable of providing it to the ecosystem, he said.

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Quantum leap: uOttawa partners with TO firm in bid to commercialize high-powered computing technology - Ottawa Business Journal

The annual Think conference unveils an expanded roadmap for quantum computing and plans for 4,000+ qubit system in 2025

ARMONK, N.Y., May 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) today kicked off its annual Think conference in Boston, bringing together clients and IBM Ecosystem partners around the world to discuss how technology drives organizations to excel in a digital world. During the event, IBM senior executives, global business leaders, and industry experts will discuss significant advances in technology and issues such as sustainability, innovation and research, talent retention, and automation.

"Technology is now the source of competitive advantage with digital transformation leading the way. Our clients and partners trust IBM to deliver the innovation behind hybrid cloud, AI, and consulting solutions that are helping to ensure their success," said Arvind Krishna, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, IBM. "Our Think events will showcase how IBM is co-creating with an expanding ecosystem to make progress on the most pressing issues enterprises and society face today."

Major announcements from Think 2022 include:

Extending the Roadmap for Practical and Large-Scale Quantum ComputingToday's announcement showcases the expansion of IBM's roadmap to achieve practical quantum computing and deliver a 4,000+ qubit system in 2025. This roadmap lays out plans for new modular architectures and networking that will allow quantum systems to have larger qubit counts up to hundreds of thousands of qubits. To enable these systems with the speed and quality necessary for practical quantum computing, IBM plans to continue building intelligent software to distribute workloads across quantum and classical resources, and abstract away infrastructure challenges.

For more information on IBM's expanded quantum roadmap, please visit the IBM Research blog: https://www.research.ibm.com/blog/ibm-quantum-roadmap-2025.

Global Insights from IBM Shows Steady Growth in AI and Sustainability PrioritizationIBM issued the Global AI Adoption Index 2022, which surveyed 7,502 senior business decision-makers and showed business adoption of AI grew steadily in the last 12 months.

Business leaders' prioritization of sustainability on corporate agendas was further highlighted in a new IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) CEO study which surveyed more than 3,000 CEOs worldwide.

Partnership Momentum Continues to AccelerateAs part of a long-standing partnership with SAP, IBM is undertaking one of the world's largest corporate SAP enterprise resource planning (ERP) transformation projects designed to better support clients and fuel its company growth.

Tackling the Talent Shortage and Cybersecurity though SkillsBuilding on a commitment to skill 30 million people by 2030, IBM is addressing the talent shortage and cybersecurity crisis with new and expanded partnerships with six Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Specialisterne Foundation.

During his keynote today, Krishna will be joined on stage by three visionaries creatively applying technology to business to drive change. These "New Creators" include Bryan Young, Co-Founder & CEO, Home Lending Pal, who is using technology to make the homebuying process more equitable for underserved communities; Dr. Rania Khalaf, CIO & CDO, Inari, who is using AI to create a more sustainable future for the food system; and Kiersten Todt, Chief of Staff, U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), who is using technology to reduce risk to the cyber and physical infrastructures Americans rely on every day. "New Creators" will be featured throughout the Think on Tour events. In addition, various "New Creators" will be featured in print, digital, out-of-home, and video marketing assets as part of IBM's "Let's Create" integrated brand platform.

Think Broadcast, produced with WIRED Brand Lab, can be accessed at http://www.ibm.com/Think and will air 10 a.m. ET 12 p.m. ET May 10 and 11 in English, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, French, Italian, German, and Simplified Chinese. Replays of the onstage sessions from Think Boston will also be available on-demand the day of the event at http://www.ibm.com/Think.

Following the flagship event in Boston, Think on Tour will travel to more than a dozen cities around the world. For updates on confirmed cities, please visit: https://www.ibm.com/events/think/on-tour/.

About IBMIBM is a leading global hybrid cloud and AI, and business services provider, helping clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Nearly 3,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently, and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and business services deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service.

For more information, visit https://www.ibm.com.

Media Contact:Amanda CarlIBM Communications[emailprotected]

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IBM Kicks Off Think 2022 Conference, Convening a Worldwide Community of Clients and Partners - GuruFocus.com

The power of quantum research

The Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) harnesses the quantum laws of nature to develop powerful new technologies. Our interdisciplinary research spans theory and experiment; fosters collaborations across science borders; and focuses on four core research pillars:quantum computing,quantum communication,quantum sensing andquantum materials.

Quantum computing harnesses the quantum behaviour of atoms, molecules, and nanoelectronic circuits for a radically different and fundamentally more powerful way of computing. Quantum computers promise tremendous advances in information science and technology with many potential applications from simulating new drugs to designing materials and beyond.

By harnessing the laws of quantum mechanics, quantum sensors achieve the ultimate limits in sensitivity, selectivity and efficiency. Quantum sensors play a critical role in material science, neuroscience, personalized medicine, improved cancer treatment, geological exploration, defence and more.

In today's connected world, we rely on communication networks for everything from banking to education, from global business exchanges to national defence. Through the study of quantum communication, researchers are developing ultra-secure communication channels, quantum-safe cryptography protocols and global quantum networks that leverage the power of the quantum world.

By engineering how materials are built at the quantum scale, devices with unique properties emerge. The development of novel quantum materials is leading to applications such as energy storage, transportation, and laying the foundation for practical quantum information processing devices.

IQC has a critical mass of expertise in several major research areas within quantum information, including but not limited to:

Our vibrant community brings together scientists, mathematicians and engineers to advance quantum opportunities. Explore the advances our theoretical and experimental researchers are leading in their research groups.

Alan Jamison likes looking at what happens when individuals become groups. Do behaviours change? Or do the groups act as expected? He examines these questions in his lab where he sticks laser-cooled atoms together to create molecules. Its a frigid temperature around 100 nanoKelvin cold one billion times colder than Antarctica in winter.

Can quantum technologies help keep our eyes healthy? Researchers at IQC have constructed a device designed to do just that. A collaboration between two very different teams led to the development of diagnostic tools to detect macular degeneration in patients earlier.

At IQC, Dmitry Pushin's team is interested in how the human eye interprets different states of light. They realized their research overlapped with Ben Thompson's research group in the School of Optometry that studies how the eye and brain see light, specifically in macular degeneration.

As a physics undergraduate student, Crystal Senko explored the labs of Duke University, not realizing she was about to set forth on a future career path in quantum research. Intrigued by a forest of optics on the table of an atomic physics lab, she entered the world of experimental research and hasnt looked back.

Now, as principal investigator of the Trapped Ion Quantum Control lab at the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC), Senko and her team are paving the way towards the realization of a trapped-ion quantum computer.

The graphics processing unit (GPU) was a windfall for artificial intelligence, as the architecture turned out to be well-suited for deep learning. What if quantum computing enabled an even more advanced form of artificial intelligence (AI)?

Machine learning depends on Big Data right now, said Pooya Ronagh. A deep learning program might need to see tens of thousands of pictures of cats and dogs to learn the difference. But human intelligence even a toddler might be able to learn the same thing with a single drawing.

Perhaps quantum machine learning could bridge that gap.

The quantum revolution is happening, and that means our private information won't stay private for long. Powerful quantum computers will have the ability to crack the encryption of public keys that we currently use to secure our banking and so much more.

But there is hope for the future. Quantum physics also provides a way to secure our information with an unbreakable lock: Quantum Key Distribution (QKD).

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Research | Institute for Quantum Computing | University of Waterloo