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Enjoy today’s breakdown of news, research, events & jobs within quantum.

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IN TODAY’S ISSUE:

Tags: TRAPPED IONS COLLABORATION EDUCATION 

MEDICAL APPLICATION QUANTUM NETWORK PQC 

• Jefferson Lab’s figure-eight ring of trapped ions, inspired by particle accelerators, could revolutionize qubit coherence and capacity

• Atomic Computing and University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus collaboration to use quantum computing for advancing medical diagnostics and treatments

• A study demonstrates secure computations on encrypted data using QHE on photonic chip

• Researchers introduce QMedShield for protecting medical images stored in the cloud from cyber threats

• Plus, Quantum Computing Inc. only US company producing TFLN on 150mm wafers — coming in bulk soon, scalable scheduling policies optimize entanglement distribution in satellite networks, Linux proving essential in supporting the development of quantum computing technologies, an approach for improving quantum classifier performance, and Quantic Electronics acquires M Wave Design.

Check out NEW POLLS!

BRIEF BYTES

NEWS FOR THOSE IN A HURRY

• Thin film lithium niobate is emerging as a critical material in advancing next-generation telecommunications and integrated photonics, and Quantum Computing Inc. has the hookup. TFLN's exceptional efficiency, high bandwidth capabilities, and minimal noise production make it a promising alternative to silicon. As the only US company capable of producing 150mm TFLN wafers, QCI will have a new fabrication facility in place by end of 2024 in Tempe, Arizona to begin mass producing the wafers.

• Study introduces scalable scheduling policies for quantum satellite networks, particularly focusing on the Starlink mega constellation. By solving the quantum satellite scheduling problem, the research presents four heuristic algorithms that optimize entanglement distribution among ground stations using satellite networks.

• Linux is becoming integral to the development of quantum computing technologies. With its open-source community, security features, and compatibility with quantum programming languages and frameworks, Linux supports a wide range of quantum computing applications. As the quantum computing field grows, adapting Linux distributions to meet these technological demands is good practice.

• "Strategic Data Re-Uploads" approach introduced as a way to improve the performance of quantum classifiers through the repeated encoding of classical information into quantum systems. The method involves experimenting with various cost functions and optimization techniques to boost the accuracy of quantum classifiers. It demonstrates promising results against traditional models, especially in handling complex data patterns with minimal training data.

• Quantic Electronics has acquired M Wave Design, a key supplier of RF and Microwave components for aerospace, defense, and quantum computing. M Wave, known for its specialized passive waveguide and coaxial components that operate under cryogenic conditions suitable for quantum computing, complements Quantic's existing product lineup, especially in terms of addressing complex design challenges in critical sectors.

TOP HEADLINES IN NEWS & RESEARCH

NEWS

Tags: TRAPPED IONS

BRIEF BYTE:  Scientists at Jefferson Lab are leveraging particle accelerator technology and principles from astrophysics to develop a quantum computing system using trapped ions in a figure-eight-shaped ring. This approach may significantly extend qubit coherence times and increase qubit capacity.

WHAT HAPPENED: 

• Jefferson Lab scientists, initially focused on detecting cosmic phenomena like dark matter and dark energy, discovered their technology could also advance quantum computing.

• They have devised a quantum computing core that uses a stainless steel, vacuum-sealed ring to trap ions and maintain their spin, which allows the ions to act as qubits.

• The design was inspired by previous work on particle accelerators and is distinct in its ability to preserve the quantum states of ions over extended periods, thanks to its unique figure-eight layout. The configuration naturally cancels out disruptive spin effects and enhances the system’s overall coherence.

WHY THIS MATTERS:

• This development is crucial as it addresses major challenges in quantum computing, such as qubit coherence and system scalability. By potentially allowing qubits to maintain coherence for over three hours—which would be a dramatic increase over current technologies—the figure-eight ring could enable more complex and reliable quantum computations.

• Furthermore, its ability to store up to 3,000 qubits, with the possibility for further expansion, offers a path towards practical quantum computing applications in fields like cryptography, data science, and materials science.

• This project not only opens new avenues for quantum research at Jefferson Lab but also sets the stage for future collaborations with the private sector to commercialize this technology.

NEWS

Tags: COLLABORATION EDUCATION MEDICAL APPLICATION

BRIEF BYTE:  Atom Computing and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have teamed up to develop applications that improve medical diagnostics and treatment effectiveness, particularly for underserved communities.

WHAT HAPPENED: 

• Atom Computing and CU Anschutz are collaborating as part of Colorado’s Elevate Quantum consortium, recognized as a Regional Technology Hub for Quantum Information Technology.

• The partnership focuses on integrating Atom’s quantum computing capabilities with CU Anschutz’s medical expertise. Initial projects include focusing on healthcare accessibility, boosting the performance of AI and machine learning for medical diagnostics, and optimizing drug effectiveness studies.

• These efforts are facilitated by joint workshops where both teams share insights and develop a targeted roadmap to apply quantum computing effectively in healthcare.

WHY THIS MATTERS:

• This collaboration is significant because it leverages the strengths of both quantum computing and medical research to address critical challenges in healthcare. Quantum computing offers the possibility of processing vast amounts of medical data much faster and more efficiently than traditional computers, which can lead to quicker diagnoses, more personalized medicine, and more efficient healthcare delivery, especially in rural and underserved areas.

• The partnership not only aims to advance healthcare technology but also strives to make healthcare more equitable, positioning CU Anschutz and Atom Computing at the forefront of medical and technological innovation.

RESEARCH

Tags: QUANTUM NETWORK 

OVERVIEW OF EXPERIMENTAL QUANTUM HOMOMORPHIC ENCRYPTION USING A QUANTUM PHOTONIC CHIP

BRIEF BYTE: An experimental demonstration of quantum homomorphic encryption on a silicon photonic chip enables computation on encrypted data without decryption, which addresses the scalability, programmability, and stability challenges associated with quantum networks.

WHY: 

• This paper explores the use of quantum homomorphic encryption on a photonic chip to address challenges in scalability, programmability, and stability in quantum computing networks. Quantum homomorphic encryption allows computations on encrypted data without needing to decrypt it first, preserving data privacy even when processed by third parties.

HOW: 

• A quantum fully homomorphic encryption scheme was implemented on a silicon photonic chip. This compact setup integrates both quantum computation and communication processes on a single chip which allows for efficiency and feasibility of the encryption system.

• The QHE protocol involves four main steps between the client and the server:

  1. key generation by the client

  2. data encryption by the client

  3. computation by the server on the encrypted data

  4. final decryption by the client

• The implementation included demonstrating the fidelity and functionality of Clifford and non-Clifford gates using photonic technology.

RESULTS: 

• The experiment confirmed the successful operation of both T and TH gates with high fidelity on encoded states, achieving average fidelities above 95% for T and 92% for TH. This shows that the quantum operations can be securely performed on the encrypted data with minimal information leakage, thus maintaining data privacy. The system also demonstrated a significant reduction in the physical footprint of quantum optical components, moving from bulky setups to a 2mm silicon photonic chip.

PREPRINT

Tags: PQC

OVERVIEW OF QMEDSHIELD: A NOVEL QUANTUM CHAOS-BASED IMAGE ENCRYPTION SCHEME FOR SECURE MEDICAL IMAGE STORAGE IN THE CLOUD

BRIEF BYTE: The article presents QMedShield, a quantum chaos-based image encryption scheme designed for secure medical image storage in the cloud.

WHY: 

• The research introduces QMedShield, a quantum chaos-based image encryption scheme designed for secure medical image storage in the cloud. Given the critical nature of medical images in healthcare and the increasing reliance on third-party cloud services, securing these images against unauthorized access and potential cyber threats is of import.

HOW: 

• QMedShield uses a combination of quantum chaotic maps, bit-plane scrambling, quantum operations, hybrid chaotic maps, and DNA encoding to transform plain medical images into ciphered versions. The encryption process involves both classical and quantum computational elements:

  1. Bit-plane scrambling for pixel diffusion using quantum chaotic sequences.

  2. Hybrid chaotic map sequences and DNA encoding for pixel confusion and substitution.

  3. Quantum operations like Hadamard and CNOT gates to manipulate qubits

RESULTS: 

• The proposed encryption scheme demonstrated high security and resilience against various attacks using three different medical image datasets. Overall, it achieved high fidelity in maintaining the encrypted data's security; statistical attack resistance confirmed through key sensitivity, histogram analysis, and pixel correlation studies; and the encrypted data showed no discernible patterns or correlations, indicating effective data protection.

EVENTS

• Monday, May 20 | Stanford Responsible Quantum Technology Conference

• Thursday, May 23 | QED-C Office Hours — Learn more about a career in QIST w/ Christopher Bishop

• Tuesday, May 28 | Results w/ QuEra “Resilient Networks: Quantum Solutions Using Neutral Atoms for Optical Fiber Optimization in Telecommunication

• Now - May 31 | Register for Google/X-Prize Quantum Challenge

JOBS POSTED WITHIN LAST 24 HOURS

• Rigetti Computing Quantum Device Theorist | Berkeley, CA (Hybrid) $130.9K - $177.2K

• AWS Research Scientist, Design and Simulation, AWS Center for Quantum Computing | San Francisco, CA $124.1K - $212.8K

• Maybell Quantum Radio Frequency Scientist | Denver, CO $100K -$150K

UNTIL TOMORROW.

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