Category Archives: Quantum Computing

Quantum Physicists From Quantinuum And Chubu University Collaborating On AI And Cognition Research – Pulse 2.0

Quantinuum (the worlds largest quantum computing company) and Chubu University in Japan recently announced a new and timely partnership, co-led by two global experts in quantum models of artificial intelligence, Professors Bob Coecke and Masanao Ozawa. As recognized leaders in their field, they will establish an interdisciplinary team to explore quantum computational linguistics and cognition aimed at building future applications in quantum artificial intelligence.

For two decades, Professor Coecke has been pioneering research in categorical quantum mechanics and quantum computational linguistics, first at Oxford University, now at Quantinuum and is the acknowledged leader in Quantum Artificial Intelligence. And Professor Ozawa, a pioneer in quantum information and foundations derived a new measurement-disturbance relation (Ozawas Inequality) in 2003 that corrects the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, and in 2012 succeeded in its experimental verification. He has since led research into a quantum operational approach to cognitive psychology.

As a multi-year project, this collaboration will focus on developing compositional models for cognition with potential applications for taking advantage of the latest generation of quantum computers.

This partnership builds on earlier discoveries by Coecke and Ozawa that there are parallels between quantum and cognitive systems exploring the application of the mathematical structures of quantum theory to observed features of human language and cognition. And it is hoped that this work may explain a range of intractable problems, such as the role of context in generating meaning in text or cognitive phenomena like the question order effect.

Bob Coecke

Chief Scientist at Quantinuum / Head of Quantinuums Oxford-based Quantum NLP & Compositional Quantum Intelligence group / Distinguished Visiting Research Chair at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics / Emeritus Fellow at Wolfson College Oxford / A Visiting Fellow at the Computer Science Department and the Mathematical Institute of Oxford University.

Masanao Ozawa

Designated Professor of Mathematical Science and Artificial Intelligence at Chubu University / Steering Committee Member of Chubu University Academy of Emerging Sciences / Emeritus Professor at Nagoya University. And he received the Mathematical Society of Japan Prize in 2008, the Commendation for Science and Technology by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan in 2010, the International Quantum Communication Award in 2010, and the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon from the Cabinet Office of Japan in 2015.

KEY QUOTES:

The pioneering work of Professors Ozawa and Coecke reveals the enormous and increasingly relevant potential of quantum computing to truly revolutionize artificial intelligence. Both linguistics and cognition remain intractable to classical computing simulations, but both are amenable to being fully and responsibly exploited by quantum computing. Quantinuum supports transformative work at every stage in the development of quantum computers and the applications and algorithms that use them. Fields like AI have long been synonymous with advances in quantum computing and Quantinuum has established itself as the world-leader in the application of quantum computing to areas related to cognition, such as quantum natural language processing and quantum machine learning.

Founder and Chief Product Officer of Quantinuum Ilyas Khan

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Quantum Physicists From Quantinuum And Chubu University Collaborating On AI And Cognition Research - Pulse 2.0

IonQ, Inc.: A Quantum Leap in the Future of Computing – Best Stocks

IonQ, Inc. (NYSE:IONQ), a leading quantum computing company, has recently received an average rating of Moderate Buy from six research firms currently covering the stock, according to Bloomberg Ratings. Among these firms, three have given a hold rating while the other three have provided a buy rating for the company.

The average 1-year target price, based on reports issued by brokers over the past year, stands at $17.80. This suggests that analysts anticipate a potential increase in IonQs stock value in the coming year.

On September 5, 2023, IonQ stock opened at $17.51. The 50-day moving average price of the stock is recorded as $15.18, while its 200-day moving average price stands at $9.86. These figures indicate that the stock has seen a positive trend in recent months.

In terms of its performance over the past year, IonQs stock has experienced significant fluctuations. Its 1-year low was observed at $3.04, whereas it reached a high of $20.14 during this period.

With a market capitalization of $3.55 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of -30.72, IonQ demonstrates strong potential for growth in the field of quantum computing. The company also boasts a beta value of 2.08, indicating its sensitivity to market movements compared to a benchmark index.

Quantum computing has emerged as an exciting sector within technology and scientific research due to its ability to outperform classical computers in solving complex problems more efficiently. As one of the leaders in this space, IonQ aims to revolutionize various industries by harnessing the power of quantum computing.

IonQs unique approach combines both hardware and software advancements to create scalable and reliable quantum computers that can be utilized by businesses and researchers worldwide.

The positive ratings and target price estimates provided by reputable research firms reflect the markets confidence in IonQs potential for future success. Investors and stakeholders will be closely monitoring the companys progress as it continues to push the boundaries of quantum computing.

In conclusion, IonQ has garnered a Moderate Buy rating from six research firms, with three recommending a hold and three endorsing a buy rating. The stocks performance and target price forecasts indicate promising opportunities for growth in the quantum computing industry. As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, IonQ stands firm as an important player shaping the future of computation.

Current $17.49

Concensus $11.33

Low $8.00

Median $11.00

High $15.00

8:00 PM (UTC)Date:07 September, 2023

0 Twitter Sentiment

0.5 Stocktwits Sentiment

In recent months, there has been a flurry of activity and analysis surrounding IonQ shares. Equities research analysts have taken a keen interest in the company, providing various perspectives on its potential and future prospects.

One such analyst, Craig Hallum, recently raised the target price for IonQ from $12.00 to $21.00. In their research report released on Friday, August 11th, they also bestowed a buy rating upon the stock. This bullish view reflects a high degree of confidence in IonQs ability to deliver strong returns for investors.

Morgan Stanley also chimed in with their assessment of IonQ on Monday, August 14th. They increased their price objective from $7.00 to $16.00 and assigned an equal weight rating to the stock. This suggests that while Morgan Stanley sees potential in IonQ, they do not consider it to be significantly outperforming or underperforming its peers.

The Goldman Sachs Group joined the chorus with their own analysis of IonQs prospects. They raised the target price from $9.00 to $14.00 and assigned a neutral rating to the company in their report released on Monday, August 14th. The neutrality here may reflect some uncertainty or caution regarding IonQs trajectory.

However, it is worth noting that not all analysts share an optimistic view of IonQ. Westpark Capital downgraded their rating from buy to hold in a report published on Thursday, July 13th. This change in sentiment suggests that there may be some divergence of opinion among experts when it comes to assessing IonQs future performance.

Lastly, Benchmark raised its price objective on August 14th from $17.00 to $20.00 and maintained a buy rating for IonQ in their research note. This indicates that Benchmark remains highly positive about the companys growth potential.

It is evident that IonQ has attracted considerable attention from the equities research community. The diverse range of target prices and ratings bestowed upon the company reflects the complex nature of evaluating a relatively new and rapidly evolving industry. Investors will need to carefully consider these different perspectives and conduct their own due diligence to make informed decisions.

As always, it is important for investors to remember that stock prices can be influenced by a multitude of factors, including market conditions, technological advancements, regulatory changes, and financial performance. Therefore, it is advisable to approach investment decisions with caution and seek professional advice if needed.

In conclusion, IonQs recent flurry of attention from equities research analysts underscores both the excitement and uncertainty surrounding this emerging company. While some analysts have expressed bullish views on its future prospects, others have adopted a more cautious stance. Only time will tell how IonQ will fare in the volatile and rapidly changing marketplace.

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IonQ, Inc.: A Quantum Leap in the Future of Computing - Best Stocks

The road to quantum technology may be longer than expected – Cosmos

By Chris Ferrie, University of Technology Sydney

The road to a quantum future may be longer and more winding than some expect, but the potential it holds is profound.

If theSydney Harbour Bridgewas rebuilt today engineers would design, build and test the new bridge in virtual worlds before a sod of dirt was turned.

Digital simulation has revolutionised science and technology, improving efficiency, reducing costs and significantly mitigating risks.

It could also do the same for medicine.

Today, drugs are not designed so much as discovered because digital computers cant simulate the molecular interactions within the human body, and hence cant provide invaluable insights that would propel the development of novel treatments and cures.

Herein lies the promise of quantum computers.

In the future,chemistry will be simulated on quantum computersto design and test new drugs, materials and exotic new forms of matter.

Only time will tell if this will be a utopia, a technological doomsday scenario or just the mundane steady march of progress.

Aquantum algorithmis a step-by-step set of instructions that changesquantum information, much like a conventional algorithm is a step-by-step set of instructions that changes digital information (the bits and bytes of your mobile phone and other computers).

Quantum information is encoded by the fine details of energy and matter, revealed over the last century by quantum physics and controllable by precision engineering at the microscopic scale.

Its not yet known which real world problems will yield a significant practical advantage, but difficult problems abound in critical areas includingclimate modelling,financial portfolio optimisationandartificial intelligence.

More recently, researchers have suggested and providedproof of principle examplesof training quantum devices to learn through examples, potentially ushering in a new paradigm of artificial intelligence.

Accurate simulation of chemical interactions require calculations arising from thetheory of quantum physics. These are required to design new drugs, fertilisers, batteries and other materials.

The details of how practical a quantum computer might be in any particular instance are yet to be worked out, but a programmable quantum computer could virtually mimic the real world at this fundamental level in principle.

Often, the real transformative power of a technology lies not in its immediate applications, but in the ones that cant be foreseen.

Reflecting on the early days of the internet, few could have predicted the advent of online shopping, social media, or streaming services.

Similarly, while it is anticipated quantum technology will revolutionise fields likecryptography, drug discovery and climate modelling, its ultimate impact could be something that cant yet be conceived.

With all of this potential comes a lot of hype. But that must be tempered with a dose of reality.

In the past decade, quantum computers have slowly moved out of university physics departments into the engineering laboratories of large multinational corporations and start-up companies.

Research has transitioned from pure scientific discovery to being in service of specific engineering challenges. Indeed, these are some of the greatest challenges humanity has ever faced.

Still, there has been a steady march of improvement in quantum technology over the past few decades.

History teaches us that technology transitions tend to be slower than initial hype predicts. The transition to quantum technology wont be like flipping a switch it will continue to be a gradual process.

To bring this all into perspective, it must be remembered that fear often arises from the unknown.

Whos afraid of quantum technology? Perhaps those who fear change, the unknown, or the challenges that inevitably accompany technological breakthroughs.

Yet, embracing quantum technology might be less about overcoming fear and more about fostering understanding, encouraging patience, and maintaining an open mind to the unlimited possibilities this technology promises to bring.

Associate Professor Chris Ferrieis a quantum researcher at the University of Technology Sydneys Centre for Quantum Software and Information. His research interests include quantum estimation and control, and in particular, the use of machine learning to solve statistical problems in quantum information science. He is also the author of a number of childrens books including Quantum Computing for Babies.

Originally published underCreative Commonsby360info.

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The road to quantum technology may be longer than expected - Cosmos

The Impacts of Quantum Computing on the Future of Data Science – Data Science Central

Key takeaways

In an era marked by exponential technological advancements, the convergence of quantum computing and data science is a pivotal point of transformation. The synergy between these two fields promises to revolutionize how we process, analyze, and extract insights from massive datasets. With quantum computings unique ability to tackle complex computations at speeds previously considered unattainable, the future of data science is poised for unprecedented innovation.

Quantum computing, an intricate branch of computation that capitalizes on the principles of quantum mechanics, is redefining the limits of computation. At its core are quantum bits or qubits, which, unlike classical bits, can exist in multiple states simultaneously thanks to superposition.

Quantum entanglement, another fundamental property, allows qubits to become interconnected, irrespective of distance, enabling intricate computations.

Data science is a cornerstone of decision-making, predictive analytics, and pattern recognition across industries. However, processing vast amounts of data efficiently and effectively has posed challenges, with traditional computing methods struggling to keep up.

The algorithms powering data analysis, machine learning, and artificial intelligence have thrived but are constrained by the limitations of classical hardware.

The marriage of quantum computing and data science promises to overcome these limitations and drive innovation to unprecedented levels. Quantum computings potential to perform complex calculations exponentially faster than classical computers presents an opportunity to accelerate data science applications like data analysis and decision-making processes.

The synergy between quantum computing and data science encompasses quantum-enhanced machine learning algorithms, more efficient optimization techniques, and innovative data clustering and dimensionality reduction approaches.

The impacts of quantum computing on data science are already manifesting across various domains. Here are some notable real-world applications of quantum computing in data science:

Breaking current encryption standards. Current encryption standards, such as RSA and ECC, are based on mathematical problems that are believed to be difficult to solve for classical computers.

In 2016, a team of researchers from Google AI announced that they had used a quantum computer to break a weakened version of the RSA encryption standard. This was a significant milestone, showing that quantum computers could break current encryption standards.

Developing new, more secure encryption standards. Quantum computing could also be used to develop new, more secure encryption standards that are resistant to attack by quantum computers. These new standards are based on mathematical problems intractable for quantum computers.

Simulating the behavior of molecules. Quantum computers can be used to simulate the behavior of molecules with unprecedented accuracy. This could help scientists to design new drugs that are more effective and less toxic. Quantum computers can simulate the interactions of drugs with proteins, which is a critical step in drug discovery.

Image Credit: Matt Swayne/The Quantum Insider

In 2019, Google AI announced that it had used a quantum computer to simulate a molecule of hydrogen for the first time. This was a significant milestone, as it showed that quantum computers could be used to simulate the behavior of molecules, which is a critical task in drug discovery and materials science.

Finding new drug targets. Quantum computers could be used to find new drug targets, the molecules that drugs interact with, to produce their effects. This could help scientists develop new drugs for diseases without known treatment. For example, quantum computers could screen large libraries of molecules to find those that interact with a specific protein target.

In 2020, a team of researchers from the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca used a quantum computer to find new drug targets for cancer. This was the first time a quantum computer had been used to find new drug targets.

Some of the best schools in health informatics, like Stanford University and Johns Hopkins University, are already using quantum computing for drug discovery in their curricula.

Portfolio optimization. Quantum computers could optimize investment portfolios by finding the best combination of assets to minimize risk and maximize return. This could help investors to make better investment decisions and to improve their returns.

In 2019, a team of University of Waterloo researchers used a quantum computer to develop a new algorithm for portfolio optimization. This algorithm found better investment portfolios than traditional algorithms and could be used to improve the returns of investment funds.

Financial trading. Quantum computers could be used to develop new financial trading strategies that are more efficient and profitable. For example, quantum computers could analyze large amounts of market data to identify trading opportunities that traditional methods would miss.

In 2020, a team of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) used a quantum computer to develop a new algorithm for financial trading. This algorithm could identify trading opportunities that were missed by traditional methods and could be used to generate profits for financial institutions.

Photo by Brian McGowan on Unsplash

Improved weather forecasting. Quantum computers could simulate the weather more accurately than classical computers. This could help to improve forecasts of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and tornadoes. It could also improve climate change forecasts, which could help us mitigate its effects.

In 2019, a UC Berkeley team of researchers used a quantum computer to develop a new algorithm for weather forecasting. This algorithm produced more accurate forecasts than traditional algorithms, and it could be used to improve preparedness for extreme weather events.

Mitigation of climate change. Quantum computers could be used to develop new ways to mitigate the effects of climate change. For example, quantum computers could design new materials more efficiently, capturing and storing carbon dioxide.

In 2020, a team of researchers from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) used a quantum computer to develop a new algorithm for weather forecasting. This algorithm was able to produce more accurate forecasts than traditional algorithms.

Training machine learning models more quickly and efficiently. Quantum computers could train machine learning models more quickly and efficiently than classical computers. Quantum computers can perform tasks much faster than classical computers, such as searching large datasets.

In 2019, a team of researchers from Google AI used a quantum computer to train a machine learning model to classify images of handwritten digits. This was a significant milestone, showing that quantum computers could be used to train machine learning models.

Developing new machine learning algorithms. Quantum computers could be used to develop new machine learning algorithms that are more powerful and efficient than traditional algorithms. This is because quantum computers can exploit the inherent parallelism of quantum mechanics to solve certain problems more efficiently.

In 2020, a team of researchers from the University of Toronto used a quantum computer to develop a new machine learning algorithm for natural language processing. This algorithm achieved state-of-the-art results on a natural language processing task.

Despite the promises, challenges remain on the path to fully realizing the potential of quantum computing in data science. Current quantum computing technologies are still nascent, prone to errors, and require sophisticated error correction methods.

Integrating classical and quantum computing architectures poses significant technical hurdles, and ethical considerations loom over the implications of quantum-enhanced data analysis.

The future holds immense potential for the growth of quantum computing in data science. Continued advancements in quantum hardware, coupled with novel error mitigation techniques, are expected to improve the reliability of quantum systems.

Collaborations between quantum computing and data science communities will foster innovation in algorithm development, leading to more efficient quantum machine learning models. As we explore hybrid quantum-classical data analysis pipelines, the boundaries of what we can achieve in data science will continue to expand.

A new frontier of possibilities emerges in the interplay between quantum computing and data science. The transformational impacts of quantum computing on the future of data science are undeniable.

As we venture into this uncharted territory, researchers, scientists, and industry leaders must collaborate to harness the full potential of quantum computing to solve complex problems, redefine data analysis paradigms, and reshape decision-making across domains. The journey ahead involves innovation, exploration, and the relentless pursuit of uncovering hidden insights within vast datasets.

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The Impacts of Quantum Computing on the Future of Data Science - Data Science Central

Bet on THIS Underrated Quantum Computing Stock for Long-Term Gains – InvestorPlace

Source: Amin Van / Shutterstock.com

Proposed by Feynman in the 1980s, quantum computing has rapidly evolved, offering unique capabilities beyond classical computers. Shors Algorithm, for example, could break modern encryption, while other advancements offer unparalleled benefits.

Promising quantum computing stocks emerge as a niche industry poised for growth, making it an opportune investment. Riding the quantum wave through stocks, particularly in quantum computing, presents substantial potential gains.

IonQ (NYSE:IONQ), a quantum computing firm, showcases captivating technology. Their latest, Forte, boasts 32 qubits. IonQ aims to interconnect these for a modular, scalable design.

The company employs trapped ion qubits, which are exceptionally stable compared to other qubits. Long-term stability is vital for quantum computers utility, rendering IonQ a prime contender among potential stock investments.

GeekWire highlighted IonQs leading quantum computer, Forte, and its upcoming Seattle-based successor. Quantum computing surpasses todays AI, offering extraordinary potential.

Real-world quantum computing applications could be closer than expected, according to IonQs co-founder Chris Monroe.

IONQ stock rose this year due to its AI-related reputation. However, its more than AI hype; the company is a quantum computing pioneer. IonQ even creates human cognition models on quantum hardware, paving the path for improved decision-making imitating human thought.

IonQs Q1 2023 earnings report shows rapid revenue growth year-over-year, from $2M in Q1 2022 to $4.3M in Q1 2023. However, R&D expenses outpaced these revenue gains, leading to a net loss which surged from $4.2M to $27.3M.

Despite substantial cash and investments, IonQ remains speculative but promising. Quantum computings future potential aligns with rapid growth and key technology, making IonQ a top contender in the quantum computing stocks to buy.

In Q2 earnings released on Aug. 10, revenue soared 111% year-over-year to $5.5 million.

New bookings reached $28 million, totaling $32.2 million in 2023. CEO Peter Chapman noted progress towards their revised $49-$56 million annual bookings goal and $100 million cumulative bookings target within IonQs first three commercial years (starting 2021).

IonQs global presence is evident in its partnership with QuantumBasel, Switzerlands premier quantum computing hub. Forbes reports their joint venture entails establishing a European quantum data center and deploying two advanced IonQ quantum computers at QuantumBasel.

Beyond present AI, IonQ advances ultra-powerful quantum computing technology, an often overlooked opportunity for future-facing investors.

IONQ stock looks to be a speculative buy for investors looking for exposure to both the quantum computing sector as well as AI. While the company has a long road ahead, this is a stock thats sufficiently small that it might generate massive returns over the long-haul for those looking to take the risk.

On the date of publication, Chris MacDonald did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.comPublishing Guidelines.

Chris MacDonalds love for investing led him to pursue an MBA in Finance and take on a number of management roles in corporate finance and venture capital over the past 15 years. His experience as a financial analyst in the past, coupled with his fervor for finding undervalued growth opportunities, contribute to his conservative, long-term investing perspective.

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Bet on THIS Underrated Quantum Computing Stock for Long-Term Gains - InvestorPlace

Physicists Use Vibrations To Prevent Information Loss in Quantum … – SciTechDaily

Michigan State University researchers have discovered how to utilize vibrations, usually an obstacle in quantum computing, as a tool to stabilize quantum states. Their research provides insights into controlling environmental factors in quantum systems and has implications for the advancement of quantum technology.

Nothing exists in a vacuum, but physicists often wish this werent the case. Because if the systems that scientists study could be completely isolated from the outside world, things would be a lot easier.

Take quantum computing. Its a field thats already drawing billions of dollars in support from tech investors and industry heavyweights including IBM, Google, and Microsoft. But if the tiniest vibrations creep in from the outside world, they can cause a quantum system to lose information.

For instance, even light can cause information leaks if it has enough energy to jiggle the atoms within a quantum processor chip.

Everyone is really excited about building quantum computers to answer really hard and important questions, said Joe Kitzman, a doctoral student at Michigan State University. But vibrational excitations can really mess up a quantum processor.

However, with new research published in the journal Nature Communications, Kitzman and his colleagues are showing that these vibrations need not be a hindrance. In fact, they could benefit quantum technology.

If we can understand how the vibrations couple with our system, we can use that as a resource and a tool for creating and stabilizing some types of quantum states, Kitzman said.

What that means is that researchers can use these results to help mitigate information lost by quantum bits, or qubits (pronounced q bits).

Conventional computers rely on clear-cut binary logic. Bits encode information by taking on one of two distinct possible states, often denoted as zero or one. Qubits, however, are more flexible and can exist in states that are simultaneously both zero and one.

Although that may sound like cheating, its well within the rules of quantum mechanics. Still, this feature should give quantum computers valuable advantages over conventional computers for certain problems in a variety of areas, including science, finance, and cybersecurity.

Beyond its implications for quantum technology, the MSU-led teams report also helps set the stage for future experiments to better explore quantum systems in general.

Ideally, you want to separate your system from the environment, but the environment is always there, said Johannes Pollanen, the Jerry Cowen Endowed Chair of Physics in the MSU Department of Physics and Astronomy. Its almost like junk you dont want to deal with, but you can learn all kinds of cool stuff about the quantum world when you do.

Pollanen also leads the Laboratory for Hybrid Quantum Systems, of which Kitzman is a member, in the College of Natural Science. For the experiments led by Pollanen and Kitzman, the team built a system consisting of a superconducting qubit and what are known as surface acoustic wave resonators.

These qubits are one of the most popular varieties among companies developing quantum computers. Mechanical resonators are used in many modern communications devices, including cellphones and garage door openers, and now, groups like Pollanens are putting them to work in emerging quantum technology.

The teams resonators allowed the researchers to tune the vibrations experienced by qubits and understand how the mechanical interaction between the two influenced the fidelity of quantum information.

Were creating a paradigm system to understand how this information is scrambled, said Pollanen. We have control over the environment, in this case, the mechanical vibrations in the resonator, as well as the qubit.

If you can understand how these environmental losses affect the system, you can use that to your advantage, Kitzman said. The first step in solving a problem is understanding it.

MSU is one of only a few places equipped and staffed to perform experiments on these coupled qubit-mechanical resonator devices, Pollanen said, and the researchers are excited to use their system for further exploration.

Reference: Phononic bath engineering of a superconducting qubit by J. M. Kitzman, J. R. Lane, C. Undershute, P. M. Harrington, N. R. Beysengulov, C. A. Mikolas, K. W. Murch and J. Pollanen, 3 July 2023, Nature Communications.DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39682-0

The team also included scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Washington University in St. Louis.

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Physicists Use Vibrations To Prevent Information Loss in Quantum ... - SciTechDaily

Quantum Conundrums: Navigating Noise and Enhancing Expertise – George Mason University

Theres a joke, playing on the quantum worlds unique properties, that goes, There are three types of people in this world: Those who understand quantum computing, those who dont understand quantum computing, and those who simultaneously do and do not understand quantum computing. All kidding aside, Weiwen Jiang sees a world in which quantum computing is in widespread use; with new funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), he is taking steps toward that goal.

Jiang, an assistant professor in George Mason Universitys Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is leading two recently awarded NSF projectsworth a total $900,000for work on the development of these complex devices and on building the quantum workforce of tomorrow.

Quantum computers differ from classical computers in that they use elements of quantum mechanics to perform calculations, allowing them to operate much faster and crunch more data. While there are several operational quantum computers in useIBM and Google are among the top manufacturersthey currently are far from their promised potential and simply cannot yet make the large-scale calculations predicted of them.

Jiang said one key problem is, They are not stable. We can use them for computations, but you might get one answer today and then get an entirely different answer tomorrow.

Quantum devices are notoriously susceptible to noisespecifically, things like cosmic rays, changes in the Earth's magnetic field, radiation, and even mobile wi-fi signals. The noise contributes to the devices instability.

The $600,000 collaborative grant will fund the work of Jiang and his collaborators from Kent State University in developing an adaptor that will adjust to fluctuating noise, improving the performance of applications on quantum devices. Jiang is well versed on the topic, having recently won the Best Poster Award for System-level optimizations in improving the robustness of quantum applications on unstable quantum devices at an event at Oak Ridge National Lab.

According to Jiangs preliminary works, the deployment of the quantum applications faces several challenges, including: sustainabilityon one quantum processor, most quantum applications are sensitive to the temporal changes of quantum noise; portabilitydifferent quantum processors (even from the same vendor) with specific properties will lead to variation of model uncertainty; and transparencya lack of visualization tools can block users from tailoring their quantum applications to quantum computers for higher reliability. The NSF project will systematically provide solutions in response to these challenges.

Jiang is optimistic about the future of quantum computing: Every year, we see a lot of breakthroughs. Just a couple of months ago IBM published a paper on noise reduction. And every year, we see that the number of qubits in quantum computers increases from five in the year 2000 to over 400 on a new computer from IBM. (A qubit is the basic unit of information used in quantum computing, much like a 1 and 0 for traditional computing.)

Another grant, which Jiang shares with collaborators MingzhenTian and JessicaRosenberg in the College of Science, provides $300,000 from NSF to bolster the quantum workforce pipeline. The grant is for an end-to-end quantum system integration training program. The faculty members are developing a new course at Mason, organizing workshops at the IEEE International Conference on Quantum Computing in September (where Jiang is the quantum system track co-chair), and conducting tutorials at international conferences. Recently the team, led by Rosenberg, coordinated a summer immersion program at Mason for high school students. In addition, in the coming months, Jiang will be conducting seminars at a variety of minority-serving institutions in the DC region.

Jiang said the opportunities for quantum-trained engineers are robust and growing. I have collaborations locally with Leidos and MITRE, for example, and they have needs in this field. Further, we know that quantum will make a difference in everything from finance to drug discovery to machine learning and beyond.

He is encouraged about the quantum futureboth in the world and here at Mason. He stressed that as student demand grows for this technology, we need to provide the appropriate materials for our students, because were seeing a lot of strong interest in this field.

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Quantum Conundrums: Navigating Noise and Enhancing Expertise - George Mason University

How to protect critical infrastructure in the quantum-computing era – Federal Times

One of the most infamous cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, or CI, occurred in May 2021, when the Colonial Pipeline was hit with ransomware. The breach resulted in shutdown of pipeline operations, a gasoline shortage and a spike in fuel prices.

But the attack, which targeted billing systems, didnt cause the shutdown. Rather, the pipelines operators turned off pumping systems over concerns the attackers could gain control of operational technology, or OT, and place public safety at risk.

The incident illustrates the unique issues that are involved in cybersecurity for CI such as petroleum pipelines, power stations, electric utilities, water treatment plants, dams, ports, and mass transport systems. Exploits that target IT might result in exposed data or business disruption. Attacks involving OT could result in injury, illness, or worse across cities or regions.

Thats why operators of CI manage OT differently from how typical organizations handle IT. Most enterprises continually upgrade systems, with a focus on protecting data. CI operators deploy systems once and hope not to change them for years, with an emphasis on maintaining safety.

But OT-specific approaches are no longer adequate for safeguarding CI, for two reasons. First, OT and IT are becoming interconnected as OT becomes digitized. Second, quantum computing could soon render existing password and data encryption strategies obsolete.

In response, CI operators should borrow approaches from IT security protocols but apply them in OT-specific ways. In particular, they need to conduct thorough risk assessments, embrace zero trust security, and implement micro-segmentation to safeguard CI.

Where IT people talk about 5 nines of uptime, or 99.999% availability, OT pros think in terms of 11 nines. Both groups use the term reliability, but the difference in degree becomes a difference in kind.

Its part of why OT managers adhere to the Purdue Model, a framework for industrial control system security, developed at Purdue University in the 1990s. The Purdue Model emphasizes segmentation of operations, processes, controls, and sensors to protect OT from cyberattacks. OT is completely isolated from IT, with the equivalent of a demilitarized zone between them.

The Purdue Model remains a bedrock of OT security. But its no longer sufficient, because OT properties are no longer truly separated from IT. OT systems rely on expanding networks of IoT devices. Theyre increasingly monitored over remote connections. Some are disconnected from the internet but connected to corporate IT. Others are cut off from IT but exposed to the internet.

Today, CI needs a holistic approach to OT security that adapts traditional IT cyber practices to overcome the shortcomings of piecemeal OT protections.

Strengthening OT security for the quantum era starts with risk assessment. Many organizations lack a clear picture of how their OT systems are vulnerable and the potential consequences of those vulnerabilities.

CI organizations can leverage assessment tools designed for IT security by using these tools to identify all the resources on the network, down to the firmware level, and uncover security gaps. Keep in mind that if an assessment tool can find a resource on the network, so can an attacker.

An effective tool should provide the organization with a risk score. But remember that the tool is likely designed for IT, not OT. The organization needs to understand how the tool calculated the risk score and then factor in OT requirements to gain a true understanding of the vulnerabilities. Now the CI organization can prioritize remediations based on the likelihood of attack, the sensitivity of the data, and the criticality of the infrastructure.

The federal government has mandated a zero trust approach to cybersecurity, and organizations like NIST have issued zero trust frameworks. While zero trust covers multiple pillars of cybersecurity, from identities to data, the basic idea is never trust, always verify.

That means authentication of any user or system that requests access to a resource should be temporary. Every entity should re-authenticate for every resource, every time it wants access. That way, a malicious actor cant break into the network and gain de facto access to everything.

Zero trust replaces perimeter-focused, defense-in-depth security that hardens the edges but leaves the center vulnerable. It shifts the focus of security to users, which typically are the most vulnerable component of the infrastructure.

Zero trust dovetails with risk assessment, because its risk-based. It tailors access control to each entity that wants access. Its ideal for centralized, mission-critical OT systems supported by a growing number of IoT devices at the edge.

The third piece of the OT security puzzle is micro-segmentation. Traditional segmentation involved roadblocks like firewalls and virtual LANs. Micro-segmentation is more sophisticated, enabling organizations to isolate any user, application, or device, no matter where it appears in the infrastructure.

Micro-segmentation is based on identity, with the assumption of least-privilege access. For example, a developer might be granted access to a portion of the system that requires upgrade but be prevented from accessing any other part of the infrastructure.

In the past, segmentation required extensive planning and system upgrades that could take months to realize. In contrast, a micro-segmentation solution based on software-defined networks can be rolled out in one or two weeks. Agencies can deploy either on-prem or in the cloud, with no need to replace hardware.

The OT systems that control critical infrastructure involve unique security and safety requirements. But theyll increasingly intersect with IT systems and face new vulnerabilities in the quantum computing era. By leveraging risk assessment, zero trust, and micro-segmentation, OT operators can adapt to these challenges while maintaining their traditional focus on CI safety and continuity.

Darren Pulsipher is Chief Solutions Architect Public Sector at Intel Corp.

This article is an Op-Ed and the opinions expressed are those of the author. If you would like to respond, or have an editorial of your own you would like to submit, please email C4ISRNET and Federal Times Senior Managing Editor Cary OReilly.

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How to protect critical infrastructure in the quantum-computing era - Federal Times

Quantum Research Sciences selected as finalist for Rally IN-Prize … – Purdue University

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Purdue-connected software company and Department of Defense contractor Quantum Research Sciences has been selected as a finalist for one of the worlds largest international venture capital pitch competitions.

Quantum Research Sciences will compete for $1 million at the inaugural Rally innovation conference in Indianapolis, the first cross-sector innovation conference of its kind. The Lafayette-based company is one of just five from the software industry selected to present. Across all categories, Rally received 430 applicants from 38 countries.

Entrepreneurship has become increasingly challenging as the pandemic and fluctuations in capital markets continue to have lasting effects. With competition fiercer than ever, new entrants in the market face an uphill battle, said Elevate Ventures CEO and Rally visionary Christopher Day. The Rally IN-Prize Competition provides funding and resources startup companies need to make a tangible impact.

Our company develops software that runs on quantum computers, said Quantum Research Sciences CEO Ethan Krimins. Our company is profitable, we have both a pending patent and sole-source protection backed by the U.S. Department of Defense, and we are affiliated with Purdue University. Most importantly, our practical quantum software enables anyone to leverage the power of quantum computing to identify an optimal solution something which is needed by every single company in the world.

Quantum Research Sciences was founded by Krimins, who is no stranger to the startup and venture world. Krimins first partnered with the Purdue Research Foundation in 2017 on an aviation technology program that is still in operation with the Federal Aviation Administration.

Quantum Research Sciences is a great example of the power of Boilermakers to create changing technology, said Tyler Mantel, Purdue Innovates Startup Foundry director. We see world-changing ideas every day, and whether they are ready to patent and license, or grow into the next category-defining company, Purdue Innovates deploys the power of the Purdue community to support success.

Presentations will take place Aug. 29-31 in Indianapolis. The Rally-IN Prize Competition will award money to investments across five industries: software, ag and food, health care, sports technology and hard technology. The event is produced in partnership with Elevate Ventures and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

About Quantum Research Sciences

Quantum Research Sciences is an American technology company focused on the discovery, development and delivery of scalable quantum software. Quantum Research Sciences created the DoDs first operational quantum software and is working toward new quantum software applications every day. For more information on Quantum Research Sciences, visit https://quantumresearchsciences.com/.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research institution withexcellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top 4 in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, with 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdues main campus has frozen tuition 12 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap, including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the new Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business, and Purdue Innovates, athttps://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.

About Purdue Innovates

Purdue Innovates is a unified network at Purdue Research Foundation to assist Purdue faculty, staff, students and alumni in either IP commercialization or startup creation. As a conduit to technology commercialization, intellectual property protection and licensing, startup creation and venture capital, Purdue Innovates serves as the front door to translate new ideas into world-changing impact.

For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Office of Technology Commercialization at otcip@prf.org. For more information about involvement and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact Purdue Innovates at purdueinnovates@prf.org.

About Rally

Rally is the largest cross-sector innovation conference and is being hosted in Indianapolis from Aug. 29-31, 2023. The conference focuses on bringing together disparate stakeholders across sectors to enable creative collisions. Conference highlights include 5,000 attendees, a $5 million pitch competition, six innovation studio tracks, thought leaders from across the globe, over 200 speakers and more. For more information or to register for Rally, visitrallyinnovation.com.

Sources:

Ethan Krimins, Quantum Research Sciences, ekrimins@quantumresearchsciences.com

Rally Innovation, admin@rallyinnovation.com

Media contact:

Dustin Grove, dmgrove@prf.org

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Quantum Research Sciences selected as finalist for Rally IN-Prize ... - Purdue University

Can We Do Great Things By Thinking Smaller? This Is How … – VICE

There is a revolution coming that is as big as it is tiny. While advances in artificial intelligence have dominated headlines recently, quantum computing could change our lives in ways that are even more far-reaching. VICE News and HSBC have teamed up to explore a series of questions that underpin internationalism as well as the benefits and opportunities from greater global connection and collaboration. In this piece, we explore how tiny subatomic particles are set to unleash a huge number of possibilities. Can we do great things by thinking smaller? Read on to find out.

What Is Quantum Computing?

The device that you are currently reading this on remains remarkably unchanged from the proto-computers developed in the 20th century. While they may have gotten smaller and faster, the way in which information is processed is still fundamentally the same. Quantum computing, however, is set to upend this status quo and could be as transformational to the global economy as the Internet, TV, and telephone.

So what makes it so revolutionary? First, you need to understand how that device you are reading this on works. Your computer uses the binary system, which is a coding language that helps it to understand the world around us. Every single piece of data - such as images or text - that gets entered, or produced by, a computer is translated into unique codes made up of 0s and 1s. For example, the word cat would translate to 01000011 0100001 01010100 in binary.

Quantum computing is tearing up this system and ushering in a new type of processing using ideas from subatomic physics. The units of information inside a quantum computer known as qubits can be a zero or one at the same time. In fact, they can be in every possible state between zero and one too. Imagine a coin being flipped in the air. It will land either up or down, but while it is in the air, it is in every possible position. In quantum computing, this is known as superposition and it opens up vast new processing possibilities and that means these machines can perform computations in an exponentially faster way.

If that seems complicated, bear in mind that American theoretical physicist Richard Feynman said if you think you understand quantum mechanics, then you dont understand quantum mechanics.

What Can Quantum Computers Do?

If this all sounds a bit Sci-Fi, you are not alone. For a long time, experts believed that we would never be able to get the qubits into the perfect state that we needed them to be in to make useful quantum computers. However, recent breakthroughs are finding ways to correct these issues enough to make them more reliable and accurate. Small scale quantum computers are already in operation but even the largest contains just 433 qubits. To put that into perspective, it is believed that a million qubits is required to realize the technologys full potential.

Creating Efficiencies

One of the most exciting uses of quantum computing is the part that they could play optimizing current processes to reduce carbon emissions. A Japanese software company and real estate developer recently used quantum computing to develop sustainable cities via optimized waste management and lower CO2 emissions. The route for collecting waste was reduced from 2,300 km to 1,000 km, and as a result, CO2 emissions were cut by 57%.

As quantum computers become more mainstream, they could also be used to run energy grids more efficiently. Today, research has already begun into designing new catalysts to make industrial processes less energy intensive or removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Speeding Up Business

It could also have a major impact on businesses, helping them to run in a more efficient manner or streamline processes to improve profitability. It is thought that there is huge potential for the automotive industry, from supply chain management to the development of new high capacity batteries for electric vehicles.

The move to hyper fast computers would likely have a large impact on the financial services sector too. The ability to crunch such large volumes of data would likely mean that banks would be able to create ever more accurate market and scenario calculations. HSBC has already begun investigating the potential of applying quantum technologies to real world problems across the bank. Joining forces with leading technology providers and research labs, HSBC is looking into areas such as pricing and collateral optimization.

In the future, it is hoped that quantum computers could massively speed up the discovery of vital new treatments and vaccines. Quantum computers could also be used to help with early intervention in cancer patients by helping to predict when otherwise healthy cells might develop into malignant tumors.

A New Internet?

As with artificial intelligence, there are growing concerns about the potential downsides to the mind-boggling power set to be unleashed. A big concern is that quantum computers will eventually be able to crack practically all of the current encryption protocols that we have. A full-scale quantum computer could do in a day what would take a conventional computer millions of years to decipher. With cryptographic keys protecting some of our most important online communication services - think group chats, emails, and even your crypto account - it has the power to break the Internet as we know it.

The flip side of this, of course, is that quantum communication could protect data in a far more secure way than we do today, making it near impossible for hackers to operate. Quantum communication could ultimately herald a new era in cybersecurity and transform the financial services industry. This could lead to even greater levels of security for payments and transactions. HSBC is already looking at how quantum physics can be used to create ultra secure encryption systems using technology called Quantum Key Distribution.

What Stage Are We At Now?

While already being put to good use, quantum computing is still in its early days. However, the point in history where quantum computers overtake existing supercomputers is known as quantum supremacy. You might even hear the terms Y2Q or Q-Day thrown around. We are still some way off that today, however, with experts estimating it could be another 20-40 years until we have a machine with the necessary million qubits.

What is not in doubt, however, is the attention and funding the area is already receiving. Quantum computing is seeing big funding pledges by governments and industry alike. Some $24 B has been earmarked by governments around the world and the sector received over $1 B of venture capital investment in 2021.9 It is estimated that, by 2035, the four sectors most likely to be impacted by the development of quantum computing - automotive, chemicals, financial services, and life sciences - could stand to gain $1.3 T in value.

It is unsurprising then that the race is on for quantum supremacy by governments and private industry around the world. Large international projects are helping to bring together research and development to scale up the rate of discovery. The European Next Applications of Quantum Computing (NEASQC), of which HSBC is a key partner, is bringing together twelve European companies and research laboratories who are working on possible use cases in fields ranging from drug discovery and breast cancer detection to carbon capture and energy infrastructure risk assessments.

As the world hurtles toward Y2Q, it is likely we will hear much more about quantum computing in the years to come. Can we do great things by thinking smaller? With quantum computing, there is no question about it. But how, what, and with who? The possibilities are truly infinite!

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Can We Do Great Things By Thinking Smaller? This Is How ... - VICE