Good morning, it’s August 14, 2024. While the news is not so flashy as newly released NIST standards, progress on the research side remains kinetic, from software improvements to nanotechnology. 

Today’s issue includes:

• Quantum software developers face limited access to quantum hardware, and quantum simulations can be computationally complex — a combination of Qubernetes and Jupyter notebooks can change that.

• Reducing entanglement through a new method for fermion-to-qubit mappings leads to more accurate and efficient quantum simulations.

• Explorations in materials science, such as using tantalum as opposed to aluminum, reduce energy loss in qubits and lead to longer retention of quantum information.

And even more research, news, & events within quantum.

👩‍💻 Quantum Developers Rejoice: Qubernetes and Jupyter Provide Cost-Effective Access to Quantum Hardware

QUICK BYTE: Quantum software developers face limitations in their ability to experiment and iterate due to the scarcity and high cost of NISQ devices, coupled with the demanding computational requirements of simulating quantum computers on classical systems. Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä proposed a solution to make quantum software development more accessible, scalable, and resource-efficient, thereby simplifying the experimentation and iteration process for quantum algorithms. The combination of custom Jupyter kernels and Qubernetes allows developers to efficiently run quantum routines on remote, GPU-accelerated simulators while seamlessly switching between local and remote environments, effectively increasing execution speed and cost-effectiveness.

DETAILS: 

• Qubernetes, a Kubernetes-based platform, improves the quantum software development experience by enabling the remote execution of quantum routines on GPU-accelerated simulators.

• A custom Jupyter kernel allows developers to switch between local and remote environments, making it easier to run quantum software without needing deep technical knowledge of the underlying infrastructure.

• The solution increases cost-effectiveness by optimizing the use of GPU resources only when needed and allows shared access to computational resources within a team or across cloud services.

• Future work includes extending the functionality to other development environments beyond Jupyter Notebooks in order to further support accessibility and scalability for quantum software developers.

🗺️ Optimizing Quantum Simulations: New Mappings Slash Entanglement for Greater Efficiency

QUICK BYTE: Reducing entanglement in quantum simulations improves the efficiency and accuracy of these simulations. Existing fermion-to-qubit mappings often result in high entanglement, making simulations computationally expensive and less practical on current quantum hardware. A new, physically inspired mapping technique presented by researchers from ICFO and ICREA specifically targets reducing entanglement to make quantum simulations of electronic structures more feasible and effective.

DETAILS: 

• The new fermion-to-qubit mappings significantly improve simulation performance for small molecules like LiH, H2, and benzene by targeting specific states of interest, which improves performance in quantum algorithms like the variational quantum eigensolver and the density matrix renormalization group.

• By reducing the number of entangling layers in quantum circuits, these mappings make simulations more practical on current quantum hardware.

• The study emphasizes the potential of these tailored mappings to optimize quantum simulations, particularly in electronic structure problems.

🧪 Collaborations in Materials Science is Reducing Energy Loss in Quantum Devices

QUICK BYTE: Energy loss in qubits hampers their ability to retain quantum information. Understanding the cause of these energy losses is essential for limiting energy loss and improving qubit performance. By systematically investigating how different materials and fabrication techniques affect energy loss, scientists from Yale University and the Brookhaven National Laboratory gain insights to enhance the design and functionality of quantum devices.

DETAILS: 

• The research, conducted under the Co-Design Center for Quantum Advantage, resulted in the creation of a quantum device capable of storing quantum information for over one millisecond.

• By designing a new device called a tripole stripline, the researchers could differentiate between various sources of energy loss and identify how different materials and fabrication techniques impact qubit coherence. Using tantalum thin films and annealing sapphire substrates reduced energy loss compared to traditional materials like aluminum.

• A collaboration with the Center for Functional Nanomaterials allowed researchers to analyze the materials' microscopic structure, identify contaminants or defects, and correlate these with qubit coherence.

• The research led to an energy loss model that could predict a device's coherence based on materials and circuit geometry, aiding in the optimization of quantum devices.

• While understanding defects and other material characteristics that lead to energy loss in qubits is the main objective, another notable callout is the clear demonstration of the importance of collaboration between various scientists in moving the needle on quantum computing technology.

🚀 A recent interview with Sean Michael Brehm explores Spectral Capital's Quantum Bridge Program, an initiative launched to accelerate the development and commercialization of quantum computing technologies. Based in Washington, the program serves as a launchpad for startups by offering technical support, funding, and industry connections. The goal is to bridge the gap between cutting-edge quantum research and real-world applications to help startups serve their target sector effectively.

🤝 BTQ Technologies has joined the newly launched Quantum Industrial Standard Association as a founding member, alongside other global quantum technology leaders such as IBM, AWS, and SKT. QuINSA, a Korean-led initiative, is developing international standards for quantum communication, computing, and sensing.

🪙 When combined, losing quantum strategies can result in a winning outcome, a phenomenon known as Parrondo's paradox. Researchers from the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research propose a quantum game based on coin-based quantum walks and present a deterministic scheme to identify initial coin states that exhibit Parrondo's paradox. This scheme identifies states that are losing in individual quantum walks but become winning when combined in a specific sequence, with potential applications in developing new and creative quantum algorithms.

🔐 NIST may have released standards, but the field of PQC requires ongoing research to develop new security solutions. Researchers from North South University in Bangladesh developed a multi-layered security system that integrates quantum key distribution with classical cryptography to enhance the security of steganographic images. They combined the E91 QKD protocol with the Advanced Encryption Standard and the Secure Hash Algorithm for a secure key exchange resistant to both quantum and classical attacks.

🪖 U.S. military researchers are seeking industry input on the near-term military applications of quantum computing and hybrid quantum-non-quantum technologies. The Pentagon's Washington Headquarters Services issued a special notice for the Quantum Solutions project to test and evaluate these technologies, focusing on areas such as quantum machine learning, materials design, and optimization problems. Companies interested in participating must submit a 10-page response by August 26, 2024.

LISTEN

A recent Quanta Magazine podcast explores the surprising connection between aperiodic tilings, such as Penrose tiles, and quantum error-correcting codes, revealing how these non-repeating patterns can inspire new ways to protect quantum information from errors.

PONDER

• Anna Knörr’s journey through the Perimeter Scholars International program encouraged her to embrace curiosity and explore beyond the expected path to more deeply understand quantum science and the creativity required for innovation. It’s a powerful reminder to stay curious and open to the unexpected as you navigate your own academic and professional pursuits.

WATCH

A panel discussion with IBM cryptography experts reviews the recently-released NIST standards:

• On Thursday, August 15th, QED-C is hosting Quantum Marketplace: Quantum Computing Systems III, a webinar featuring industry leaders from NVIDIA, Microsoft, Pasqal and more — virtual

• On Tuesday, August 20th, Infleqtion is hosting A Different Kind of Quantum Circuit: Exploring Atomtronics with Oqtant, an explanation and demonstration on creating atomtronic circuits —virtual

• On Thursday, August 22nd, D-Wave is hosting Deeper Dive into the new Fast Anneal Feature, a webinar on how Fast Anneal is assisting in scientific discovery —virtual

• On Saturday, August 24th, Washington DC Quantum Computing Meetup is hosting PiQture - A Quantum Machine Learning Library for Image Processing, a discussion of the open-source Python and Qiskit-based library for QML models —virtual

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