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

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IN TODAY’S ISSUE:

Tags: HARDWARE ERROR CORRECTION CYBERSECURITY HYBRID ALGORITHMS BOSON SAMPLING QML PARTICLE PHYSICS APPLICATION ANALOG NEUTRAL ATOMS

• Fermilab's new underground facility QUIET and surface-level counterpart LOUD are investigating how cosmic rays affect superconducting qubits and quantum sensors

• NIST is preparing to publish four new quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms in the coming weeks

• A new study introduces a quantum-inspired classical algorithm to address graph-theoretical problems

• Researchers have successfully developed a quantum refrigerator that operates autonomously without external energy

• A new hybrid quantum-classical vision transformer has been developed for classifying quark-gluon particles for data handling efficiency in particle collider experiments

• Researchers have successfully applied analog counterdiabatic quantum computing to the maximum independent set problem

• Plus, Google and Meta detail their implementation of PQC, Aqora & QuantX BIG Quantum Hackathon kicks off tomorrow in Paris, researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute develop device for investigating quantum phenomena at room temperature, SandboxAQ to present on quantum-resistant cryptography at Eurocrypt, Cisco joins the Chicago Quantum Exchange, and quantum algorithm pioneer Phasecraft opens US office

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BRIEF BYTES

NEWS FOR THOSE IN A HURRY

• Google and partners like NIST and NSA are actively transitioning to post-quantum cryptography to safeguard against potential threats posed by quantum computers capable of breaking current encryption standards. Recently, Google has integrated a new hybrid post-quantum cryptographic key exchange, Kyber, into Chrome for protection against quantum decryption risks for future internet traffic.

• Meta is transitioning to PQC within their applications, starting with internal communications that are at high risk of future decryption by quantum computers. They are implementing a hybrid key exchange method by blending current encryption with PQC to balance security with performance without disrupting user experience.

• The BIG Quantum Hackathon hosted by QuantX and Aqora in Paris kicks off tomorrow. Join other tech enthusiasts to develop quantum computing solutions for the sports industry, with a dedicated phase for focusing on commercial viability. The event offers participants a platform to network and align with key players in the quantum computing ecosystem.

• Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a microscale device using photonic topological insulators capable of investigating quantum phenomena at room temperature.

• Europe's cryptography conference, Eurocrypt, will feature research presentations in quantum-resistant cryptography from SandboxAQ focusing on advanced cryptanalysis of signature schemes, efficient post-quantum proof systems, and the construction of post-quantum oblivious pseudorandom functions.

• Cisco has joined the Chicago Quantum Exchange as a corporate partner with a focus on quantum networking and secure quantum internet development through collaboration with academic and research institutions.

• Quantum algorithm company, Phasecraft, is opening its first international office in Washington D.C. to collaborate closely with top quantum talent and explore commercial opportunities. Joining the U.S. team is Professor Steve Flammia from Virginia Tech, a renowned expert in quantum computing and previous principal research scientist at AWS’s CQC. Plus, it looks like they’re hiring —> JOBS

TOP HEADLINES IN NEWS & RESEARCH

NEWS

Tags: HARDWARE ERROR CORRECTION

UNDERGROUND FERMILAB FACILITY TO EXPLORE COSMIC RAY IMPACT ON QUANTUM INFORMATION

BRIEF BYTE: Fermilab has launched a new research facility named QUIET 100m underground alongside its surface counterpart LOUD to explore the impacts of cosmic rays on quantum sensors and computing.

WHAT HAPPENED: 

• Fermilab's QUIET and LOUD facilities are part of an innovative approach to studying the vulnerability of superconducting qubits to cosmic rays and other energetic particles.

• By situating QUIET underground where cosmic ray interference is significantly reduced and LOUD at the surface, researchers can conduct controlled experiments to observe how these particles affect quantum information systems.

• This setup aims to determine the specific effects of different types of high-energy particles on qubits and develop methods to either shield these quantum devices or make them less sensitive to such interference.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT:

• Superconducting qubits are highly susceptible to environmental interference that can lead to information loss. By further understanding these effects, we can lessen them and ultimately improve both the stability and reliability of quantum computers.

• Additionally, the hypersensitive sensors developed through this research may also improve dark matter detection capabilities.

NEWS

Tags: CYBERSECURITY

THE LONG-AWAITED NIST ALGORITHMS ARE ON THEIR WAY

BRIEF BYTE: NIST is set to release four quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms in the coming weeks as a response to the potential security threat posed by quantum computers.

WHAT HAPPENED: 

• Anne Neuberger, White House's top cyber advisor, announced at a conference in London that NIST will soon publish four post-quantum cryptographic algorithms.

• This release is a step toward transitioning to secure cryptographic methods that can withstand the potential for cryptographically relevant quantum computers to decrypt currently secure communications.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT:

• The development of quantum-resistant algorithms is necessary to protect sensitive national security information that, if decrypted, could remain harmful even years after its initial collection.

• The NIST's initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure that as quantum computing technology advances, the security infrastructure of digital communications evolves in tandem.

RESEARCH

Tags: HYBRID ALGORITHMS BOSON SAMPLING

OVERVIEW OF QUANTUM-INSPIRED CLASSICAL ALGORITHM FOR GRAPH PROBLEMS BY GAUSSIAN BOSON SAMPLING

BRIEF BYTE: A quantum-inspired classical algorithm intended for graph-theoretical problems is introduced.

WHY: 

• The study presents a classical algorithm that mimics the Gaussian boson sampling method using only classical computing resources, yet competes with quantum methods in terms of performance for specific graph-related problems.

• This is an attempt to bridge the gap between quantum and classical computational approaches by using quantum-inspired methods to address classically challenging problems.

HOW: 

• The quantum boson sampling technique is simulated with classical computing resources by embedding the adjacency matrix of a graph into two-photon boson-sampling circuits.

• The performance of this classical sampler was numerically compared with that of the ideal and lossy Gaussian boson samplers across various graph configurations.

RESULTS: 

• The results showed that the classical sampler's performance is comparable to that of Gaussian boson samplers for finding the densest subgraphs and maximum weight cliques. This suggests that, at least for these types of problems, the quantum advantage may not be as significant as previously thought. Furthermore, the research highlights that the classical algorithm often reaches similar outcomes more efficiently.

• Overall, the research presents a compelling argument for reconsidering the exclusive use of quantum computing in solving certain types of problems and instead advocating for a hybrid approach that utilizes the best of both quantum and classical methodologies.

RESEARCH

Tags: HARDWARE 

OVERVIEW OF EXPERIMENTAL REALIZATION OF SELF-CONTAINED QUANTUM REFRIGERATION

BRIEF BYTE: The study presents the experimental realization of a self-contained quantum refrigerator using a nuclear spin system.

WHY: 

• Quantum refrigeration typically requires extensive control to manipulate quantum states effectively. This research is significant as it demonstrates a quantum refrigerator that operates autonomously without external energy.

HOW: 

• A nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer was set up to measure and control the spin states of the carbon-13 nuclei.

• The researchers created a specific energy level arrangement for the operation of the refrigerator under self-contained conditions by utilizing SWAP gates and Hamiltonian interactions designed to induce energy exchange without external work.

RESULTS: 

• The experimental results confirmed the theoretical predictions that a self-contained quantum refrigerator could operate effectively by exchanging heat between quantum states without the need for external energy input. The system reached a lower temperature state for one of the quantum spins (q1), proving the concept of quantum refrigeration under self-contained conditions.

• This is an important contribution to the potential of creating more sustainable and energy-efficient quantum computing technologies.

RESEARCH

Tags: QML PARTICLE PHYSICS APPLICATION

OVERVIEW OF QUANTUM VISION TRANSFORMERS FOR QUARK-GLUON CLASSIFICATION

BRIEF BYTE: The article introduces a hybrid quantum-classical vision transformer architecture for quark-gluon classifications to address computational efficiency and resource constraints anticipated from the High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider's upcoming operations.

WHY: 

• Quantum machine learning is a potential solution for managing the massive data expected from collider experiments, as it can utilize the exponential space of quantum states for computation and potentially outperforming classical algorithms.

• The integration of variation quantum circuits into both the attention and multi-layer perception components of the vision transformer deviates from traditional models.

• The model is evaluated on multi-detector jet images from CMS Open Data with a specific focus on differentiating jets initiated by quarks from those by gluons.

HOW: 

• The classical linear projection layers in multi-head attention and multi-layer perceptions are replaced with variational quantum circuits so the model may process quantum states directly.

• The hybrid model is trained and tested on jet images while comparing its performance against a purely classical vision transformer to benchmark improvements or highlight challenges.

RESULTS: 

• The quantum vision transformer achieves classification performance nearly on par with the classical method, which demonstrates that quantum methods can match classical methods, but not yet surpass them by a significant amount.

• However, the quantum model does show promise in handling large-scale data more efficiently which is an important factor in dealing with future collider experiment outputs.

PREPRINT

Tags: ANALOG NEUTRAL ATOMS

OVERVIEW OF ANALOG COUNTERDIABATIC QUANTUM COMPUTING

BRIEF BYTE: Analog counterdiabatic quantum computing is applied to combinatorial optimization problems using neutral-atom quantum processors to mitigate non-adiabatic errors associated with finite coherence times.

WHY: 

• Combinatorial optimization problems are computationally intensive on classical systems and are becoming increasingly relevant across various industries. Adiabatic quantum computing has the potential for speedups but struggles with non-adiabatic errors due to hardware limitations like short coherence times.

• Analog counterdiabatic quantum computing introduces counterdiabatic protocols to suppress transitions between eigenstates which improves computational fidelity without demanding extra hardware resources.

HOW: 

• The ACQC method uses neutral atom quantum processors because of the interaction properties of Rydberg states.

• Counterdiabatic protocols are implemented through adjusted scheduling functions for the amplitude, detuning, and phase of the driving laser to reduces non-adiabatic errors.

• The ACQC method was applied to solve the maximum independent set problem using up to 100 qubits.

RESULTS: 

• ACQC outperformed traditional AQC methods in solving the maximum independent set problem. Results show improved fidelity and performance metrics.

• This work is significant for both the exploration and improvement of analog diabatic quantum computing as well as improving the practicality of solving complex optimization problems.

EVENTS

• Friday, May 25 - Tuesday, May 28 | BIG Quantum Hackathon by QuantX and Aqora in Paris, France

• 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

• Phasecraft Quantum Algorithms Scientist | Washington, D.C. (Hybrid)

• Simplex Board Member - Enterprise Cybersecurity/Quantum Cryptography | Austin, TX (Hybrid)

• Google Quantum Error Correction Research Scientist, Quantum AI | Los Angeles, CA $136K - $200K

• Google Hardware Lab Generalist, Electronics Packaging, Quantum AI | Goleta, CA $81K - $119K

• Google Senior Hardware Engineer, Integrated Circuit Design, Quantum AI | Goleta, CA $142K - $211K

• Syracuse University Postdoctoral Researcher - Classical and Quantum Computer Architectures | Syracuse, NY

• Georgia Tech Research Institute Quantum Systems Student Research Assistant | Atlanta, GA (Hybrid)

• Brookhaven National Laboratory Student Assistant — Quantum Dynamics | Upton, NY $23/hr - $28.75/hr

• SandboxAQ Senior Full Stack Software Engineer | Remote

UNTIL TOMORROW.

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