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One of IBMs latest quantum processor has improved the reliability of its qubits.Credit: Ryan Lavine for IBM

IBM has unveiled the first quantum computer with 1,121 superconducting qubits (qubits are the quantum equivalent of digital bits in a classical computer). Quantum computers could outperform classical computers in certain areas by exploiting phenomena such as entanglement and superposition. However, these quantum states are notoriously fickle and prone to error, so simply having more qubits does not necessarily make a system better. IBM says it will now focus on more error-resistant systems, rather than larger ones.

Nature | 4 min read

The discovery of the earliest known fossil mosquitoes, preserved in Lebanese amber, had a sting in the tail: the insects were bloodsucking males. Today, only female mosquitoes eat blood, with males living on nectar and plant juices. The 125-million-year-old fossils have mouthparts that look perfect for piercing skin, as well as mate-grabbing appendages that confirm their sex. The finding could turn current thinking that blood-sucking evolved after plant-eating on its head. We think now that, originally, the mosquito could be bloodsucking, says palaeontologist and study co-author Dany Azar. With the appearance of the flowering plant, this function could be just forgotten later on.

The New York Times | 5 min read

Reference: Current Biology paper

A new attempt to reconcile the physics of the very big and very small offers up a testable prediction: time itself might be wobbly. Physicists have long sought a unifying theory that integrates the spectacularly successful but mathematically incompatible general theory of relativity and quantum theory. The postquantum theory of classical gravity suggests that space-time is smooth and continuous, not quantized into discrete chunks. But it has fluctuations which could be revealed by precise table-top mass measurements. Its quite mathematical, admits physicist Jonathan Oppenheim. Picturing it in your head is quite difficult.

The Guardian | 4 min read

References: Physical Review X paper & Nature Communications paper

Biotechnology graduate Mahaletchumy Arujanan launched The Petri Dish, Malaysias first scientific newspaper, to improve scientific literacy in the country. More than a decade later, its still going strong. Weve covered everything from mushroom scientists to criminologists, Arujanan explains. Funding remains a challenge, as does getting the writing style right. People who are formally educated in science are not usually trained in writing in an engaging manner.

Nature | 6 min read

The most successful hoaxers give their targets exactly what these individuals most desire, writes palaeontologist Daniel Ksepka, the curator of an exhibition that aims to get inside the mind of the deceiver. Exhibits at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Connecticut, include an early fake by Charles Dawson, the British solicitor behind Piltdown Man a fusion of a human skull and a modern orangutan jawbone that misled anthropologists for decades. Piltdown Man escaped detection for so long because it gave British anthropologists exactly what they yearned for: the perfect missing link, writes Ksepka and modern audiences should not consider themselves immune to such deceptions.

Scientific American | 13 min read

Studies have suggested that fruits and vegetables contain lower levels of micronutrients such as iron, vitamins and zinc than they used to. It can be hard to know whether the effect is real, however, because most studies use historical data and compare different crop varieties, levels of ripeness, soil types and farming methods. But for some crops, such as wheat, the evidence is clear: the introduction of high-yielding varieties in the 1960s led to a nutritional decline. When plants produce more carbohydrates, this dilutes other grain components, including micronutrients. And the same mechanism seems to apply when plants respond to increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Chemistry World | 14 min read

Credit: Jacquie Matechuk/NPOTY 2023

Wildlife-conservation photographer Jacquie Matechuk endured days of difficult terrain and challenging weather in the Ecuadorean Andes for this snap of a spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) that won the Nature Photographer of the Year competition.

See more of the months sharpest science shots, selected by Natures photo team. (Jacquie Matechuk/NPOTY 2023)

Jimi Olaghere participated in a gruelling, months-long clinical trial for a new gene-editing drug to treat his sickle cell disease. (MIT Technology Review | 6 min read)

Today, I discovered that you can virtually adopt a critically endangered axolotl. Mexicos National Autonomous University is planning to use the money to build refuges for the animals and restore the creatures only natural habitat, the canals of Lake Xochimilco.

Help this newsletter to flourish by sending your feedback to briefing@nature.com.

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Katrina Krmer, associate editor, Nature Briefing

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Daily briefing: The first 1,000-qubit quantum chip - Nature.com

Individual molecules have been forced into special states of quantum entanglement where they can remain correlated with each other, even if they occupy opposite ends of the Universe.

This is a breakthrough in the world of molecules because of the fundamental importance of quantum entanglement, said Lawrence Cheuk, assistant professor of physics at Princeton University and the senior author of the paper.

But it is also a breakthrough for practical applications because entangled molecules can be the building blocks for many future applications.

The research, On-Demand Entanglement of Molecules in a Reconfigurable Optical Tweezer Array, was recently published in the journal Science.

Applications of molecules that have gone through quantum entanglement include quantum computers that can solve certain problems faster than conventional computers.

The molecules can also be used for quantum simulators that can model complex materials whose behaviours are difficult to model, and quantum sensors that can measure faster than their traditional counterparts.

Connor Holland, a graduate student in the physics department and a co-author of the work, said: One of the motivations in doing quantum science is that in the practical world, it turns out that if you harness the laws of quantum mechanics, you can do a lot better in many areas.

The quantum advantage is the ability of quantum devices to outperform classical ones. At the core of quantum advantage are the principles of superposition and quantum entanglement.

A classical computer can assume the value of either 0 or 1, whilst qubits can be in a superposition of 0 and 1.

Quantum entanglement is a major cornerstone of quantum mechanics and occurs when two particles become so linked that it persists even if one particle is lightyears away from the other.

Entanglement is an accurate description of the physical world and how reality is structured.

Quantum entanglement is a fundamental concept, said Cheuk, but it is also the key ingredient that bestows quantum advantage.

Building quantum advantage and achieving controllable quantum entanglement is challenging as scientists are unclear as to which physical platform is best for creating qubits.

Previously, many different technologies have been explored as candidates for quantum computers and devices. The optimal quantum system could depend on the specific application.

However, molecules have long defied controllable quantum entanglement until now.

The Princeton University team manipulated individual molecules to control and coax them into interlocking quantum states. They believe that molecules have advantages over atoms that make them better suited for certain applications in quantum information processing and simulation of complex materials.

Compared to atoms, molecules have more quantum degrees of freedom and can interact in new ways.

What this means, in practical terms, is that there are new ways of storing and processing quantum information, said Yukai Lu, a graduate student in electrical and computer engineering and a co-author of the paper.

For example, a molecule can vibrate and rotate in multiple modes. So, you can use two of these modes to encode a qubit. If the molecular species is polar, two molecules can interact even when spatially separated.

However, despite their advantages, molecules are hard to control in the laboratory because they are complex. Their attractive degrees of freedom also make them hard to control in laboratory settings.

First, the team picked a molecular species that is both polar and can be cooled with lasers. The molecules were cooled to ultracold temperatures where quantum mechanics can occur. Individual molecules were then picked up by a complex system of focused laser beams called optical tweezers.

Through the engineering of these tweezers, the team created large arrays of single molecules to position them in a one-dimensional configuration.

They then encoded a qubit into a non-rotating and rotating state of the molecule. This molecular qubit was shown to remain coherent remembering its superposition. Thus, the team revealed that they could create well-controlled and coherent qubits out of individually controlled molecules.

To enable molecular quantum entanglement, the team ensured that the molecules could interact using a series of microwave pulses. By allowing this interaction for a precise amount of time, the team could implement a two-qubit gate that entangled two molecules. This is important because such an entangling two-qubit gate is a building block for universal quantum computing and the simulation of complex materials.

The research will help to investigate different areas of quantum science. The team is particularly interested in exploring the physics of interacting molecules which can be used to simulate quantum many-body systems where interesting emergent behaviour like new forms of magnetism can appear.

Cheuk said: Using molecules for quantum science is a new frontier and our demonstration of on-demand entanglement is a key step in demonstrating that molecules can be used as a viable platform for quantum science.

In a separate article published in the journal Science, an independent research group reported the achievement of similar results.

Cheuk concluded: The fact that they got the same results verify the reliability of our results.

They also show that molecular tweezer arrays are becoming an exciting new platform for quantum science.

See original here:
Quantum entanglement of individual molecules achieved by physicists for the first time - Innovation News Network

Jason Halley / University Photographer

Quantum computing has piqued the interest of physicists, mathematicians and computer scientists with its potential to solve some of the worlds most complex problems faster and more accurately than ever. A grant from the US Department of Energy (DOE) puts Chico State and collaborators from CSU San Marcos at the CSUs leading edge in preparing students for a quantum computing future.

In efforts to promote the field of quantum information science and technology (QIST)an area of science that impacts communication, quantum computing and sensingChico State Department of Computer Science Associate Professor Jaime Raigoza and other scientists from around the state have been awarded a three-year, $2.5 million grant from the DOE.

Funding for the grant titled QIST in the CSU: Expanding Access to Quantum Information Science and Technology was awarded to Chico State and co-Principal Investigator Raigoza, CSU San Marcos Physics Professor and PI Justin Perron, the CSU Chancellors Office, Sandia National Laboratories and Growth Sector, a Bay Area nonprofit that works with community colleges to expand access to STEM degrees and careers.

The grant, which began in February 2023 and will run through February 2026, brings QIST to the CSU by funding faculty workshops and online learning communities; curriculum dissemination through STEM-NETthe CSU multicampus consortia at the Chancellors Officesummer quantum experience camps; year-long quantum-focus student learning communities at both Chico State and San Marcos; and student internships at Sandia National Laboratories.

Raigoza notes that the practical possibilities for quantum computing are broad and potentially impactful on everyday life.

Some practical applications of this emerging technology include secure communication, the simulation of more complex molecules in discovering new drugs, developing tools to provide early cancer detection and an impact on the energy sector to provide a more efficient infrastructure, Raigoza said. The potential to solve complex problems plus the impact on national security also exists.

The purpose of the project is twofold. The first is a focus on providing opportunities and support to students with bridge programs to introduce incoming undergraduate students to QIST and ensure they have the necessary math skills to succeed in their majors. Additionally, cohort-based learning communities will provide professional development opportunities for students, and coveted summer internships at Sandia National Laboratories for undergraduate students will offer valuable QIST research experiences.

This robust list of experiential research will educate and empower undergraduate students to fill a much-anticipated workforce in the futurewith that happening right here in the CSU.

With the field being so new, there currently are insufficient education and workforce development opportunities at the undergraduate level to meet the anticipated need, Perron said. This project hopes to help address this by building capacity in the CSU and leveraging existing resources to help bring the field to our diverse student population.

The second purpose is to focus on faculty activities to expand the capacity within the CSU to offer QIST courses, research and support.

QIST has the potential to revolutionize the computing field. To meet the growing quantum computing workforce, students will need to understand this new field where very few schools are teaching, especially within the CSU, Raigoza said.

Chico State students interested in learning more about quantum computing and QIST can reach Raigoza at jraigoza@csuchico.edu.

Sean Murphy (English, 97) is the Media Relations Coordinator at Chico State. When he's not writing press releases and pitching story ideas to the media or fielding media inquiries, he's writing about human interest stories, sports, the outdoors and the remarkable students, staff and faculty at Chico State.

Originally posted here:
Three-Year, $2.5 Million DOE Grant Puts Chico State at Leading Edge of Teaching Quantum Computing - California State University, Chico

A new project will bring together leading UK and Canadian companies to develop the imaging systems to measure qubit states. This is a vital capability for quantum computers to scale.

Quantum computers are based on building blocks called qubits (quantum bits), but they are not yet powerful enough to unlock any real-world applications. To achieve this, the number and quality of qubits must grow, together with the optical and electronic systems needed to perform operations with qubits and read out the results.

Steve Brierley, CEO and Founder at Riverlane, said: "We need to reach the scale where quantum computers can perform roughly a trillion reliable quantum operations a threshold we call the 'TeraQuop'. Todays quantum computers are only capable of a few hundred error-free operations. This project pushes us closer to this TeraQuop goal, but we cannot do this alone and this is why collaboration with leaders likeInfleqtion andNv Camras is vital, enabling the continued, long-term growth of quantum computing."

In the Scalable Qubit Array Detection for Rydberg Quantum Computers project, quantum computing companies Infleqtion and Riverlane will collaborate with imaging systems specialists Nv Camras to develop systems to greatly improve the readout of the status of the qubits.

The partnership between Infleqtion,Nv Camrasand Riverlane will allow for collaborative development in this area of the quantum computing supply chain, helpingNv Camrasto develop cameras targeting the next generation of quantum computers, Riverlane to equip its quantum control systems with advanced readout capabilities and Infleqtion to validate the necessary hardware control layer.

There are many qubit types. This project focuses on the neutral atom qubits that Infleqtion's quantum computing platform uses. Accurate knowledge of the state of these atoms is crucial for the quantum computer to perform its operations. This requires high detection sensitivity, accurate measurements, and low latency to enable real-time image processing and faster operations.

Marie-Eve Ducharme, President and Co-Founder at Nv Camras, said: "Weve been pioneering projects in the space sector for over a decade, but demand for our unique imaging capabilities is exploding in the quantum physics field. This project marks a new milestone for Nv Camras and showcases the transformative potential of our technology in accelerating quantum computing advancements. We are grateful for the contribution of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC-IRAP) to enable this work."

Dr Timothy Ballance, President of Infleqtion UK, said, "Neutral atom quantum computing holds great promise for practical quantum computing through the scalability of atomic qubits compared to alternative methodologies. To truly unlock this scalability, we will need to work hand-in-hand with hardware providers and integrators across the quantum stack to ensure that the sub-systems are interoperable. We are thrilled to collaborate with Riverlane and Nv Camras on this exciting project which will advance high-speed detection of large arrays of atomic qubits."

The project is funded jointly by Innovate UK and the NRC-IRAP through the Canada-UK Commercialising Quantum Technology Programme. Innovate UK is investing 4.2 million in 11 projects to strengthen collaborative research and development through Canada-UK partnerships.

Source:https://www.riverlane.com/

Read more:
Riverlane Partners with Infleqtion and Nv Cameras to Help Quantum Computers 'See' Their Qubits - AZoOptics

SEOUL, Republic of Korea and PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- POSCO Holdings, and QC Ware Corp., today announced that they are jointly developing revolutionary new techniques for the simulation of battery materials on quantum computers.

POSCO Holdings and QC Ware revolutionize battery simulation with quantum computing.

Proliferation of electric vehicles, growing energy requirements, and the imperative for sustainability are continuing to drive demand for batteries that last longer and require less time to charge. Design of new battery materials involves experimental production and testing, which are both costly and time-consuming. Material simulations could significantly accelerate the design process by predicting the most promising candidates before any experiment is conducted. However, current methods on classical computers suffer from either limited accuracy or excessive computational cost.

POSCO Holdings and QC Ware have joined forces on a grant from the Korean government to quantify the utility and advantage of quantum computers for the accurate and efficient simulation of candidate battery materials. The collaboration will concentrate on the simulation of realistic solid state electrolytes for Lithium batteries and benchmark new quantum computing methods vs the best approaches currently in use today.

This research is supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) of the Ministry of Science and ICT (RS-2023-00257288). Earlier in the year, POSCO Holdings applied for the 'Quantum Advantage Challenge Research based on Quantum Computing' grant under the project titled 'Development of Simulation Technology for Eco-Friendly Material Based on Quantum Computing'.

The collaboration is spearheaded by the AI R&D Laboratories of POSCO Holdings New Experience of Technology Hub with the directive to apply new approaches of simulating battery materials to quantum computers.

"With the world moving toward diverse and flexible energy solutions, it is essential to develop more performant batteries to be integrated in future, sustainable energy grids." said Robert Parrish, SVP of Quantum Chemistry at QC Ware Corp. "Computational simulations are playing a growing role in the design of new materials, and this collaboration with POSCO Holdings is essential to QC Ware's mission: developing quantum algorithms that accelerate the timeline to quantum computers impacting real-world use cases."

POSCO Holdings

POSCO Group, which was launched in 1968 as a steel company, switched to a holding company system centered on POSCO Holdings in March last year. Since then, steel, rechargeable battery materials, lithium and nickel, hydrogen, energy, construction/infrastructure, and food (Agri-Bio) have been selected as seven key projects to discover the group's future growth engines and foster its business portfolio. Based on this, POSCO Group will grow into a leading supplier of eco-friendly future materials that ushers in a sustainable future.

QC Ware

QC Wareis a quantum and classical computing software and services company focused on delivering enterprise value through cutting edge computational technology. With specialization in machine learning and chemistry simulation applications, QC Ware develops for both near-term quantum and state-of-the-art classical computing hardware. QC Ware's team is composed of some of the industry's foremost experts in quantum and classical computing. QC Ware is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, and supports its European customers through its subsidiary in Paris and customers in Asia through its business development office in Tokyo, Japan. QC Ware also organizes Q2B, a global series of conferences for industry, practitioner, and academic quantum computing communities.

SOURCE QC Ware Corp.

Excerpt from:
POSCO Holdings and QC Ware Revolutionize Battery Simulation with Quantum Computing - PR Newswire