Quantum computers could revolutionize the way we tackle problems that stump even the best classical computers.
Single atom transistor recently introduced has been seen as a tool that could lead the way to building a quantum computer. For general introduction how quantum computer work, read A tale of two qubits: how quantum computers work article.
D-Wave Announces Commercially Available Quantum Computer article tells that computing company D-Wave has announced that they’re selling a quantum computing system commercially, which they’re calling the D-Wave One. D-Wave system comes equipped with a 128-qubit processor that’s designed to perform discrete optimization operations. The processor uses quantum annealing to perform these operations.
D-Wave is advertisting a number of different applications for its quantum computing system, primarily in the field of artificial intelligence. According to the company, its system can handle virtually any AI application that can be translated to a Markov random field.
Learning to program the D-Wave One blog article tells that the processor in the D-Wave One – codenamed Rainier – is designed to perform a single mathematical operation called discrete optimization. It is a special purpose processor. When writing applications the D-Wave One is used only for the steps in your task that involve solving optimization problems. All the other parts of your code still run on your conventional systems of choice. Rainier solves optimization problems using quantum annealing (QA), which is a class of problem solving approaches that use quantum effects to help get better solutions, faster. Learning to program the D-Wave One is the first in a series of blog posts describing the algorithms we have run on D-Wave quantum computers, and how to use these to build interesting applications.
But is this the start of the quantum computers era? Maybe not. D-Wave Announces Commercially Available Quantum Computer article comments tell a story that this computer might not be the quantum computer you might be waiting for. It seem that the name “quantum computer” is a bit misleading for this product. There are serious controversies around the working and “quantumness” of the machine. D-Wave has been heavily criticized by some scientists in the quantum computing field. First sale for quantum computing article tells that uncertainty persists around how the impressive black monolith known as D-Wave One actually works. Computer scientists have long questioned whether D-Wave’s systems truly exploit quantum physics on their products.
Slashdot article D-Wave Announces Commercially Available Quantum Computer comments tell that this has the same central problem as before. D-Wave’s computers haven’t demonstrated that their commercial bits are entangled. There’s no way to really distinguish what they are doing from essentially classical simulated annealing. Recommended reading that is skeptical of D-Wave’s claims is much of what Scott Aaronson has wrote about them. See for example http://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/?p=639, http://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/?p=198 although interestingly after he visited D-Wave’s labs in person his views changed slightly and became slightly more sympathetic to them http://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/?p=954.
So it is hard to say if the “128 qubits” part is snake oil or for real. If the 128 “qubits” aren’t entangled at all, which means it is useless for any of the quantum algorithms that one generally thinks of. It seem that this device simply has 128 separate “qubits” that are queried individually, and is, essentially an augmented classical computer that gains a few minor advantages in some very specific algorithms (i.e. the quantum annealing algorithm) due to this qubit querying, but is otherwise indistinguishable from a really expensive classical computer for any other purpose. This has the same central problem as before: D-Wave’s computers haven’t demonstrated that their commercial bits are entangled.
Rather than constantly adding more qubits and issuing more hard-to-evaluate announcements, while leaving the scientific characterization of its devices in a state of limbo, why doesn’t D-Wave just focus all its efforts on demonstrating entanglement, or otherwise getting stronger evidence for a quantum role in the apparent speedup? There’s a reason why academic quantum computing groups focus on pushing down decoherence and demonstrating entanglement in 2, 3, or 4 qubits: because that way, at least you know that the qubits are qubits! Suppose D-Wave were marketing a classical, special-purpose, $10-million computer designed to perform simulated annealing, for 90-bit Ising spin glass problems with a certain fixed topology, somewhat better than an off-the-shelf computing cluster. Would there be even 5% of the public interest that there is now?
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Tomi Engdahl says:
https://scitechdaily.com/electron-motion-tracked-in-a-quantum-state-of-matter-using-x-ray-pulses-less-than-a-millionth-of-a-billionth-of-a-second-long/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Frozen Neon Invention Jolts Quantum Computer Race Single electrons trapped on solid neon could serve as highly stable qubits
https://spectrum.ieee.org/neon-qubit
Tomi Engdahl says:
A regular person’s guide to the mind-blowing world of hybrid quantum computing
Amazing things happen when you combine the binary basics with spooky action at a distance
https://thenextweb.com/news/regular-persons-guide-mind-blowing-world-hybrid-quantum-computing
Tomi Engdahl says:
A ‘beyond-quantum’ equivalence principle for superposition and entanglement
FQXi-funded study finds a novel connection between two weird quantum phenomena–superposition and entanglement–with implications for ultra-secure cryptography
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/951267
Tomi Engdahl says:
Something has to be done about the quantum computer security threat
By Chris Szewczyk published 9 days ago
Remember Y2K? It’s time to prepare for Y2Q
https://www.pcgamer.com/something-has-to-be-done-about-the-quantum-computer-security-threat/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://phys.org/news/2022-04-fault-tolerant-quantum-memory-diamond.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://spectrum.ieee.org/quantum-sensors?share_id=7029752
Tomi Engdahl says:
Atomic quantum processors make their debut
https://physicsworld.com/a/atomic-quantum-processors-make-their-debut/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hbr.org/2022/04/making-quantum-computing-a-reality
Tomi Engdahl says:
Secure Quantum Communications Over 100 Kilometres Breaks Records For Accuracy And Distance
https://www.iflscience.com/physics/secure-quantum-communications-over-100-kilometers-breaks-records-for-accuracy-and-distance/
Quantum secure direct communication (QSDC) is a branch of quantum cryptography offering the potential to send unhackable messages. However, a combination of error rates and limited distances have prevented its practical application. Now, the demonstration of a system with a much lower error rate over 102.2 kilometers (63.5 miles) of optical fiber demonstrates this may not be the case much longer.
Message confidentiality today relies on encryption – but with quantum computing progressing rapidly, this may not act as protection much longer, as quantum computers have the potential to break encryption based on prime number factors with staggering speed. However, what quantum physics takes away, it can also give back, and QSDC offers a theoretical path to sending and receiving messages securely.
Tomi Engdahl says:
OPINION
America is Losing the Quantum Race with China | Opinion
https://www.newsweek.com/america-losing-quantum-race-china-opinion-1705642
You may not have realized, but China has been outpacing America in the race to reach the next frontier of critical national security technology: quantum computing. In October, Chinese scientists unveiled the world’s fastest programmable quantum computer, a million times more powerful than Google’s most advanced supercomputer. Their technology can accomplish in one millisecond what would take a typical computer some 30 trillion years.
America is finally taking notice. Last Wednesday, President Joe Biden signed two documents—an executive order and a National Security Memorandum—to boost America’s quantum capabilities on offense and defense. That means developing our own quantum computing technology, and protecting our key IT infrastructure from quantum attacks by adversaries. If we’re not prepared for the eventuality of a quantum cyberattack that could render useless every password and computing device, from the iPhones in our pockets to GPS in aircraft to the supercomputers that process stock market transactions, the national security consequences will be enormous.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://phys.org/news/2022-05-on-chip-circuit-microwave-photons.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://phys.org/news/2022-05-efficient-optical-quantum-gates.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
In Einstein’s Footsteps and Beyond: New Insights Into the Foundations of Quantum Mechanics
https://scitechdaily.com/in-einsteins-footsteps-and-beyond-new-insights-into-the-foundations-of-quantum-mechanics/
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Quest for an Ideal Quantum Bit: New Qubit Breakthrough Could Revolutionize Quantum Computing
https://scitechdaily.com/the-quest-for-an-ideal-quantum-bit-new-qubit-breakthrough-could-revolutionize-quantum-computing/
Tomi Engdahl says:
White House: Quantum computers could crack encryption, so here’s what we need to do
Whoever wins the quantum computing race could undermine national security systems and the nation.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/quantum-computers-could-crack-encryption-warns-white-house-as-it-details-action-plan/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Worried that quantum computers will supercharge hacking, White House calls for encryption shift
National security memo envisions new cryptographic approach starting in 2024
https://www.science.org/content/article/worried-quantum-computers-will-supercharge-hacking-white-house-calls-encryption-shift
Tomi Engdahl says:
Quantum Future: Developing the Next Generation of Quantum Algorithms and Materials
https://scitechdaily.com/quantum-future-developing-the-next-generation-of-quantum-algorithms-and-materials/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://research.ibm.com/blog/qiskit-runtime-for-useful-quantum-computing
Tomi Engdahl says:
In balance: Quantum computing needs the right combination of order and disorder
https://phys.org/news/2022-05-quantum-combination-disorder.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Quantum error correction makes its zero-magnetic field debut
https://physicsworld.com/a/quantum-error-correction-makes-its-zero-magnetic-field-debut/
Tomi Engdahl says:
IBM’s massive ‘Kookaburra’ quantum processor might land in 2025
Take a closer look at IBM’s ambitious goal to make quantum computing more powerful and more practical.
https://www.popsci.com/technology/ibm-quantum-computing-roadmap/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Top 18 Leading Quantum Computing Research Institutions 2022
https://thequantuminsider.com/2022/05/16/the-top-18-research-institutions-leading-the-recent-surge-of-quantum-computing-investigations/
So far, 2022 has been a banner year for quantum computing research. Several quantum-based companies have moved to go public, including at least two announcements of special acquisition companies being created to accommodate interest in quantum. Multinational corporate mergers have also started to happen in the quantum industry.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Diraq Emerges from Stealth; Targets Billion Qubit Silicon Quantum Computers
https://thequantuminsider.com/2022/05/10/diraq-emerges-from-stealth-targets-billion-qubit-silicon-quantum-computers/
Diraq – a new quantum computing start up – came out of stealth with a LinkedIn post yesterday.
The Sydney-based quantum computing company is the culmination of two decades of research into building quantum processors using electron spins in CMOS quantum dots and is led by Andrew Dzurak (CEO), a key figure in the field.
In March 2020, Silicon Quantum Computing announced it was ceasing its work in SiMOS. Diraq appears to be the resulting entity formed through the acquisition of IP rights.
Silicon-based qubits have been garnering more attention over the last couple of years given the potential for this technology to leverage the infrastructure and ecosystem already available in the semiconductor industry.
Tomi Engdahl says:
IBM Plans to Deliver 4,000+ Qubit System: A New Roadmap for Quantum Computing
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ibm-plans-deliver-4000-qubit-system-new-roadmap-quantum-kromme
What happened? IBM has announced a new roadmap for quantum computing, which includes plans to deliver 4,000+ qubit systems by 2025. This is the first time that a single computer will be able to use this many qubits. It’s four times as many as the previous generation of quantum computers. Quantum computers have the potential to solve certain problems much faster than traditional computers. They can also be used for artificial intelligence and machine learning applications. IBM is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for quantum computing power.
Why is this important? The high-performance computing systems will be built to work with IBM’s Quantum System Two, which it says will provide the infrastructure for connecting numerous quantum processors together. The prototype of the Quantum System Two is anticipated to be completed in 2023.
What’s next?
It remains to be seen how IBM’s quantum roadmap will unfold. The company is clearly committed to delivering on its promises, and it has the resources and expertise to make quantum computing a reality. Quantum computers will have a profound impact on our society, and IBM is leading the way in making them a reality.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Manipulating photons for microseconds tops 9,000 years on a supercomputer
An optical quantum computer does things we can’t computationally model.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/06/manipulating-photons-for-microseconds-tops-9000-years-on-a-supercomputer/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Finding coherence in quantum chaos
https://phys.org/news/2022-05-coherence-quantum-chaos.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Error-free quantum computing gets real
https://phys.org/news/2022-05-error-free-quantum-real.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://phys.org/news/2022-05-breakthrough-quantum-universal-gate-high-fidelity.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://phys.org/news/2022-05-unique-quantum-material-enable-ultra-powerful.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://phys.org/news/2022-05-thermalization-scrambling-superconducting-quantum-processor.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Quantum computers could change the world — provided they can work
Qubits, decoherence, and superposition: a guide to the weird and revolutionary world of quantum computers.
https://www.vox.com/23132776/quantum-computers-ibm-google-cybersecurity-artificial-intelligence-white-house
Tomi Engdahl says:
Why Taiwan’s success in semiconductors is not helping its quantum computer tech research
https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20220526VL200/quantum-computer-taiwan.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Doubling up Cooper pairs to protect qubits in quantum computers from noise
https://phys.org/news/2022-06-cooper-pairs-qubits-quantum-noise.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Quantum Computing: The First Taste Is Free
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/05/quantum-computing-the-first-taste-is-free/
There are a few ways to access real quantum computers — often for free — over the Internet. However, most of these are previous-generation machines that have limited capabilities. Great for learning, perhaps, but not something you could do anything practical with. Xanadu, however, has announced what they claim to be a computer capable of reaching quantum advantage that is free for anyone to use, within limits. Borealis — the computer in question — uses photonic states and has the capability of working with over 216 squeezed-state qubits.
The company is selling time on the computer, but the free tier includes 5 million free shots on Borealis and 10 million shots on an earlier series of quantum computers. You can also buy pay-as-you go service for about $100 per million shots on Borealis.
While a few million shots may sound like a lot, we noticed that the quickstart demo consumes 10,000 shots and that’s presumably something simple. That’s still about 500 runs of that on Borealis — not bad for free on a state-of-the-art quantum computer. You will be wanting to debug with a simulator, though.
https://www.xanadu.ai/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Kvanttikone kutisti 9000 vuoden laskennan 36 mikrosekuntiin
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/13675-kvanttikone-kutisti-9000-vuoden-laskennan-36-mikrosekuntiin
Kvanttitietokoneiden kehitys on ollut nopeaa ja joissakin laskentatehtävissä koneet ovat jo nyt ylivertaisia. Tällaisen kvanttiherruuden todisti heti kanadalainen Xanadu, kun se laittoi kaupallisen Borealis-järjestelmänsä todelliseen testiin.
Borealis on Xanadun mukaan maailman ensimmäinen kaupalliseen käyttöön tarjottava, täysin ohjelmoitava kvanttitietokone. Sen kapasiteetti ilmoitetaan 216 kubitiksi. Kapasiteettiin päästään käsiksi Xanadun oman tai Amazonin pilvipalvelun kautta.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Beating classical computers with Borealis
https://xanadu.ai/blog/beating-classical-computers-with-Borealis
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2022/06/10/aikakiteista-uudenlainen-muisti-kvanttitietokoneisiin/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Quantum RAM Potentially Unlocked With Time Crystals
By Francisco Pires published 1 day ago
Nature and physics are in a perpetual state of discovery.
https://www.tomshardware.com/news/time-crystals-may-unlock-quantum-equivalent-of-ram
Tomi Engdahl says:
Quantum Computers Exponentially Faster at Untangling Insights Classical computers cannot overcome the “quantum advantage” in simulating chemistry and physics experiments
https://spectrum.ieee.org/quantum-computing?share_id=7094447
Tomi Engdahl says:
Quantum computer succeeds where a classical algorithm fails
Quantum computers coupled with traditional machine learning show clear benefits.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/06/quantum-computer-succeeds-where-a-classical-algorithm-fails/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2022/06/05/quantum-computing-the-first-taste-is-free/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Quantum physics exponentially improves some types of machine learning
Quantum techniques outperform classical when learning about quantum systems
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/quantum-physics-machine-learning-google-computer
Tomi Engdahl says:
Quantum information was teleported over a network for the first time
https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/researchers-created-the-first-quantum-network
Researchers at QuTech — a collaboration between Delft University of Technology and the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research — recently took a big step toward making that a reality. For the first time, they succeeded in sending quantum information between non-adjacent qubits on a rudimentary network. Their findings were published in the journal Nature.
While modern computers use bits, zeroes, and ones, to encode information, quantum computers us quantum bits or qubits. A qubit works in much the same way as a bit, except it’s able to hold both a 0 and a 1 at the same time, allowing for faster and more powerful computation. The trouble begins when you want to transmit that information to another location. Quantum computing has a communications problem.
Today, if you want to send information to another computer on a network, that’s largely accomplished using light through fiber optic cables. The information from qubits can be transmitted the same way but only reliably over short distances. Fiber optic networks have a relatively high rate of loss and rely on cloning bits and boosting their signal in order to transmit over significant distances. Qubits, however, can’t be copied or boosted. That means that when and if information is lost, it’s lost for good, and the longer the journey the more likely that is to happen.
That’s where Hiro Nakamura comes in, or at least his quantum counterpart. In order to reliably transmit quantum data, scientists use quantum teleportation, a phenomenon that relies on entanglement or what Einstein called “spooky action at a distance.”
Using that spooky connection, scientists can transmit information between the two particles and that information appears at one particle and vanishes at the other instantly.
This has some important implications for the future of communication. First, using quantum teleportation networks avoids the threat of packet loss over fiber optic cables. Second, it effectively encrypts the information at Alice’s end. In order to decode the information, you need to know the result of the calculation Charlie performed. The third thing builds upon the first; despite the immediate transfer of quantum information, we are still bound by the speed of light. As you know, the cosmic speed limit isn’t just a suggestion, it’s the law. Sending the calculation information to Alice in order to decode the information relies on more traditional communications bound by light speed. No getting around it.
While this is an important step toward a quantum internet, in order to build the sorts of networks we’ll need for everyday use, we’re going to need a lot more nodes. But, hey, even today’s global communications network started with a single telephone.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Advanced quantum computer made available to the public for first time
A computer capable of achieving quantum advantage – a demonstration of supremacy over conventional machines – is the first that anyone can use over the internet
Read more: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2322807-advanced-quantum-computer-made-available-to-the-public-for-first-time/#ixzz7WSUKbC98
Tomi Engdahl says:
Quantum machine Borealis achieves computational advantage using programmable photonic sensor
https://phys.org/news/2022-06-quantum-machine-borealis-advantage-programmable.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.analyticsinsight.net/significance-of-quantum-computing-in-autonomous-vehicles/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Chicago Quantum Exchange takes first steps toward a future that could revolutionize computing and medicine
https://phys.org/news/2022-06-chicago-quantum-exchange-future-revolutionize.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
The realization of measurement induced quantum phases on a trapped-ion quantum computer
https://phys.org/news/2022-06-quantum-phases-trapped-ion.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Atomic-scale quantum circuit marks major quantum computer breakthrough https://newatlas.com/computers/atomic-scale-quantum-computer-circuit/
Engineers in Sydney have demonstrated a quantum integrated circuit made up of just a few atoms. By precisely controlling the quantum states of the atoms, the new processor can simulate the structure and properties of molecules in a way that could unlock new materials and catalysts.