Tuesday, August 27th, 2024

Enjoy a nice cup of freshly brewed quantum news ☕️ 

Today’s issue includes:

• Google Quantum AI has demonstrated quantum error correction below the surface code threshold, achieving logical qubit performance that outperforms the best physical qubits by more than double.

• SEALSQ Corp launched advanced digital crypto wallet features designed to protect against future quantum computing threats.

• Researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory developed the first unified mathematical theory to predict and understand barren plateaus in quantum machine learning algorithms.

• Researchers from Yonsei University, Hannam University, Gyeongsang National University, and OBELAB Inc. used a quantum annealing algorithm to select features from fNIRS signals in the prefrontal cortex that correlate with academic achievement.

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

🚀 Google Achieves Below-Threshold Quantum Error Correction

QUICK BYTE: Google Quantum AI has demonstrated quantum error correction below the surface code threshold, achieving logical qubit performance that outperforms the best physical qubits by more than double.

DETAILS: 

• Achieving below-threshold quantum error correction is a necessary step towards practical quantum computing as it makes room for the reliable execution of large-scale quantum algorithms that can successfully run over extended periods by significantly reducing logical error rates.

• Two surface code memories were operated below the threshold on superconducting processors, using a distance-7 surface code integrated with a real-time decoder. The logical error rate was exponentially suppressed by increasing code distance, resulting in a 101-qubit system with a 0.143% error per cycle.

• Previous efforts in quantum error correction had not definitively shown below-threshold performance. Google's experiments not only achieved this but also extended the logical qubit lifetime to 2.4 times longer than the best physical qubits.

🔐 SEALSQ Releases Quantum-Resistant Crypto Wallet

QUICK BYTE: SEALSQ Corp has launched advanced digital crypto wallet features designed to protect against future quantum computing threats.

DETAILS: 

• Quantum computing has the potential to threaten current cryptographic systems, especially those securing cryptocurrency wallets. SEALSQ is actively moving to protect digital assets in the face of quantum decryption capabilities through advanced quantum-resistant crypto wallet features, including a converged eSIM solution that integrates secure elements, eUICC, and NFC connectivity.

• The company also launched a proof-of-technology project with Hedera blockchain to integrate PKI signatures with biometric authentication, potentially eliminating the need for manually managed seed phrases.

• Unlike traditional cryptographic methods that are vulnerable to quantum attacks, SEALSQ’s solutions are specifically designed to withstand the computational power of quantum computers. The integration of biometrics with PKI further reinforces security compared to standard seed phrase-based authentication.

🌌 A Unified Theory for Quantum Machine Learning

QUICK BYTE: Researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed the first unified mathematical theory to predict and understand barren plateaus in quantum machine learning algorithms.

DETAILS: 

• Barren plateaus have been a significant obstacle in quantum algorithm development, leading to wasted time and resources. A unified theory offers a systematic way to overcome this challenge and encourage continued progress in quantum machine learning.

• The research team developed an equation that characterizes and predicts the occurrence of barren plateaus in quantum optimization algorithms. This equation allows researchers to identify and avoid barren plateaus, which are more common in generalized algorithms than in specialized ones.

• Previously, the presence of barren plateaus was only partially understood and unpredictable, leaving researchers to guess or use trial-and-error methods. This new unified theory provides a clear mathematical framework and improves algorithm design efficiency.

🧠 Quantum Annealing Predicts Academic Achievement Through fNIRS Data Analysis

QUICK BYTE: Researchers from Yonsei University, Hannam University, Gyeongsang National University, and OBELAB Inc. used a quantum annealing algorithm to select features from fNIRS signals in the prefrontal cortex that correlate with academic achievement, as measured by CSAT scores.

DETAILS: 

• Understanding the link between cognitive tasks and academic achievement is necessary in order to develop predictive models that can inform educational strategies. Methodology incorporating quantum annealing may establish the accuracy and efficiency of such predictions.

• In this study, a team of scientists from Researchers from Yonsei University, Hannam University, Gyeongsang National University, and OBELAB Inc. applied a quantum annealing algorithm to fNIRS data collected from students during cognitive tasks, identifying features that correlate with CSAT scores. The results were validated against classical machine learning models, such as XGBoost, to ensure accuracy.

• Unlike traditional machine learning models, the quantum annealing algorithm can optimize feature selection more efficiently, particularly in high-dimensional datasets like those generated by fNIRS. This reduces the computational cost and potentially increases the precision of academic achievement predictions.

• The use of quantum computing in educational data analysis provides a new tool for predicting academic success and using that data to tailor educational interventions through more personalized and effective learning strategies based on neuroimaging data.

🤝 Terranova Defense Solutions and Quantum eMotion Corp. have formed a partnership to advance the commercialization of quantum-based cybersecurity solutions. QeM will exclusively supply TDS with quantum entropy generators, post-quantum cryptography, and cloud-based security solutions. This collaboration strengthens TDS's global cybersecurity framework and supports the development of advanced security products for their clients across 21 countries.

🔬 A team of MIT scientists identified coherent quantum phase slips as a major source of dephasing in fluxonium qubits. By systematically varying the impedance of Josephson junction arrays, they characterized the impact of CQPS on qubit coherence and provided design guidelines to mitigate this issue. This study, which links CQPS-induced dephasing to impedance and charge-parity switching noise, offers a comprehensive framework for improving fluxonium qubit design and advancing the development of stable quantum processors.

➕ Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a quantum multirow iteration algorithm to solve linear systems with nonsquare coefficient matrices and achieve faster convergence and exponential speedup compared to classical methods. The algorithm uses quantum circuits based on quantum comparators and quantum random access memory, and is tailored for applications in machine learning, image processing, and other computational fields. Unlike traditional quantum algorithms focused on square matrices, this method efficiently handles nonsquare matrices, common in real-world problems, providing an exponential improvement in time complexity.

💰️ India's National Quantum Mission will allocate substantial grants to 15 quantum startups over the next three months. These grants are in place to accelerate innovation in quantum communication, cryptography, hardware, and algorithms. By significantly increasing the grant size compared to previous government initiatives, NQM seeks to better support the capital-intensive quantum technology sector and attract private investment.

🖥️ Norma, a South Korean company originally focused on cybersecurity, is set to launch the country's first domestically produced quantum computer, Qrion, by the end of this year. This five-qubit machine will feature an in-house developed superconducting quantum processing unit. Although modest compared to global counterparts, Qrion's launch is fundamental for the growth of South Korea's quantum ecosystem in attracting investment and research in quantum technologies.

🤖 At the upcoming Quantum World Congress, Quantinuum will announce new advancements in its quantum computing roadmap, including plans for fault-tolerant systems and scaling strategies. In a recent interview, CEO Rajeeb Hazra spoke on the importance of quantum computing in the next business cycle, especially when combined with classical computing and AI. Quantinuum has made significant progress, with its third-generation systems like the 56-qubit H2-1 and these advancements could accelerate the commercialization of quantum computing.

LISTEN

On the most recent edition of The Superposition Guy’s podcast, host Yuval Boger, CMO of QuEra, interviews Shengtao Wang, Quantum Algorithms and Applications manager at QuEra, and Jonathan Wurtz, a Senior Scientist in his group.They discuss their roles at QuEra in developing quantum algorithms for neutral atom quantum computers, highlighting recent advancements in error correction, hybrid quantum-classical systems, and the potential applications in chemistry and materials science. They also reflect on the future of quantum computing and the skills needed for careers in the field.

ENJOY

Harvard's Quantum Initiative has found a new home in the David E. and Stacey L. Goel Quantum Science and Engineering Building, a 70,000-square-foot renovated space designed to foster collaboration and innovation among quantum researchers. This state-of-the-art facility brings together scientists from diverse fields, offering advanced laboratories, meeting spaces, and shared resources to spark new ideas and innovation in quantum computing and materials science. The building’s design encourages interdisciplinary interaction, creating an environment where serendipitous discoveries are not just possible but expected. A testament to “it takes a village” to raise quantum technology. That’s how the saying goes, right?

WATCH

Prof. Waseem Bakr, a Professor of Physics at Princeton University, discusses the use of quantum simulators, particularly with ultracold gases, to study emergent behaviors in strongly interacting quantum systems, a challenge beyond the reach of classical computers.

• On Monday, September 2nd, Washington DC Quantum Computing Meetup is hosting Quantum Computing in Finance—virtual

• On Thursday, September 5th, paper submissions are due for the 23rd International Conference on Machine Learning and Applications.