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A research team at theSwiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EFPL)developed a 2D quantum cooling system that allowed it to reduce temperatures to 100 millikelvins by converting heat into electrical voltage. Very low temperatures are crucial for quantum computing, as quantum bits (qubits) are sensitive to heat and must be cooled down to less than 1K. Even the thermal energy generated by the electronics needed to run the quantum computer has been known to impact the performance of qubits.

"If you think of a laptop in a cold office, the laptop will still heat up as it operates, causing the temperature of the room to increase as well. In quantum computing systems, there is currently no mechanism to prevent this heat from disturbing the qubits," LANES PhD student Gabriele Pasquale explained.

However, most conventional cooling solutions no longer work efficiently (or don't work at all) at these temperatures. Because of this, heat-generating electronics must be separated from quantum circuits. This, in turn, adds noise and inefficiencies to the quantum computer, making it difficult to create larger systems that would run outside of lab conditions.

The headlining 2D cooling system was fabricated by a research team led by Andras Kis at EPFL's Laboratory of Nanoscale Electronics and Structures (LANES). Aside from its capability to cool down to 100mK, the more astounding innovation is that it does so at the same efficiency as current cooling technologies running at room temperature.

Pasquale said, "We are the first to create a device that matches the conversion efficiency of current technologies, but that operates at the low magnetic fields and ultra-low temperatures required for quantum systems. This work is truly a step ahead."

The LANES team called their technological advance a 2D quantum cooling system because of how it was built. At just a few atoms thick, the new material behaves like a two-dimensional object, and the combination of graphene and the 2D-thin structure allowed it to achieve highly efficient performance. The device operates using the Nernst effect, a thermomagnetic phenomenon where an electrical field is generated in a conductor that has both a magnetic field and two different temperatures on each side of the material.

Aside from its performance and efficiency, the 2D quantum cooling system is made from readily manufactured electronics. This means it could be easily added to quantum computers in other labs that require such low temperatures. Pasqual adds, "These findings represent a major advancement in nanotechnology and hold promise for developing advanced cooling technologies essential for quantum computing at millikelvin temperatures. We believe this achievement could revolutionize cooling systems for future technologies."

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But even if some manufacturer mass produces this 2D cooling system that can hit sub-1K temperatures in the near future, don't expect to find it on Newegg to use it for overclocking your CPU, unless you plan to overclock a quantum computer in your living room lab.

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2D quantum cooling system reaches temperatures colder than outer space by converting heat into electrical voltage - Tom's Hardware

Encryption and secure data transmission have, for so long, relied on complex mathematical algorithms that take too long to be broken down. The advent of quantum computers, however, has taken the shackles off computing power. Is our data suddenly vulnerable?

Researchers from Leibniz Universitt Hannover (LUH), Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) in Braunschweig, and the University of Stuttgart have introduced a groundbreaking method for secure communication in the quantum age.

This development uses semiconductor quantum dots and quantum key distribution (QKD) and will potentially revolutionize how sensitive information is protected from cyber threats.

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is a method to securely exchange encryption keys between two parties. This approach leverages the principles of quantum mechanics to generate random keys that are impossible to crack even by quantum computers.

QKD utilizes single photons as carriers of quantum keys. Any attempt to intercept the communication introduces errors in the signal leading to its immediate detection. However, the limitations of current quantum light sources have made it challenging to establish large networks with QKD despite continuous optimization.

The research team, led by Professors Fei Ding, Stefan Kck, and Peter Michler, turned to semiconductor quantum dots as single-photon sources. This approach helped them achieve high secure key transmission rates over a 49-mile (79-kilometer) distance between Hannover and Braunschweig.

We work with quantum dots, which are tiny structures similar to atoms but tailored to our needs, explained Professor Fei Ding. For the first time, we used these artificial atoms in a quantum communication experiment between two different cities. This setup, known as the Niedersachsen Quantum Link, connects Hannover and Braunschweig via optical fiber.

Quantum communication leverages the quantum characteristics of light to ensure that messages remain secure from interception. Quantum dot devices emit single photons, whose polarization we control and send to Braunschweig for measurement, Ding elaborated.

The collaborative effort was supported by the European Research Council (ERC), the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), and other partners. The current work was conducted within the Cluster of Excellence QuantumFrontiers.

Comparative analysis with existing QKD systems involving single-photon sources reveals that the SKR achieved in this work goes beyond all current SPS-based implementations, remarked the studys first author, Dr. Jingzhong Yang. Even without further optimization, it approaches the levels attained by established decoy state QKD protocols based on weak coherent pulses.

The research teams findings suggest a promising future for semiconductor quantum dots in quantum communication. Besides facilitating secure communication, Quantum dots also offer the potential for quantum repeaters and distributed quantum sensing.

They allow for the inherent storage of quantum information and can emit photonic cluster states. These capabilities promise the seamless integration of semiconductor single-photon sources into large-scale and high-capacity quantum communication networks.

Some years ago, we only dreamt of using quantum dots in real-world quantum communication scenarios. Today, we are thrilled to demonstrate their potential for many more fascinating experiments and applications in the future, moving towards a quantum internet, Ding added.

Details of the teams research were published in the journal Light: Science & Applications.

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Amal Jos Chacko Amal writes code on a typical business day and dreams of clicking pictures of cool buildings and reading a book curled by the fire. He loves anything tech, consumer electronics, photography, cars, chess, football, and F1.

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'Artificial atoms' help achieve secure real-world quantum communication - Interesting Engineering

Quantum computing has the potential to significantly transform artificial intelligence due to its exponentially faster problem-solving capabilities and capacity to process enormous quantities of data compared to classical computers.

The strength of quantum computing resides in its capacity to utilise qubits, or quantum bits, which can exist in numerous states concurrently. This parallelism brings about a paradigm shift in artificial intelligence by aiding the swift implementation of algorithms that require significant computational resources on traditional hardware.

Quantum AI systems are composed of several architectural components that integrate AI and quantum computing techniques in a synergistic manner. By utilising principles such as superposition, entanglement, and interference, the quantum processing unit (QPU) executes quantum algorithms and conducts quantum operations on qubits. The QPU is the central component of the system.

The quantum software stack comprises libraries, programming languages, and development frameworks specifically designed for artificial intelligence applications. Qiskit, TensorFlow Quantum, and PennyLane are a few instances of frameworks that aid in the formulation and optimisation of algorithms.

Quantum data structures refer to algorithms and structures that have been specifically engineered to efficiently represent and manipulate quantum data. These frameworks facilitate the manipulation, retrieval, and storage of quantum data, which is of the utmost importance for tasks involving quantum machine learning and pattern recognition.

Notwithstanding its potential, quantum AI encounters a number of obstacles that impede its extensive implementation and scalability.

In order to guarantee the dependability and precision of computations, robust error correction techniques and fault-tolerant quantum hardware are required for quantum systems, as these are are susceptible to noise, decoherence, and errors.

One common limitation of quantum processors is their restricted qubit connectivity, which imposes a hindrance on the execution of intricate quantum circuits and algorithms. To overcome limitations imposed by connectivity, it is imperative to devise inventive qubit architectures and optimise circuits.

Quantum AI, despite being in its nascent stages, has exhibited encouraging implementations in a multitude of domains (see Table 1).

Table 1: Quantum AI applications in various industries

Drug discovery: Drug discovery is expedited through the utilisation of quantum algorithms, which optimise molecular structures, identify potential drug candidates, and predict molecular properties with extreme precision.

Financial modelling: By facilitating option pricing, portfolio optimisation, and risk assessment in financial markets at a quicker rate, quantum algorithms improve decision-making processes and mitigate financial risks.

Cybersecurity: Quantum-enhanced cryptography provides secure communication protocols resistant to quantum attacks, assuring the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of data transmission.

Energy optimisation: By optimising energy distribution networks, resource allocation, and grid management, quantum algorithms reduce carbon emissions and facilitate the transition to sustainable energy systems.

The synergy between quantum computing (QC) and machine learning (ML) is a powerful force with the potential to revolutionise various fields.

Though in its early stages, this synergy holds immense promise for the future of computing and artificial intelligence.

Regular computers are great, but for certain super tough problems they run into a wall. This is where quantum AI comes in. It combines the power of regular AI with the mind-bending world of quantum mechanics to solve problems that were once impossible to solve. Quantum AI excels at tackling a specific category of complex problems those that involve massive amounts of variables and require exploring a vast solution space.

Here are some in-depth examples showcasing quantum AIs problem-solving prowess.

These are just a few examples of how Quantum AI is poised to revolutionise various fields. As quantum computing technology continues to evolve, we can expect even more groundbreaking applications to emerge, tackling problems that were once considered beyond the reach of classical computers.

Quantum neural networks (QNNs) represent a fascinating intersection of artificial intelligence and quantum mechanics. They borrow the structure of classical artificial neural networks (ANNs) but leverage the power of qubits and quantum operations to tackle problems intractable for classical computers. They have the following characteristics.

Their features are:

This is how they work.

QNNs are a nascent field with significant hurdles. Building and controlling large-scale quantum computers needed for powerful QNNs remains a challenge. Additionally, training QNNs is complex and requires specialised algorithms. Despite the challenges, QNNs hold immense potential for applications in various domains.

The complexity of designing quantum algorithms that take advantage of the distinctive characteristics of qubits while also overcoming the constraints of classical computing presents a challenge for researchers and developers, as it necessitates proficiency in both quantum physics and artificial intelligence.

Quantum computing resources are presently constrained in terms of qubit count, coherence time, and gate fidelity; these limitations impede the efficacy and scalability of quantum AI algorithms. It is essential to scale quantum systems and enhance their hardware capabilities in order to fully exploit their potential.

Further progress in quantum hardware will result from ongoing research and development. These efforts will contribute to the fabrication of quantum processors that are more stable and capable of handling more complex quantum algorithms. Such processors will feature increased qubit counts, coherence periods, and gate fidelities.

Hybrid quantum-classical approaches are expected to gain prominence in the near future. These algorithms capitalise on the respective advantages of classical and quantum computing paradigms to tackle a diverse array of artificial intelligence tasks efficiently and effectively.

The commercialisation and adoption of quantum AI solutions will occur in tandem with the maturation of quantum computing technologies. This will bring about significant transformations in various sectors, including healthcare, finance, logistics, and cybersecurity.

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Quantum Computing and AI: Partnering to Transform Tech - Open Source For You

Just made public by his company, Sebastian Weidt, CEO of Universal Quantum, provided valuable insights into the future of quantum computing at the Web Summit in Lisbon in November 2023. While acknowledging the current hype surrounding the technology, Weidt underlined the long-term potential and challenges facing the industry.

Weidt explained quantum computing as a new form of doing computations that utilizes strange quantum effects to solve problems exponentially faster than traditional supercomputers. However, he cautioned that significant scaling is required before quantum computers can deliver on their promise.

We really need to scale these machines from where we are at the moment tens of qubits hundreds of qubits to millions of qubits, said Weidt. Thats a scary target that were aiming for here, but this is what ultimately must happen to unlock these applications.

Quantum error correction is, indeed, one of the fundamental problems with quantum computing. Weidt added that inherently, quantum systems were fragile and prone to errors. This is countered by developing error correction algorithms, which also need many physical qubits to create logical qubits of stability.

Regarding potential applications, Weidt expressed excitement about drug discovery: I think theres a lot of excitement for me personally as well around drug discovery. I think using these quantum computers to understand chemical reactions better, molecular structures better, which is at the heart of developing new drugs and currently is really hard using our currently available computing technology.

When asked about the timeline for practical quantum computers, Weidt was cautiously optimistic.

It would be nice to get some utility to something where you really feel a change because of quantum computing maybe a new drug was developed because of that, maybe we understand climate change better, maybe a new material, he answered. Theres a huge push to do that this decade, but I think this can definitely leak into the next decade as well.

Weidt also addressed concerns about quantum computers breaking current encryption systems. He urged businesses to prepare now: Please, please, please look at your encryption algorithms and check if they are quantum secure. Please make those changes now.

Looking to the future, Weidt sees a hybrid computing architecture where quantum and classical computers work together seamlessly. He punctuated that quantum computers wont replace classical systems but will complement them for specific problem-solving tasks.

As the quantum computing field continues to evolve, Weidts insights provide a balanced perspective on both the challenges and immense potential of this groundbreaking technology.

Featured image: Credit: Web Summit

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Universal Quantum CEO Sebastian Weidt Discusses the Future & Challenges of Quantum Computing - The Quantum Insider

Colorado leaders big bet to make the state a focal point for the rapidly growing quantum-computing sector has garnered its first major payout designation as a national Tech Hub and a $40.5 million federal grant to boost the industry in the Rocky Mountain West.

Gov. Jared Polis announced Tuesday that the U.S. Economic Development Association chose Elevate Quantum, a consortium representing Colorado and New Mexico industry leaders, for Phase 2 Tech Hub funding over the Chicago area with which it was competing. The award was part of $504 million in grants given by the EDA to 12 tech hubs across the country funding set aside by the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act, which also has generated more than $100 million so far for growth of semiconductor companies in Colorado.

The Centennial State already had begun to push itself to the front of the national picture for quantum research, which involves freezing quantum bits to extremely cold temperatures to speed their processing time and perform complex calculations quickly. Colorado is home to about 3,000 quantum workers currently the largest cluster in the country and has four Nobel laureates in quantum physics, which has helped to attract entrepreneurs in the nascent sector to the area.

But winning the Tech Hub designation will allow the state to offer $74 million in incentives that the Legislature approved this year on the condition that the EDA matched them with the awarded funding. Colorado now can offer $44 million in refundable income-tax credits to firms building a shared research facility that can commercialize quantum learnings and $30 million in loan-loss funding for banks and lenders willing to invest in early-stage quantum companies.

With those incentives, the $40.5 million federal award and $10 million in matching funds from the state of New Mexico, state and industry leaders expect to be able to access between $1 billion and $2 billion in private capital and create 10,000 jobs. Doing so could position Colorado as the Silicon Valley of what some believe will be the next big technology sector and generate employment opportunities for individuals ranging from the advanced-degree holders thinking up the next steps in quantum to the manufacturing workers who will be building the computers needed to make the technology run.

This award will be a game-changer for our industry, providing an opportunity for researchers and companies to innovate side-by-side, accelerating the development and commercialization of quantum technologies, said Corban Tillemann-Dick, Elevate Quantum co-founder and Chair and CEO of Maybell Quantum, in a news release. Moreover, todays award is a down payment on the quantum future, with up to $960m in additional potential funding available from the federal government over the next decade and billions in play from the private sector.

Corbin Tillemann-Dick listens as the Colorado Senate discusses a resolution to support the quantum sector during the 2024 legislative session.

Polis has made efforts to acquire once-in-a-generation federal funding offered through laws like the CHIPS and Science Act, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act a key part of his economic-development strategy. The Democratic governor worked particularly closely with Elevate Quantum leaders to land the highest Tech Hub designation, believing it can make the state the center of the quantum technology ecosystem, as he said in a news release Tuesday.

Elevate Quantum is working with University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado State University and Colorado School of Mines to build a shared academic research center and incubator housing multiple start-up quantum companies seeking to bring products to market. That joint effort is expected to take advantage of the $44 million facility-creation tax credit and launch a physical hub for entrepreneurs to grow the sector, Massimo Ruzzene, University of Colorado Boulder vice chancellor for research and innovation, told legislators.

And the $30 million in loan-loss tax credits is viewed as an innovative way to get institutional capital to companies in the field that otherwise might find it hard to raise funding. Banks and lenders can seek the tax-credit certificates as a financial backstop even before loans have incurred any losses and then apply again later for registered loan loss certificates of as much as 15% of the size of the loan.

In addition to the specified funding programs, Colorado officials have vowed to establish a workforce-development program to create a pipeline of local talent into the sector, as 80% of jobs will not require advanced degrees. In that way, officials are looking to flip the script the state used to boost many advanced industries between 2000 and the pandemic, when employers imported much of their talent from other states a flow that is beginning to dry up as Colorados cost of living rises.

We are shovel-ready to scale the thousands of quantum jobs that exist today to tens of thousands, benefitting Colorado workers across the state with and without advanced degrees, said Eve Lieberman, executive director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.

The award marks the first large-scale, place-based federal investment in quantum made by the federal government, noted Zachary Yerushalmi, Elevate Quantum CEO, in a news release. It comes after the EDA narrowed an original pool of nearly 400 applicants for tech-hub status to 31 efforts that received Phase One accreditation.

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Colorado lands coveted Tech Hub designation to boost quantum sector - The Sum & Substance