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In contrast to conventional computers, quantum computers are (or will be) built via the principles of quantum mechanics. Specifically, where information is stored in bits in a computer today, information in quantum computers will be stored in quantum bits, or qubits. A bit can be either a 0 or a 1, a binary system.Think of a light bulb that is either on or off, or a coin that is either heads or tails. In the mechanics of computing, a bit usually refers to an electrical signal that iseither on or off.

Like a bit, a qubit can be either 0 or 1, but it can also exist as limitless possibilities between those two states. Qubitsbuilt from subatomic particlesmight be created via the state of superposition between two electrons, for instance. Thus, a qubit is not just in a state of 0 or 1, it could be 0 and 1 at the same time, or any other combination between the states.

According to an article from Caltech, When an electron is in superposition, its different states can be thought of as separate outcomes, each with a particular probability of being observed. An electron might be said to be in a superposition of two different velocities or in two places at once.

Developing qubits offers the potential to store information orders of magnitude greater than what is possible with classical computation. The expectation is that quantum computers will thereby be able to perform operations beyond even todays supercomputers.

The usual suspects are at work developing quantum computers: IBM, Microsoft, Google Amazon, as well as some names youve not heard of. Importantly, theres a budding competition between Chinese and Western developers, part of the larger phenomenon of strategic capitalism, where national governments nurture and protect critical industriesrather than regulate them or, conversely, allow them to roam the globe freelyfrom their geostrategic rivals.

Kevin Klyman reports in Foreign Policy that the Biden administration is not waiting for the full development of the technology to institute export controls.

After controls on semiconductors, the Commerce Department is moving on to the next emerging technology it worries China could weaponize: quantum computing, Klyman says. Export controls on quantum computing hardware, error correction software, and the provision of cloud services to Chinese entities are poised to become the next front in the U.S.-China tech war.

Quantum computers will be able to tackle problems beyond the abilities of todays supercomputers. They will be able to evade most attempts at encryption, and so there will emerge a host of security questions that have yet to be answered. Machine learning and artificial intelligence will no doubt be accelerated. A few years ago, I wrote a book that discussed the limits of AI based largely on the notion that the semiconductors of classical computers would reach a point where they could not be reduced in size any further, that there is only so much processing power that can be confined to such a small space, and that the intelligence of a computer would reach its peak. Quantum Computing offers the possibility of blasting through those physical limits. AI + quantum computing could very well lead us to realize that theoretical possibility of an artificial general intelligence or indeed a super intelligence far beyond that of human intelligence.

The modeling and simulation of complex systems could also be possible with quantum computing. Everything from chemical systems to financial portfolios might be modeled. I have long argued that complex systems, especially, are exquisitely and intrinsically unpredictable, because of their sensitivity to initial conditions, their elaborate feedback loops, and other features that make prediction of the future behaviors of such systems all but impossible. It is more than plausible that quantum computers will permit more confident predictions of the behaviors of such systems.

If that proves the case, there are potential implications for the modeling and prediction of social systems, not just physical systems. If we gain the ability to model and predict, would we also gain the ability to control such systems, including the control over social systems?

In the early 1970s, Chile elected a socialist president, Salvador Allende, who promised to transfer property ownership from the wealthy to the state.In order to manage this socialist economy, Allende turned to Project Cybersyn. This was to be a central command room (opsroom) where data and information from the workings of the economy were to be ingested, analyzed and made available to the decision makers and managers.The system was to be run off a mainframe computer.

In the 1960s, the Soviet Union similarly worked on the idea that cybernetics could be employed to manage the economy, to unleash a consumers paradise to rival the one the West had developed. Allende was deposed in a coup, and so Project Cybersyn never really got off the ground. By the 1980s, free market ideology had taken hold of the Western imagination and the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s seemingly ended any idea that the economy could be managed, even by a cybernetic system.

If quantum computers have the capacity to model, simulate, and potentially control complex systems, might we see a nation attempt something like Project Cybersyn again? Further, we might imagine an authoritarian seeking to extend cybernetic management beyond the economy to include control over society, culture and politics as well.Might quantum computing help to facilitate quantum authoritarianism?

After the PC revolution, we have become accustomed to thinking that all new technologies will eventually be democratized, made abundant and inexpensive and within access to all consumers. A very likely scenario is that at some point quantum computers will power all sorts of consumer-grade tools and applications, and that we will all carry a quantum computer in our pockets.

But it is also possible that quantum computing will remain an exclusive technology. Think of all the technologies we have developed that have not been made consumer-grade. One thinks of MRI scanners or F-16s or nuclear power plants. It is possible that relatively few quantum computers will be produced, and those that are made will be used only by specialists.Quantum computers might similarly remain in the hands of a few, an important infrastructure technology, perhaps, but one that will not be in the hands of consumers.Imagine Amazon Quantum Services.

Even if we dont end up having quantum computers in our homes, it is possible that the idea of the quantum will spread such that it will alter our societal worldview. Think of howafter the rise of the Internetthe concept of the network has reshaped how we see and understand reality. To take but one example, Anne-Marie Slaughter argues that diplomats and international relations scholars have shifted from using game theory to network theory to understand the world.

The idea of the network as a metaphor has had a powerful effect on our worldview. Might quantum become the new cultural metaphor that implicitly shapes our thoughts and actions?The idea of being both-and or having alternate states existing simultaneously might find its way into our everyday language, changing how we view everything from social relations to the operations of the economy to how we teach schoolchildren to the way ideas go viral.

The metaphor of quantum superposition could very well influence the work of artists, the writing of poets and novelists, the actions of corporate boards, and the decisions of policymakerssimultaneously.

David Staley is an associate professor of history and design at The Ohio State University, and is president ofColumbus Futurists.He is the author of Visionary Histories, a collection of his Next futures columns.He was named Best Freelance Writer in 2022 by the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists for his Next column.

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NEXT: Quantum Computing and the Quantum Worldview - Columbus Underground

Quantum computing, a revolutionary technology based on the principles of quantum mechanics, is steadily gaining momentum. The technology has the potential to transform various industrial sectors and solve complex challenges in healthcare, finance, cybersecurity, logistics, and artificial intelligence. Despite significant investments and advancements, the technology is still in its nascent stages, and companies are diligently working to overcome obstacles to make practical quantum computing a reality.

Quantum computing operates on the principles of quantum mechanics, which includes phenomena like superposition and entanglement. This allows quantum computers to perform calculations at speeds and scales that are currently unimaginable with conventional computers. However, the technology is still in its infancy, and researchers are addressing numerous challenges, such as quantum error correction and qubit stability, to make quantum computing practical and accessible.

Industry giants such as IBM, Google Quantum AI, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Intel, and D-Wave are at the forefront of developing quantum computing systems and services. IBM, in particular, recently announced significant advancements in quantum processors and platforms at its Quantum Summit 2023, introducing the IBM Heron quantum processor and the IBM Quantum System Two. These advancements in performance, error reduction, and integration of tunable couplers signify a pioneering role in the rapidly evolving field of quantum computing.

Despite the enormous potential of quantum computing, the technology is fraught with challenges. One of the major hurdles is quantum error correction, which is crucial to ensure accurate results from quantum computations. However, a recent breakthrough funded by DARPA and led by Harvard focuses on correcting quantum errors more efficiently. This breakthrough could potentially bring quantum computing to the masses years sooner than expected. The Harvard teams new approach to error correction could make quantum computing four times as powerful as the most advanced quantum chip available today.

Although practical applications of quantum computing are still under research, experts agree that the technology holds great promise. IBM has released an updated Quantum Development Roadmap extending to 2033, outlining a strategic vision for advancing quantum computing technology. Similarly, Microsoft disclosed its roadmap for developing a quantum supercomputer, projecting the achievement within 10 years. These roadmaps reflect the industrys commitment to making quantum computing a reality, potentially revolutionizing every sector, from healthcare to finance.

Despite quantum computers not yet outperforming classical computers in real-world applications, the quantum technology industry has seen significant growth and investment. In 2022 alone, the industry experienced a record year for funding, with significant investments made by the US, EU, Canada, and China. These investments underscore the potential of quantum computing and its expected impact on various sectors.

In conclusion, quantum computing is a revolutionary technology that could potentially transform various sectors. While practical applications are still under research, the continuous investments and advancements in the field suggest that the future of quantum computing is promising. As the technology matures, it could provide solutions to complex challenges in healthcare, finance, cybersecurity, logistics, and artificial intelligence, changing the way we live and work.

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Revolutionary Technology of Quantum Computing: Challenges, Breakthroughs and Future - Medriva

Cornell researchers discovered a quantum spin-glass state in quantum computing, offering insights into error correction and revealing hidden orders in quantum algorithms, potentially leading to new quantum state classifications and advances in quantum computing.

At the microscopic level, window glass exhibits a curious blend of properties. Its atoms are disordered like a liquid, yet they possess the rigidity of a solid; when a force is applied to one atom, it affects all others.

Its an analogy physicists use to describe a quantum state called a quantum spin-glass, in which quantum mechanical bits (qubits) in a quantum computer demonstrate both disorder (taking on seemingly random values) and rigidity (when one qubit flips, so do all the others). A team of Cornell researchers unexpectedly discovered the presence of this quantum state while conducting a research project designed to learn more about quantum algorithms and, relatedly, new strategies for error correction in quantum computing.

Measuring the position of a quantum particle changes its momentum and vice versa. Similarly, for qubits, there are quantities that change one another when they are measured. We find that certain random sequences of these incompatible measurements lead to the formation of a quantum spin-glass, said Erich Mueller, professor of physics in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S). One implication of our work is that some types of information are automatically protected in quantum algorithms whichshare the features of our model.

The study was recently published in Physical Review B. The lead author is Vaibhav Sharma, a doctoral student in physics.

Assistant professor of physicsChao-Ming Jian(A&S) is a co-author along with Mueller. All three conduct their research at CornellsLaboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics(LASSP). The research received funding from a College of Arts and SciencesNew Frontier Grant.

We are trying to understand generic features of quantum algorithms features which transcend any particular algorithm, Sharma said. Our strategy for revealing these universal features was to study random algorithms.We discovered that certain classes of algorithms lead to hidden spin-glass order. We are now searching for other forms of hidden order and think that this will lead us to a new taxonomy of quantum states.

Random algorithms are those that incorporate a degree of randomness as part of the algorithm e.g., random numbers to decide what to do next.

Muellers proposal for the2021 New Frontier GrantAutonomous Quantum Subsystem Error Correction aimed to simplify quantum computer architectures by developing a new strategy to correct for quantum processor errors caused by environmental noise that is, any factor, such as cosmic rays or magnetic fields, that would interfere with a quantum computers qubits, corrupting information.

The bits of classical computer systems are protected by error-correcting codes, Mueller said; information is replicated so that if one bit flips, you can detect it and fix the error. For quantum computing to be workable now and in the future, we need to come up with ways to protect qubits in the same way.

The key to error correction is redundancy, Mueller said. If I send three copies of a bit, you can tell if there is an error by comparing the bits with one another. We borrow language from cryptography for talking about such strategies and refer to the repeated set of bits as a codeword.

When they made their discovery about spin-glass order, Mueller and his team were looking into a generalization, where multiple codewords are used to represent the same information. For example, in a subsystem code, the bit 1 might be stored in 4 different ways: 111; 100; 101; and 001.

The extra freedom that one has in quantum subsystem codes simplifies the process of detecting and correcting errors, Mueller said.

The researchers emphasized that they werent simply trying to generate a better error protection scheme when they began this research. Rather, they were studying random algorithms to learn general properties of all such algorithms.

Interestingly, we found nontrivial structure, Mueller said. The most dramatic was the existence of this spin-glass order, which points toward there being some extra hidden information floating around, which should be useable in some way for computing, though we dont know how yet.

Reference: Subsystem symmetry, spin-glass order, and criticality from random measurements in a two-dimensional Bacon-Shor circuit by Vaibhav Sharma, Chao-Ming Jian and Erich J. Mueller, 31 July 2023,Physical Review B. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.108.024205

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Cornell Scientists Have Discovered a Hidden Quantum State - SciTechDaily

Santa Clara (CA), 6 December 2023 - Airbus and BMW Group launch a global Quantum Computing Challenge entitled The Quantum Mobility Quest to tackle the most pressing challenges in aviation and automotive that have remained insurmountable for classical computers.

This challenge is the first-of-its-kind, bringing together two global industry leaders to harness quantum technologies for real-world industrial applications, unlocking the potential to forge more efficient, sustainable and safer solutions for the future of transportation.

"This is the perfect time to shine a spotlight on quantum technology and its potential impact on our society. Partnering with an industry leader like BMW Group enables us to mature the technology as we need to bridge the gap between scientific exploration and its potential applications. Were seeking the best-in-class students, PhDs, academics, researchers, start-ups, companies, or professionals in the field, worldwide to join our challenge to create a massive paradigm shift in the way aircraft are built and flown." says Isabell Gradert, Vice President Central Research and Technology at Airbus.

Following the success of previous editions of Quantum Computing Challenges by BMW Group and Airbus, we are gearing up for a new wave of innovation, exploring the technology capabilities for sustainability and operational excellence. said Dr. Peter Lehnert, Vice-President, Research Technologies at BMW Group. The BMW Group is clearly aiming at positioning itself at the crossroads of quantum technology, the global ecosystem, and cutting-edge solutions. By doing so, we strongly believe in major advances when it comes to sustainable materials for batteries and fuel cells, to generate unique and efficient designs, or to enhance the overall user experience in the BMW Group Products.

Quantum computing has the potential to significantly enhance computational power and to enable the most complex operations that challenge even todays best computers. In particular, for data-driven industries like the transportation sector, this emerging technology could play a crucial role in simulating various industrial and operational processes, opening up opportunities to shape future mobility products and services.

Challenge candidates are invited to select one or more problem statements: improved aerodynamics design with quantum solvers, future automated mobility with quantum machine learning, more sustainable supply chain with quantum optimisation, and enhanced corrosion inhibition with quantum simulation. Additionally, candidates can put forward their own quantum technologies with the potential to develop native apps yet to be explored in the transportation sector.

The challenge is hosted by The Quantum Insider (TQI) and divided into two parts, a four-month phase where participants will develop a theoretical framework for one of the given statements, and a second phase during which selected finalists will implement and benchmark their solutions. Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides candidates with an opportunity to run their algorithms on their Amazon Braket quantum computing service.

A jury composed of world-leading quantum experts will team up with experts from Airbus, BMW Group, and AWS to evaluate submitted proposals and award one winning-team with a 30,000 prize in each of the five challenges, by the end of 2024.

Registration opens today, and submissions will be accepted from mid-January through April 30, 2024 here: http://www.thequantuminsider.com/quantum-challenge.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Press and Public Relations Janina LatzaSpokesperson BMW Group IT Tel.: +49 (0)151 601 12650 E-Mail: Janina.Latza@bmw.de

Christophe Koenig Leiter BMW Group IT, Digital and Driving Experience Communications, BMW Group Design, Innovations and Digital Car Communications Telefon: +49-89-382-56097 E-Mail: Christophe.Koenig@bmwgroup.com

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Airbus and BMW Group launch Quantum Computing Competition to tackle their most pressing mobility challenges. - BMW Press

In classical control theory, both open-loop and closed-loop control systems are commonly used. These systems are well understood and rather straightforward, controlling everything from washing machines to industrial equipment to the classical computing devices that make todays society work. When trying to transfer this knowledge to the world of quantum control theory, however, many issues arise. The most pertinent ones involve closed-loop quantum control and the clocking of quantum computations. With physical limitations on the accuracy and resolution of clocks, this would set hard limits on the accuracy and speed of quantum computing.

The entire argument is covered in two letters to Physical Review Letters, by Florian Meier et al. titled Fundamental Accuracy-Resolution Trade-Off for Timekeeping Devices (Arxiv preprint), and by Jake Xuereb et al. titled Impact of Imperfect Timekeeping on Quantum Control(Arxiv preprint). The simple version is that by simply increasing the clock rate, accuracy suffers, with dephasing and other issues becoming more frequent.

Solving the riddle of closed-loop quantum control theory is a hard one, as noted by Daoyi Dong and Ian R Peterson in 2011. In their paper titled Quantum control theory and applications: A survey, the most fundamental problem with such a closed-loop quantum control system lies with aspects such as the uncertainty principle, which limits the accuracy with which properties of the system can be known.

In this regard, an accurately clocked open-loop system could work better, except that here we run into other fundamental issues. Even though this shouldnt phase us, as with time solutions may be found to the timekeeping and other issues, its nonetheless part of the uncertainties that keep causing waves in quantum physics.

Top image: Impact of timekeeping error on quantum gate fidelity & independent clock dephasing (Xuereb et al., 2023)

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Impact Of Imperfect Timekeeping On Quantum Control And Computing - Hackaday