Welcome to the Quantum Realm. 

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

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IN TODAY’S ISSUE:

Tags: MACHINE LEARNING NOVEL FRAMEWORK CYBERSECURITY MATERIALS SCIENCE HARDWARE BIOLOGY APPLICATION QML

• Researchers from the University of Innsbruck use diffusion models to generate quantum circuits for various applications

• Zoom globally launches post-quantum end-to-end encryption for Zoom Meetings

• University of California scientists develop a method to create ultra-thin bismuth crystals for flexible quantum electronic devices

• A framework for describing quantum many-body wave functions using network theory

• A method for secure image transmission using quantum key distribution techniques

• Theoretical framework identifies DNA as a perfect quantum computer through quantum physics principles

• QNLP for the inverse design of metal-organic frameworks

• Many quantum jobs posted in the last 24 hours — AWS, Google, Fermilab, Booz Allen Hamilton, The John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, and Brookhaven National Laboratory

• Plus, QSimulate’s QUELO-G and NVIDIA GPUs for rapid quantum mechanics-based simulations in drug discovery, “shortcut” density-functional theory with quantum algorithms for electronic-structure calculations, and World Economic Forum advises on quantum-resistant cryptographic methods for financial systems

Check out NEW POLLS!

BRIEF BYTES

NEWS FOR THOSE IN A HURRY

• QSimulate has launched QUELO-G, a platform for high-speed, quantum mechanics-based free energy perturbation simulations for drug discovery. In tandem with NVIDIA A100 and H100 GPUs and innovative algorithms, QUELO-G makes quantum simulations practical within hours. This breakthrough addresses the limitations of classical force field models as well as improves upon the accuracy and efficiency of predicting drug-protein interactions which is useful for drug discovery.

• Advancements in quantum computing with arrays of neutral atoms using Rydberg excitation have opened new possibilities for solving optimization problems like the NP-hard maximum-weight independent set of unit-disk graphs. This study shows how this problem can be addressed using quantum annealing, where the spatial arrangement of atoms represents graph vertices, and a variational quantum adiabatic algorithm helps find the optimal solution.

• In an interview, Fujitsu researcher Shingo Tokunaga discusses their collaboration with RIKEN to develop a 64-qubit superconducting quantum computer. The team focuses on improving the fidelity of quantum bit operations and exploring new control methods to identify quantum computing applications.

• This study combines density-functional theory with quantum algorithms to achieve chemical accuracy using fewer qubits in electronic-structure calculations which makes real-world chemical explorations feasible with current quantum hardware.

• Advice from the World Economic Forum includes adopting quantum-resistant cryptographic methods to protect financial systems, especially central bank digital currency systems. Implementing cryptographic agility by using advanced algorithms and applying these across various system layers, is necessary.

TOP HEADLINES IN NEWS & RESEARCH

NEWS

Tags: MACHINE LEARNING NOVEL FRAMEWORK

MACHINE LEARNING FOR GENERATING QUANTUM CIRCUITS

BRIEF BYTE:  Researchers from the University of Innsbruck use diffusion models to generate appropriate sequences of quantum gates.

WHAT HAPPENED: 

• The accuracy and flexibility of diffusion models allows us to bypass the complex training process typical of other machine learning methods.

• The proposed machine learning model generates quantum circuits with varying numbers of qubits and types of gates while considering the connectivity of the quantum hardware based on textual descriptions of quantum operations. This is similar to how models like DALL·E generate images from text.

• They can generate circuits with varying numbers of qubits and types of gates while considering the connectivity of the quantum hardware.

• Once trained, the model can cheaply and quickly produce new circuits which will allow for the efficient preparation of quantum states and execution of algorithms by generating tailored quantum circuits.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT:

• This new approach greatly simplifies the process of finding the correct sequence of quantum gates which is a major challenge in quantum computing.

• The generative model's ability to adapt to different hardware configurations and its efficient circuit production can lead to faster and more accurate quantum operations.

NEWS

Tags: CYBERSECURITY 

ZOOM MEETINGS ARE NOW SAFE FROM QUANTUM THREATS

BRIEF BYTE:  Zoom has globally launched post-quantum end-to-end encryption for Zoom Meetings, making it the first UCaaS company to offer this advanced security feature to protect against future quantum threats.

WHAT HAPPENED: 

• Zoom has introduced post-quantum E2EE for Zoom Meetings, with plans to extend this to Zoom Phone and Zoom Rooms.

• This security feature uses the Kyber 768 algorithm which is designed to withstand potential future threats posed by quantum computers. The system ensures that only meeting participants have access to encryption keys, making data relayed through Zoom's servers indecipherable.

• By upgrading to post-quantum E2EE, Zoom is proactively addressing the risk of "harvest now, decrypt later" attacks.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT:

• As adversarial threats evolve, it's important for companies to stay ahead with appropriate security measures. Post-quantum E2EE helps safeguard user data against potential future quantum computing threats.

• Zoom is the first in its industry to implement post-quantum E2EE for video conferencing, setting a new standard for secure communications.

NEWS

Tags: MATERIALS SCIENCE HARDWARE

QUANTUM OSCILLATIONS OBSERVED IN BISMUTH FILMS

BRIEF BYTE:  Scientists at the University of California have developed a method to create ultra-thin bismuth crystals whose hidden electronic properties may aid in the future mass production of cheaper and more flexible quantum electronic devices.

WHAT HAPPENED: 

• Researchers have created bismuth crystals only a few nanometers thick using a method compared to a tortilla press, which involves compressing bismuth between two hot, atomically smooth plates.

• The study revealed quantum oscillations that were previously unseen in nanometer-thin bismuth. This behavior is necessary for the performance of quantum electronic devices.

• The technique could be applied to other materials with low melting points like tin, selenium, and tellurium for manufacturing flexible electronics and future computer chips.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT:

• This new method could significantly reduce the cost of electronic devices and allow for mass production.

• The discovery of hidden electronic behaviors in thin bismuth crystals is essential for developing quantum devices that rely on the magnetic spin of electrons.

• The method's potential applicability to other materials indicates a broader impact on the electronics industry.

RESEARCH

Tags: NOVEL FRAMWORK 

OVERVIEW OF WAVE-FUNCTION NETWORK DESCRIPTION AND KOLMOGOROV COMPLEXITY OF QUANTUM MANY-BODY SYSTEMS

BRIEF BYTE: This paper introduces a framework for describing quantum many-body wave functions using network theory, and demonstrates the applicability of these methods to quantum simulations.

WHY: 

• The research offers a novel way to analyze quantum many-body systems using network theory. Network theory is particularly suitable for this task because it can handle the vast amounts of data generated by quantum simulators. This method is differentiated from previous approaches by its ability to retain all available information and its scalability for strongly correlated states.

• The authors introduce protocols to extract the Kolmogorov complexity from a quantum simulator's output and implement tools for cross-platform certification using similarity tests between networks.

HOW: 

• The framework begins with collecting wave-function snapshots from a quantum system. These snapshots are mapped into a network structure where nodes represent configurations and links are established based on a chosen metric, such as the Hamming distance.

• The Kolmogorov complexity of the resulting network is measured using algorithms that estimate the intrinsic dimension of the data points.

• Similarity tests, such as the Epps-Singleton test, are used to compare the network structures from different quantum simulators or between simulators and classical simulations.

RESULTS: 

• The study finds that wave-function networks can become scale-free, particularly in strongly correlated states near quantum critical points. This property is observed in both experimental and simulated data.

• The cross-certification method successfully identifies time windows where the experimental and simulated data are statistically similar showing that this framework can be used as a practical tool for verifying quantum simulators.

RESEARCH

Tags: CYBERSECURITY NOVEL FRAMEWORK

OVERVIEW OF TRANSMISSION OF QUANTUM-SECURED IMAGES

BRIEF BYTE: The study presents a method for the secure transmission of images by integrating quantum key distribution techniques with high-dimensional image encoding.

WHY: 

• The study presents a method for the secure transmission of images using quantum-secured protocols. By integrating quantum key distribution techniques with high-dimensional image encoding, the researchers achieved secure image transmission, ensuring eavesdroppers can be detected.

• A photon-pair source was used to produce time-correlated signal and idler photons. The signal photons carried the image information, while the idler photons were used as a time reference to filter out the image photons from the background noise. This setup ensured that only the intended recipient with access to the idler photons could reconstruct the image.

HOW: 

• Spontaneous parametric down-conversion was used to generate photon pairs.

• The signal photons created the image using a programmable mask, while the idler photons, polarization-encoded, were transmitted through an optical fiber and detected using single-photon avalanche diode detectors.

• The presence of any eavesdropper would be revealed by deviations in the expected polarization states.

RESULTS: 

• The experiments demonstrated successful secure image transmission. The images remained visible even with added background light when using temporal gating. Without gating, the images were obscured by the background noise. The study also showed that the method could effectively hide high-dimensional data within optical noise and secure it using traditional QKD techniques.

• It’s important to note that the specific implementation does not yet match the data rates of optimized traditional QKD systems. However, the concept of hiding high-dimensional channels in noise and securing them using lower-dimensional techniques is a promising direction for future research and applications in quantum-secured communications.

RESEARCH

Tags: NOVEL FRAMEWORK BIOLOGY APPLICATION

OVERVIEW OF DNA AS A PERFECT QUANTUM COMPUTER BASED ON THE QUANTUM PHYSICS PRINCIPLES

BRIEF BYTE: This study presents a theoretical exploration of DNA as a perfect quantum computer based on intersection between the nature of DNA and quantum physics principles.

WHY: 

• Understanding DNA's functionality through quantum mechanics allows us to imagine the concept of DNA as a quantum computer. Unlike previous studies that focused on classical biological and chemical perspectives, this research integrates quantum informatics and physics which reveals new insights into DNA's structure and function. This differentiation could lead to advancements in DNA-based technologies as well as quantum computing applications in biology.

HOW: 

• The study describes how DNA operates as a quantum system by focusing on the resonant quantum states of electron and hole pairs (similar to Cooper pairs) within DNA's nitrogenous bases; DNA bases are modeled as qubits.

• They draw parallels between DNA's hydrogen bonds and Josephson Junctions in superconductors to describe quantum coherence and entanglement in DNA.

• The formation of supercurrents in the π-molecular orbitals of DNA bases highlights the quantum nature of DNA.

RESULTS:

• This study provides a solid framework for understanding biological processes through quantum mechanics while also suggesting potential applications of DNA in quantum computing, especially in the development of bio-inspired quantum technologies.

• The quantum description of DNA opens the doors to more precise methods for genetic analysis and biotechnology applications using the principles of quantum informatics.

PREPRINT

Tags: MATERIALS SCIENCE QML

OVERVIEW OF INVERSE DESIGN OF METAL-ORGANIC FRAMEWORKS USING QUANTUM NATURAL PROCESSING

BRIEF BYTE: This study explores quantum natural language processing for the inverse design of metal-organic frameworks with specific properties.

WHY: 

• Unlike traditional methods of materials design which struggle with the high complexity and large search spaces involved, QNLP leans on the nature of quantum computing to efficiently process high-dimensional data. Previous studies have applied quantum machine learning to simpler periodic systems like transition metal dichalcogenides and perovskite structures, but this study extends the application to more complex MOFs.

HOW: 

• The MOF dataset consists of a single topology, 10 types of metal clusters, and 15 types of organic ligands. These are categorized based on pore volume and H2 uptake into low, moderately low, moderately high, and high classes.

• The study explores four QNLP models: bag-of-words, distributional compositional categorical, and two sequence-based models.

• Quantum circuits are constructed to represent the MOF data, with unitary operations applied to manipulate qubits based on the chosen QNLP model.

• The quantum circuits are trained using a quantum-classical hybrid approach with parameters optimized to minimize classification errors.

RESULTS: 

• Generation accuracies of 93.5% for pore volume and 89% for H2 uptake were achieved which validates the potential for accurate MOF design using QNLP and has positive implications for other applications in materials science and chemistry.

EVENTS

• 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

• Wednesday, June 5 | Quant Insights Conference: Quantum Computing in Quant Finance 

• Thursday, June 6 | QaaS w/ Quantonix

JOBS POSTED WITHIN LAST 24 HOURS

• AWS Research Scientist, Quantum Gates, AWS Center for Quantum Computing | Pasadena, CA $124.1K - $212.8K

• AWS Software Engineer, Fabrication Support, Center for Quantum Computing | Pasadena, CA $129.3K - $223.6K

• AWS Process Engineering Technician, Quantum Computing | Pasadena, CA $77.3K - $215.6K

• AWS Quantum Research Scientist, Hardware - AWS Center for Quantum Computing | Pasadena, CA $124.1K - $212.8K

• AWS Quantum Research Scientist, Device and Architecture Theory, AWS Center for Quantum Computing | Pasadena, CA $124.1K - $212.8K

• AWS Quantum Research Scientist, Hardware | Pasadena, CA $124.1K - $212.8K

• AWS Software Dev Engineer II, Quantum Ledger Database | Seattle, WA $115K - $223.6K

• AWS Quantum Research Scientist, AWS MAS2 | Pasadena, CA $124.1K - $212.8K

• AWS Quantum Research Scientist, AWS CQC Materials | Pasadena, CA $124.1K - $212.8K

• AWS Quantum Hardware Engineer, AWS CQC | $93.9K - $185K

• AWS Senior Quantum Research Scientist, AWS Center for Quantum Computing | Pasadena, CA $127.3K - $247.6K

• AWS Quantum Research Scientist, AWS CQC Fabrication | Pasadena, CA $124.1K - $212.8K

• AWS Quantum Hardware Development Engineer, AWS CQC | Pasadena, CA $93.9K - $185K

• AWS Research Scientist II, Mixed-Signal Designer - AWS Center for Quantum Computing | Pasadena, CA $124.1K - $212.8K

• Google Quantum Measurement Engineer, Hardware | Goleta, CA $122K - $178K

• Google Software Engineering Manager, Quantum OS, Quantum AI | Seattle, WA $189K - $284K

• Google Hardware Engineer, Design and Test, Quantum AI | Goleta, CA $122K - $178K

• Fermilab Quantum Optics Network Research Associate | Batavia, IL (Hybrid)

• Fermilab Application Physicist for Quantum Network, Detectors, and Integration | Batavia, IL (Hybrid)

• Booz Allen Hamilton Quantum Scientist | Annapolis Junction, MD $67.7K - $154K

• Booz Allen Hamilton Advanced Quantum Scientist | Rome, NY $67.6K - $154K

• Booz Allen Hamilton Post Quantum Cryptography Scientist | Washington, D.C. (Hybrid)

• Booz Allen Hamilton Post Quantum Cryptography Scientist | Annapolis Junction, MD (Hybrid)

• The John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Quantum Characterization Scientist | Laurel, MD

• The John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Quantum Error Correction Scientist | Laurel, MD

• ECS Technical Project Manager - Quantum Science | Arlington, VA

• Brookhaven National Laboratory Research Associate - Quantum Physics and Quantum Communication | Upton, NY $68.4K - $113.2K

• Brookhaven National Laboratory Postdoctoral Research Associate Quantum Materials | Upton, NY $70.2K - $116.2K

UNTIL TOMORROW.

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