Friday, October 25th, 2024

Enjoy a nice cup of freshly brewed quantum news ☕️ 

Today’s issue includes:

• A team at the Chung Yuan Christian University in Taiwan used a hybrid quantum neural network and NVIDIA's CUDA-Q platform to forecast solar irradiance with increased prediction accuracy and processing speed.

• Researchers from Fermi Lab, the University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, and others propose using a qubit-coupled phonon detector that uses quantum acoustics to detect signals from ultralight dark matter and high-frequency gravitational waves.

• Researcher from Florence Quantum Labs presents an integrated framework of quantum algorithms and mycoponics—a soil-less cultivation system—for optimizing nutrient transfer in mycorrhizal fungi networks.

• Plus, the latest quantum + supercomputer combination, a 4,000-square-meter quantum computing complex, tantalum-based materials as the future of quantum circuits, and more.

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

☀️ HQNN and NVIDIA's CUDA-Q Deliver Faster, More Accurate Predictions for Photovoltaic Power

QUICK BYTE: A team at the Chung Yuan Christian University in Taiwan used a hybrid quantum neural network and NVIDIA's CUDA-Q platform to forecast solar irradiance with increased prediction accuracy and processing speed.

DETAILS

• The team developed an HQNN, a machine learning model combining classical neural network layers with quantum circuits, to predict solar irradiance, which is essential for scheduling power generation in photovoltaic farms.

• Using the CUDA-Q platform and NVIDIA’s GPUs, the team achieved a 2.7x speed improvement in model training and a 3.4x error reduction in predictions compared to classical models. The team noted how the CUDA-Q platform provided easy integration of CPU, GPU, and QPU resources, optimizing the HQNN’s performance by accelerating both the classical and quantum components.

• The HQNN model was constructed using PyTorch for classical neural network layers and CUDA-Q for quantum layers, with the NVIDIA cuDNN and cuQuantum libraries providing further acceleration. The hybrid network processed historical weather data from the National Solar Radiation Database, focusing on seasonal patterns to improve prediction accuracy across different climate conditions.

🌌 Listening to the Universe: Qubit-Coupled Phonon Detector Targets Dark Matter and High-Frequency Gravitational Waves

QUICK BYTE: Researchers from Fermi Lab, the University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, and others propose using a qubit-coupled phonon detector that uses quantum acoustics to detect signals from ultralight dark matter and high-frequency gravitational waves.

DETAILS

• The proposed detector uses a high-overtone bulk acoustic resonator coupled to superconducting qubits to detect phonons generated by dark matter or gravitational waves within a certain frequency range. The hardware setup operates at cryogenic temperatures to minimize thermal noise, increasing sensitivity to weak signals in the desired frequency range.

• By coupling phonons with qubits, the detector achieves a high-efficiency “swap” where phonon energy transfers to the qubit, enabling the qubit’s excitation state to signal the presence of an incoming phonon. This coupling relies on precise tuning of the qubit's frequency to the target phonon mode, facilitated by materials with strong piezoelectric properties—the ability of certain materials to generate an electric charge when mechanical stress is applied.

• The study also describes methods to mitigate noise and background events, including thermal excitations and quasiparticle effects, to improve the detector's sensitivity. By using a differential measurement scheme that reduces background noise, the detector can reliably identify new physics signals, such as dark matter interactions or gravitational wave impacts.

• This detector design could complement existing haloscope experiments in dark matter research and detect high-frequency gravitational waves, a largely unexplored regime in gravitational physics. It is particularly useful for probing light dark matter candidates and for expanding the scope of phonon-based sensing technology in quantum acoustics.

🍄 Soil-less Cultivation and Quantum Algorithms to For Insights Into Nutrient Transfer and Sustainable Agriculture

QUICK BYTE: Researcher from Florence Quantum Labs presents an integrated framework of quantum algorithms and mycoponics—a soil-less cultivation system—for optimizing nutrient transfer in mycorrhizal fungi networks.

DETAILS

• Soil-less mycoponics system are suggested to closely monitor plant-fungal symbiosis, incorporating isotopic labeling and quantum dot technology for real-time nutrient tracking. This setup ensures that researchers can isolate and study nutrient pathways without soil interference.

• Quantum algorithms, including the variational quantum eigensolver and QAOA may provide effective processes to simulate complex processes like protein folding and nutrient tunneling. By modeling fungal proteins involved in nutrient transfer, these simulations would provide insight into nutrient uptake mechanisms and could lead to precision-engineered fungi strains tailored to specific agricultural needs.

• The framework suggests applying quantum machine learning to large datasets, like transcriptomic and metagenomic sequences, to discover gene networks linked to nutrient transfer in fungi. These insights could lead to genetically optimized fungal strains for ecosystem management and precision agriculture.

• The study's interdisciplinary framework—blending high-performance computing, quantum biology, and controlled ecological systems—is designed with the following goals in mind: reduce agricultural dependence on chemical fertilizers, enhance ecosystem carbon storage, and improve forest resilience, contributing to broader climate mitigation strategies.

QuEra Computing has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology to further their collaboration in industrial applications of quantum technology. Under the partnership, QuEra will deliver a neutral-atom quantum computer to AIST and establish a cloud-based platform for remote access, integrating with AIST's ABCI-Q supercomputer. The collaboration will explore hybrid computing environments, optimize optical materials for future quantum hardware, and work towards standardizing processes to support supply chain scalability.

The newly inaugurated National Quantum Computing Centre at Harwell Campus will host 12 quantum computers designed to drive advancements across AI, healthcare, energy, and climate modeling by enabling open access for UK industry, academia, and government. The 4,000-square-meter facility will support over 70 staff, as well as student programs like the world’s first dedicated quantum apprenticeship, and aims to tackle key challenges through collaborative research on energy grid optimization, drug discovery, and climate prediction. Supported by UKRI with £93 million (approximately $121 million) in funding, the NQCC aligns with the UK’s commitment to quantum technology leadership.

Researchers at Ames National Laboratory have identified how surface oxides contribute to decoherence in quantum circuits, a key factor limiting quantum computing performance. Through two studies published in ACS Nano and Acta Materialia, the team investigates tantalum and niobium oxide structures, examining their role in superconducting circuits' stability. Using electron microscopy and collaboration with Rigetti Computing and others, they link specific atomic-level defects to performance degradation, finding that tantalum-based materials exhibit better coherence properties than niobium-based ones, which may influence future material choices for quantum circuit design.

Equal1 Labs has partnered with TNO to develop scalable quantum system-on-chip devices based on spin qubits, with the goal of integrating quantum and classical electronics on a single silicon chip. Their UnityQ architecture operates at 500 millikelvin, allowing for more manageable cooling and the potential to leverage existing semiconductor infrastructure. The partnership will use TNO’s nanofabrication resources and Equal1’s lab at the House of Quantum in Delft, with a roadmap targeting 1,000 qubits by 2030 for applications in pharmacology and finance.

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WATCH

Check out the Harwell National Quantum Computing Centre: