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In a first, scientists have shown that they can send light through "slits" in time.

The new experiment is a twist on a 220-year-old demonstration, in which light shines through two slits in a screen to create a unique diffraction pattern across space, where the peaks and troughs of the light wave add up or cancel out. In the new experiment, researchers created a similar pattern in time, essentially changing the color of an ultrabrief laser pulse.

The findings pave the way for advances in analog computers that manipulate data imprinted on beams of light instead of digital bits - it might even make such computers "learn" from the data. They also deepen our understanding of the fundamental nature of light and its interactions with materials.

For the new study, described April 3 in the journal Nature Physics (opens in new tab), the researchers used indium tin oxide (ITO), the material found in most phone screens. Scientists already knew ITO could change from transparent to reflective in response to light, but the researchers found it occurs much faster than previously thought, in less than 10 femtoseconds (10 millionths of a billionth of a second).

"This was a very big surprise and at the beginning it was something that we couldnt explain," study lead author Riccardo Sapienza (opens in new tab), a physicist at the Imperial College London, told Live Science. Eventually, the researchers figured out why the reaction happened so fast by scrutinizing the theory of how the electrons in ITO respond to incident light. "But it took us a long time to understand it."

English scientist Thomas Young first demonstrated light's wave-like nature using the now classic "double-slit" experiment in 1801. As light shines on a screen with two slits, the waves change direction, so that waves fanning out from one slit overlap with the waves coming through the other. The peaks and troughs of these waves either add up or cancel out, creating bright and dark fringes, called an interference pattern.

In the new study, Sapienza and colleagues recreated such an interference pattern in time by shining a "pump" laser pulse at a screen coated in ITO. While the ITO was initially transparent, the light from the laser changed the properties of the electrons within the material so that the ITO reflected light like a mirror. A subsequent "probe" laser beam hitting the ITO screen would then see this temporary change in optical properties as a slit in time just a few hundred femtoseconds long. Using a second pump laser pulse made the material behave as if it had two slits in time, an analog of light passing through spatial double slits.

Whereas passing through conventional spatial slits causes light to change direction and fan out, as the light passed through these twin "time slits," it changed in frequency, which is inversely related to its wavelength. It is the wavelength of visible light that determines its color.

In the new experiment, the interference pattern showed up as fringes, or additional peaks in the frequency spectra, which are graphs of the measured light intensity at different frequencies.Just like altering the distance between spatial slits changes the resulting interference pattern, the lag between the time slits dictates the spacing of the interference fringes in the frequency spectra. And the number of fringes in these interference patterns that are visible before their amplitude decreases to the level of background noise reveals how quickly the ITO properties are changing; materials with slower responses yield fewer detectable interference fringes.

This isn't the first time that scientists have figured out how to manipulate light across time, rather than space. For instance, scientists at Google say their quantum computer "Sycamore" created a time crystal, a new phase of matter that changes periodically in time, as opposed to atoms being arranged in a periodic pattern across space.

Andrea Al (opens in new tab), a physicist at The City University of New York who was not involved with these experiments but has done separate experiments that created reflections of light in time, described it as yet anotherneat demonstration of how time and space can be interchangeable..

"The most remarkable aspect of the experiment is that it demonstrates how we can switch the permittivity [which defines how much a material transmits or reflects light] of this material (ITO) very fast, and by a significant amount," Al told Live Science via email. "This confirms that this material can be an ideal candidate for the demonstration of time reflections and time crystals."

The researchers hope to use these phenomena to create metamaterials, or structures designed to alter the path of light in specific and often sophisticated ways.

So far these metamaterials have been static, meaning changing how the metamaterial affects lights path requires using a whole new metamaterial structure a new analog computer for each different type of calculation, for instance, Sapienza said.

"Now we have a material we can reconfigure, which means we can use it for more than one purpose," said Sapienza. He added that such technology could enable neuromorphic computing that mimics the brain.

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Scientists create 'slits in time' in mind-bending physics experiment - Livescience.com

Joint research and innovation agenda

CWI and Inria have already collaborated successfully over the past decades and have come to know each other as reliable research partners. Both institutes have an excellent scientific reputation. By strengthening their cooperation through a partnership agreement, both parties join forces to support their research on a European scale and thus achieve important scientific results.

This intensified collaboration will include a joint research and innovation agenda to strengthen networking, external partnership opportunities and funding. Scientific cooperation will be strengthened by creating joint projects as well as joint research teams, in areas like quantum computing, human interaction, energy, cryptography, digital health, machine learning and software engineering.

The more intensive cooperation of both institutes to create a powerful alliance within Europe, as expressed by President Macron during the state visit, fits in with a joint ambition of both institutes to to join forces to cope with major scientific and societal challenges.

Earlier today, Minister Sylvie Retailleau and Inria Chairman/CEO Bruno Sportisse visited CWI in the context of the state visit of President Macron to the Netherlands, where they received a presentation from Professor Peter Bosman about how mathematics and computer science can contribute to the treatment of cancer.

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French research institute Inria and Dutch CWI intensify their ... - Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI)

"This is a pivotal milestone in our innovative partnership with IBM, as we explore new ways to apply the power of quantum computing to healthcare," said Tom Mihaljevic, M.D., CEO of Cleveland Clinic, in a press statement.

It is said to be the world's first quantum computer solely dedicated to healthcare research.

A quantum computer is a rapidly developing technology that uses quantum phenomena to solve complex problems that conventional computers cant handle.

The clinic's computer is noted to be five feet tall. It will be used to advance medicine development, identify treatments for complex diseases, find new molecules to create effective drugs, sequence genes for cancer research, and even create jobs in the technology sector.

"This technology holds tremendous promise in revolutionizing healthcare and expediting progress toward new cares, cures, and solutions for patients. Quantum and other advanced computing technologies will help researchers tackle historic scientific bottlenecks and potentially find new treatments for patients with diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, and diabetes, said Mihaljevic.

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IBM unveils world's first quantum computer dedicated to healthcare research - Interesting Engineering

Japans first domestically produced quantum computer, developed by the Riken research institute, was released online on March 27 to allow joint researchers toaccess it.

The release is not a goal, but a milestone, said Yasunobu Nakamura, director of the Riken Center for Quantum Computing in Wako, Saitama Prefecture, who led the development of the domestically produced computer.

The race has just begun, he added.

There are many challenges to overcome before putting the quantum computer, considered to be the next generation of computers, into practical use, but it has the potential to change society.

The international competition to develop quantum computers is intensifying in the hopes of gaining an economic advantage and stronger national security.

Japan aims to accelerate developing related industries and human resources in the country with a focus on a domestically produced computer.

Unlike conventional computers, quantum computers use quantum mechanics, an area of physics that describes the behaviors of micro particles such as electrons and atoms, to perform calculations.

As a quantum computer can perform multiple calculations at once, it can sometimes easily solve problems that a supercomputer cannot solve even if it spends tens of thousands of years or hundreds of millions of years.

Quantum computers are expected to advance research in fields that require complex calculations, such as developing new materials and medicine, finance and artificial intelligence.

A quantum computer will also make it easier to decipher current encryptions used on the internet and in finances.

As the technology develops, there is concern that a quantum computer could be used to decode national security secrets as well. Countries such as the United States and China regard this as a security issue and are heavily investing in developing the technology.

There are various ways to create quantum computers, but Japan's domestic computer uses the superconducting method. The quantum bit, the core component of a quantum computer, is made of superconducting materials and cooled to extremely low temperatures.

Google and International Business Machines Corp. are also working on developing computers using the same method.

The Japanese government aims to achieve a quantum computer that can be widely used in practical applications in 2040 and after, but it is said that about 1 million quantum bits would be needed to create it.

The current domestic quantum computer has 64 quantum bits.

Only dozens to hundreds of quantum bits are used in quantum computers that have so far been created in the world, making practical use a long way off.

Some predictions suggest that a quantum computer could produce values of more than 100 trillion yen ($765 billion) within 15 to 30 years.

With its domestically produced quantum computer, Japan stands at the starting point of the development race.

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First quantum computer made in Japan by Riken put online | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and ... -

In recent years, investors and entrepreneurs have been abuzz with talk about quantum computing stock. Quantum computers might be capable of breaking encryption, solving physics, and many other processes classical computers cant. The quantum computing stocks that can monetize this business could be set for big gains.

The most popular potential application for quantum computers is Shors algorithm. This algorithm can factor a number into its constituent primes faster than any classical computer. Because factoring numbers into primes underpins much of modern encryption, Shors algorithm could break modern encryption standards.

But Shors algorithm and other such applications will first need a working quantum computer to process on. That problem remains key and many companies are working on completely different methods for making a quantum computer. Theyre even using completely different qubits, which are as fundamental to quantum computers as bits are to classical computers. Whether one method becomes the standard, or many methods can work side by side, will be crucial to the future of quantum computers.

Ultimately, investing in quantum computers requires an appreciation of the science, the possibilities, and the finances of quantum computing stocks. So here are three quantum computing stocks youll want to watch out for.

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A company called IonQ (NASDAQ:IONQ) recently came out with a new quantum computer with a capacity of up to 32 qubits. That may sound low, less than a fraction the size of their competitors computers. But IonQ wants to network its computers together, providing a modular, scalable platform of any potential size. The result should be a system that can outperform even the largest competing computers.

IonQs computers use trapped ions for its qubits, making them more stable than the alternatives. All quantum computers struggle with decoherence, wherein the stable quantum system falls apart and all information is lost. IonQ hopes its qubits will be more resistant to decoherence than its competitors, as even a large computer is useless if the information in it is too transient.

IonQ is expected to release earnings March 30, 2023, so investors should mark their calendars. In Q3 2022, IonQ reported $57 million in cash and $348 million in short term investments. They also had revenue of $3 million and a $25 million loss from operations. If its short term investments are stable, then it should have plenty of runway for the medium term. But it will need to grow revenue if it wants to stay around longer.

While IonQ is not the largest player in quantum computers, it does perhaps have the most potential. Its small, stable, scalable design could overtake its much larger competitors. And that makes it a stock any growth-focused investor will want to watch out for.

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The most promising application of quantum computing is cracking modern encryption using Shors algorithm- but that wont mean the end of encryption altogether. Arqit Quantum (NASDAQ:ARQQ) is a company selling the promise of quantum encryption. Even if Shors algorithm gets implemented, Arqit hopes it can help privacy remain viable.

Arqit claims its QuantumCloud is unbreakable and, backed by the power of quantum mechanics, is supposed to be safe from Shors Algorithm. It should also prove safe from classical attacks, meaning theres still reason to buy it, even if viable quantum computers are a long way off.

Quantum encryption may seem like a small market, since quantum computers themselves remain in their infancy. But the market could grow quickly if quantum computers become more useful. Expect the market for quantum encryption to explode if Shors algorithm ever gets implemented at scale.

Arqits financials as of December 2022 show $20 million in revenue, and a loss of $52 million. They had cash on hand of $49 million, and recently announced they were selling $20 million of stock and warrants. And they may have to again so shareholders should be on the lookout for future dilutions.

At the moment, Arqit is still competing with classical encryption methods, and against much larger and deeper pocketed companies. A bet on them is a bet that quantum computing is set to take off soon- Or that an appreciation of their stronger encryption technology will drive adoption.

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International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM) has positioned itself as the front-runner of the quantum computing race. With its latest machine able to use 433 qubits, IBM clearly holds the crown of having the largest quantum computer so far. But IBM still has a long way to go before reaching the mass market.

IBMs lead in the quantum computing race should not be understated. In 2016, IBM opened up the IBM Cloud as the first publicly available and codable quantum computer. In 2019, it made its first commercially available quantum computer, which has become the most widely used system to date. It now hopes to unveil a 1000 qubit quantum computer this year, a milestone leagues ahead of its competitors.

But an investor must also appreciate how quantum computing is just a small part of IBM as a company, and that its stock may largely move independently of its quantum computing progress. It may fall even if it hits its quantum goals, or rise even if it misses them. Furthermore IBMs quantum dominance still hasnt given it the ability to perform many of the feats that it has hyped for years. It still has not produced a logical qubit that is resistant to decoherence, for instance.

IBM is the big, safe play for quantum computing investors. Even if its quantum dominance stalls, it will still be a good company to fall back on. But its current dominance does make it attractive if you think there can only be one big winner.

On the date of publication, John Blankenhorn did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.

John Blankenhorn is a neuroscientist at Emory University. He has significant experience in biochemistry, biotechnology and pharmaceutical research.

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3 Quantum Computing Stocks That Are Leading the Race - InvestorPlace