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Cierra

Today’s issue includes:

• Quantum kernel estimation applied to gene expression data may improve classification in high-dimensional biological datasets.

• Quantum metrology in gravitational wave astronomy uses squeezed light to improve the sensitivity of gravitational detectors.

• A quantum-enhanced graph neural network used for hyperspectral change detection in remote sensing improves the identification of surface changes over time.

QUANTUM APPLICATION HEADLINES

🧬 Quantum Kernel Estimation Accelerates Leukemia Classification in High-Dimensional Gene Expression Data

APPLICATION: Scientists from the Shahjalal University of Science & Technology apply quantum kernel estimation to gene expression data in order to improve classification in high-dimensional biological datasets. Specifically, it evaluates quantum and classical methods in selecting critical gene features for distinguishing leukemia subtypes, comparing the performance of quantum and classical support vector machines.

SIGNIFICANCE: Gene expression data, with its high-dimensional structure is challenging for classical methods, especially when it comes to complex disease classification. Quantum computing may be able to expedite these computations, as quantum tends to shine when applied to high-dimensional data, and in turn, provide faster and more accurate disease subtyping. Demonstrated success in this field may lead to a broader adoption of quantum machine learning in biomedical applications.

HOW: D-Wave’s hybrid quantum-classical framework is used for feature selection—determining relevant features in the data. It contrasts the quantum-based selection with classical Lasso regularization. Quantum kernels, built with Qiskit, transform classical states into quantum representations before processing them with classical SVMs in order to achieve clearer separation in data classification tasks. Performance is assessed with metrics such as F1 score, balanced accuracy, and the Phase Terrain Ruggedness Index (PTRI), analyzing configurations to determine conditions favoring quantum over classical approaches.

BY THE NUMBERS:

• 7129 – Number of gene expression profiles per sample analyzed in the study.

• 20 – How many features were selected using Lasso regularization for classical models.

• 57 – The number of samples used in training configurations, with an 80:20 split between training and testing data.

• 2 main kernel methods – Quantum (Pauli Z feature map) and Classical (Linear) kernels were tested across multiple configurations.

🚀 Quantum Squeezed Light Pushes Gravitational Wave Detectors to New Sensitivity Heights

APPLICATION: A team from the Albert-Einstein-Institut, LIGO, and the Australian National University research explores quantum metrology in gravitational wave astronomy, specifically using squeezed light to improve the sensitivity of gravitational wave detectors. Through quantum entanglement within the interferometer arms, the suggested approach may overcome the limitations of classical methods, reducing photon-counting noise without increasing laser power.

SIGNIFICANCE: Detecting gravitational waves provides new insights into the universe, such as those for black hole mergers, neutron star collisions, and even remnants from the early universe. Traditional gravitational wave detectors, however, are limited by quantum noise. The use of squeezed light increases sensitivity, potentially enabling discoveries in high-energy astrophysics, cosmology, and quantum mechanics by “lighting up” the universe’s dark, non-visible sectors.

HOW: In this approach, squeezed light—generated via parametric down-conversion—is injected into an interferometer, where it entangles the interferometer’s laser fields. This quantum manipulation reduces photon noise without amplifying the thermal load or requiring higher laser power. Detectors are then able to observe smaller strains in space-time, increasing sensitivity. This methodology, combined with cryogenic cooling and advanced vibration isolation, allows gravitational wave detectors to operate at unprecedented sensitivity levels.

BY THE NUMBERS:

• 10^-22 strain sensitivity – Current detectors measure incredibly tiny changes in distance down to the order of 10^-22.

• 40 kg – Weight of mirrors in advanced gravitational wave detectors to minimize radiation pressure noise.

• 9 dB – Maximum noise reduction achieved through squeezing for improving gravitational wave detector performance.

• 10 Hz to 10 kHz – Target frequency range for terrestrial gravitational wave detectors, achieved with squeezed light and cryogenically cooled mirrors.

🌽 Quantum-Enhanced Graph Neural Network Increases Accuracy in Hyperspectral Change Detection for Remote Sensing

APPLICATION:  Researchers from National Cheng Kung University and CNRS apply a quantum-enhanced graph neural network, QUEEN-G, to hyperspectral change detection in remote sensing, in order to improve the identification of surface changes over time in bitemporal hyperspectral images.

SIGNIFICANCE: Hyperspectral change detection has applications in areas like agriculture, disaster management, and urban planning. By introducing quantum computing for detection performance, QUEEN-G could set a new standard in HCD accuracy and reliability. The unique quantum features help address the limitations of conventional methods, potentially expanding the accuracy and usability of remote sensing data in real-world applications.

HOW: QUEEN-G combines a graph feature learning module that captures superpixel-level information with a quantum feature learning module that extracts pixel-level quantum features. The fusion of these modules allows QUEEN-G to identify both broad and nuanced changes. For final detection, a quantum enhanced classifier integrates traditional classification with quantum unitary-computing information to improve change detection accuracy.

BY THE NUMBERS:

• 3 datasets – Yancheng, Hermiston, and Jiangsu datasets used for testing, covering areas with various types of environmental changes.

• 155 spectral bands – In the Yancheng dataset, highlighting the rich spectral data in hyperspectral imaging.

• 1% sampling rate – Minimal labeled data used to achieve high detection performance across all datasets.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

🌌 A study led by NIST investigates how naturally occurring ionizing radiation affects superconducting quantum circuits, specifically focusing on background radiation's potential to disrupt qubit coherence. Results showed that gamma rays from terrestrial sources contribute significantly to background noise, and cosmic rays introduce high-energy events, affirming that background shielding or robust circuit designs are necessary.

🌊 Researchers from Peking University explore a quantum spin representation for classical fluid dynamics by mapping the Navier-Stokes equation onto a Schrödinger-Pauli equation to create a non-Hermitian quantum system. This translates fluid flow into quantum-like behavior, enabling quantum simulation of complex fluid dynamics, including vortices and viscous dissipation.

📐 Scientists from the Henan Key Laboratory of Quantum Information and Cryptography, the S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, and others demonstrate an experimental advantage of using a single qubit over classical bits in data storage, particularly in communication scenarios with limited shared randomness. Researchers developed a photonic quantum processor using a variational triangular polarimeter, allowing precise quantum measurements that revealed a communication advantage for quantum encoding.

NEWS QUICK BYTES

👩‍💻 IBM announced at the Quantum Developer Conference 2024 that they achieved their 100×100 challenge: developing a quantum computer capable of accurately running circuits with 5,000 two-qubit gates, thanks to advancements in the IBM Quantum Heron R2 chip. The Heron R2, featuring 156 qubits in a heavy-hex layout and new noise mitigation techniques, allows users to run complex quantum circuits.

👏 South Korea’s SDT Inc. has partnered with MIMOS Technology Solutions in Malaysia to establish the country’s first Quantum Computing Centre. This collaboration is Malaysia's entry into the quantum field, with SDT providing expertise in ultra-precision electronics and quantum communication. Supported by key Malaysian agencies like the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), the center intends to drive innovation in cybersecurity, healthcare, and finance.

🏫 Quantinuum has signed a memorandum of understanding with Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s College of Science and Engineering to collaborate on quantum research and development through Qatar’s first quantum research center, the Qatar Center for Quantum Computing (QC2). The partnership will focus on advancing quantum use cases in chemistry, AI, machine learning, and cybersecurity, with QC2 researchers gaining remote access to Quantinuum’s latest quantum hardware.

🧊 Equal1 has successfully tested a quantum chip with an integrated Arm Cortex processor at an ultra-cold 3.3 Kelvin, just above absolute zero. As cryogenic temperatures help reduce thermal noise, the release notes this could contribute to more practical and scalable quantum systems. Using fully depleted silicon-on-insulator (FDSOI) technology and standard CMOS manufacturing, Equal1’s approach could bring affordable, rack-mounted quantum computers to standard data centers.

🗺️ IQM Quantum Computers has released a roadmap to achieve fault-tolerant quantum computing by 2030, targeting up to 1 million qubits through error correction advancements and high-performance hardware. Their strategy merges two processor topologies, IQM Star and Crystal, with a modular software stack that integrates quantum systems into high-performance computing (HPC) centers. IQM's innovations, including Quantum Low-Density Parity-Check (QLDPC) codes and cryogenic electronics, are designed to reduce errors and scaling costs.

💾 Multiverse Computing has launched Singularity Machine Learning - Classification within IBM’s Qiskit Functions Catalog, allowing IBM Quantum Premium Plan users to use quantum machine learning for supervised learning tasks. As one of the first third-party services in the catalog, Singularity ML integrates easily with standard machine learning workflows, allowing users across industries to build custom quantum ML models without altering existing processes.

🪃 Australia's quantum industry is projected to grow into a AUD$6 billion sector, creating nearly 20,000 jobs by 2045, according to the State of Australian Quantum report. The report highlights government investments, such as AUD $940 million for PsiQuantum and AUD$1 billion from the National Reconstruction Fund, to support research, startups, and partnerships contributing to the quantum ecosystem. Despite progress, the report notes challenges such as the need for patient capital, talent retention, and improved IP frameworks to meet Australia's ambitious quantum goals by 2030.

💰️ Planqc has been awarded €20 million (approximately $21 million) by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research to develop a 1,000-qubit neutral-atom quantum computer, to be deployed at the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ) in Munich. Named the MAQCS project, this system will feature a unique multi-core architecture, allowing two 500-qubit cores to operate in parallel for increased efficiency. Integrated with LRZ’s high-performance computing environment, the MAQCS quantum computer will support scientific and industrial applications.

🖥️ The Jülich Research Center has launched the first prototype of a superconducting quantum computer as part of the large-scale QSolid project. This 10-qubit system, developed with 25 German institutions and funded primarily by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, will be integrated into the Jülich Supercomputing Centre for hybrid quantum-classical computations. The plan is to scale up to 30 qubits and enhance error correction and cryogenic control by 2026.

QUANTUM MEDIA

LISTEN

In Episode 2 of Qubit Confidential, host Christopher Bishop sits down with Philip Intallura from HSBC. They discuss his journey from quantum physics to banking and HSBC's strategic investment in quantum technology.

WATCH

Quantinuum's Chief Scientist Patty Lee joins Brian Greene to discuss the creation and manipulation of qubits, exploring different quantum computing approaches with a focus on trapped ions:

THAT’S A WRAP.