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

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IN TODAY’S ISSUE:

Tags: COLLABORATION HARDWARE SUPERCONDUCTING PHOTONIC QUANTUM WALKS READOUT DIAMOND

• NYU and the Niels Bohr Institute are collaborating to develop superconductor-semiconductor materials for quantum computing

• A study demonstrates the local writing and erasing of light-emitting defects in silicon for integrating quantum emitters in large-scale qubit systems

• Research investigates continuous-time quantum walks for quantum search due to their resilience against noise and dissipation

• A new method for reading quantum states in nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond reduces experimental time while maintaining high fidelity

• Plus, The Hyperform consortium is developing quantum-safe cybersecurity solutions, researchers have introduced probabilistic quantum algorithms using the linear combination of unitaries method, the second cohort of startups for the QAI Ventures Accelerator has been announced (congratulations Commutator Studios, Munich Quantum Instruments, QCentroid, QPerfect, Quantized Technologies, Scenario X, and Zuriq!), and a new NSW Government report projects a $4.6 billion industry in Australia by 2040, with Sydney as a key hub.

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BRIEF BYTES

NEWS FOR THOSE IN A HURRY

• The Hyperform consortium, funded by France 2030 and the EU, is developing quantum-safe cybersecurity solutions to protect data from future quantum computer threats. This project involves IDEMIA Secure Transactions and other experts with a goal to elevate Europe in post-quantum cryptography with a EUR 7.5 million investment. The consortium's goals include creating quantum-safe cloud storage, developing a next-generation chip, and integrating advanced security measures into existing software.

• Researchers introduce new probabilistic quantum algorithms using the linear combination of unitaries method to overcome traditional unitary restrictions in quantum machine learning. Key contributions include quantum implementations of residual networks, methods to avoid barren plateaus, and a quantum analogue of average pooling layers.

• The second cohort of startups for the QAI Ventures Accelerator has been announced, featuring the following innovative companies from Europe and North America advancing quantum computing, sensing, and communications: Commutator Studios, Munich Quantum Instruments, QCentroid, QPerfect, Quantized Technologies, Scenario X, and Zuriq. The program offers each selected startup comprehensive business support and access to state-of-the-art quantum hardware.

• Quantum computing could address major challenges in healthcare, security, and climate, according to a new NSW Government report. The Quantum Algorithms and Applications study highlights the state's expertise in quantum algorithms and software, positioning NSW to develop necessary hardware for future challenges. The report maps out the capabilities and opportunities in the NSW quantum sector, projecting a $4.6 billion industry in Australia by 2040, with Sydney as a key hub.

TOP HEADLINES IN NEWS & RESEARCH

NEWS

Tags: COLLABORATION HARDWARE SUPERCONDUCTING

NYU AND NIELS BOHR INSTITUTE ADVANCE QUANTUM COMPUTING MATERIALS

BRIEF BYTE: New York University’s Center for Quantum Information Physics and the University of Copenhagen’s Niels Bohr Institute have initiated a collaboration to develop superconductor and semiconductor materials for quantum computing, sensors, and electronics performance.

WHAT HAPPENED: 

• NYU's Center for Quantum Information Physics and the University of Copenhagen’s Novo Nordisk Foundation Quantum Computing Programme are jointly exploring superconductor-semiconductor quantum materials. The main goal of this collaboration is to advance the production of quantum chips, which are critical for high-speed quantum processing.

• Professor Javad Shabani from NYU and Professor Peter Krogstrup from the University of Copenhagen emphasize the significance of hybrid semiconductor-superconductor materials for developing compact and efficient quantum processors.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT:

• This collaboration is addresses key challenges in integrating superconductivity into semiconductor platforms. Successful development of these materials could accelerate quantum calculations, enable new circuit functionalities, and integrate seamlessly with existing CMOS technology.

RESEARCH

Tags: PHOTONIC HARDWARE

OVERVIEW OF PROGRAMMABLE QUANTUM EMITTER FORMATION IN SILICON

BRIEF BYTE: This study focuses on demonstrating the local writing and erasing of light-emitting defects in silicon for the integration of quantum emitters for large-scale qubit systems in quantum computing.

WHY: 

• Silicon-based quantum emitters are considered promising for quantum computing due to their bright photon emission in the telecom band, scalability, and compatibility with existing electronics and photonics infrastructure.

• The study addresses challenges in creating and controlling these emitters, specifically focusing on the local formation, writing, and erasing of single-photon emitters and spin-photon interfaces in silicon-on-insulator using femtosecond laser pulses combined with hydrogen-based defect activation and passivation.

HOW: 

• The research utilized a combination of standard and advanced techniques to study quantum emitters in silicon-on-insulator wafers, including ion implantation and rapid thermal annealing, femtosecond laser irradiation, and density functional theory calculations.

RESULTS: 

• The ability to programmatically form and erase quantum emitters in silicon using fs laser pulses and hydrogen-based defect manipulation allows for scalable integration of quantum emitters in silicon-based quantum computing systems. This method also aligns well with existing semiconductor manufacturing processes which would mean more feasible large-scale deployment​​.

• One potential application is in the development of silicon-based quantum networks, where precise control over quantum emitter placement and properties is essential.

RESEARCH

Tags: QUANTUM WALKS

OVERVIEW OF QUANTUM SEARCH IN MANY-BODY INTERACTING SYSTEMS WITH LONG-RANGE INTERACTIONS

BRIEF BYTE: This study investigates the effectiveness of continuous-time quantum walks for quantum search in three physical systems with long-range interactions.

WHY: 

• Spatial search problems which involve finding a marked node in a graph are relevant to applications such as search engines, combinatorial optimization, and drug discovery. Quantum computation offers significant speedup for these tasks by utilizing quantum properties such as superposition and entanglement.

• Earlier studies mainly focused on theoretical models where the interaction rates were assumed constant and independent of distance and ignored system dissipation.

HOW: 

• The study investigates quantum search in three systems with long-range atom-atom interactions: 1D atom arrays in optical lattices, waveguide-QED systems, and cavity-QED systems.

• The interaction strengths and decay rates for these systems are derived using dyadic Green’s functions.

• The algorithm used is based on continuous-time quantum walks where the system evolves from an initial equal superposition state to a target state.

• The search Hamiltonian combines the system's Hamiltonian with a target-state Hamiltonian which is optimized for each system to maximize fidelity and minimize search time.

RESULTS: 

• All three systems can achieve near-optimal quantum search performance if dissipation is not considered. When dissipation is accounted for, the optical lattice system's performance deteriorates significantly, whereas the waveguide-QED and cavity-QED systems maintain high success probabilities. This is due to their ability to maintain atom-atom interactions even over long distances and to maintain a larger spectral gap which reduces the effects of dissipation.

• The findings indicate that waveguide-QED and cavity-QED systems are the most promising candidates for implementing quantum search algorithms on NISQ devices due to their resilience against noise and dissipation.

RESEARCH

Tags: READOUT DIAMOND

OVERVIEW OF DIRECT READOUT OF A NITROGEN-VACANCY HYBRID-SPIN QUANTUM REGISTER IN DIAMOND BY ANALYSIS OF PHOTON ARRIVAL TIME

BRIEF BYTE: The study introduces a method for efficiently reading quantum states in nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond using a single laser pulse to reduce experimental time while maintaining fidelity.

WHY: 

• The negatively charged nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond is promising for quantum computing. The N-V center offers both electron and nuclear spins, coupled via hyperfine interaction, which can be manipulated for different quantum applications.

• Electron spins are advantageous for their ease of initialization and readout at room temperature. Nuclear spins provide longer coherence times which makes them useful for quantum memories and computational nodes for quantum error correction.

• However, the challenge lies in the high-fidelity initialization and readout of nuclear spins due to their small magnetic moments. Traditional methods involve complex sequences of quantum control pulses which are time-consuming and inefficient.

• The study introduces an alternative method using the excited-state-level anticrossing mechanism under a magnetic field to more efficiently initialize and read out hybrid-spin states with a single laser pulse.

HOW: 

• The experimental setup involved using a N-V center embedded in a bulk chemical vapor deposition diamond.

• Experiments were conducted on a custom-built confocal microscopy system at room temperature. Fluorescence emitted from the N-V center was collected by an avalanche photodiode and detected by a custom-built time tagger.

• A columnar neodymium magnet created a static magnetic field to induce the excited-state-level anticrossing phenomenon and facilitate optical polarization of the nuclear spin.

• Electron and nuclear spins were manipulated using microwave and radio frequency sources.

• Photon time traces of the four basis states were calibrated, and test states were prepared and read out using laser-based methods to determine the spin-state populations.

RESULTS: 

• This method reduces the experimental time by a factor of 32 compared to traditional techniques and eliminates the need for spin operations before laser readout. It could also be extended to full-state tomography for reducing the complexity of nuclear spin manipulation while maintaining high fidelity.

• The significant reduction in experimental time and complexity increases the efficiency of quantum state readout processes, and by maintaining high fidelity and reducing decoherence errors, this method improves the reliability and scalability of quantum information processing.

EVENTS

• 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

• QuEra Computing Inc. Software Developer - Quantum Controls | Boston, MA

• SandboxAQ Senior Product Support Engineer | Remote

• Deloitte Quantum Readiness Strategy Consultant | Washington, DC (Hybrid)

• Deloitte Quantum Readiness Strategy Consultant | Arlington, VA (Hybrid)

• Oak Ridge National Laboratory Postdoctoral Research Associate - Neutron Scattering and Quantum Materials | Oak Ridge, TN

• Google Numerical Modeling Research Scientist, Quantum AI | Goleta, CA $161K - $239K

• Google Numerical Modeling Research Scientist, Quantum AI | Los Angeles, CA $161K - $239K

UNTIL TOMORROW.

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