Theoretical physicists have found a way to potentially enhance quantum computer chips memory capabilities by ensuring information remains organized, similar to perpetually swirling coffee creamer, defying traditional physics expectations.

Add a dash of creamer to your morning coffee, and clouds of white liquid will swirl around your cup. But give it a few seconds, and those swirls will disappear, leaving you with an ordinary mug of brown liquid.

Something similar happens in quantum computer chipsdevices that tap into the strange properties of the universe at its smallest scaleswhere information can quickly jumble up, limiting the memory capabilities of these tools.

That doesnt have to be the case, said Rahul Nandkishore, associate professor of physics at the University of Colorado Boulder.

In a new coup for theoretical physics, he and his colleagues have used math to show that scientists could create, essentially, a scenario where the milk and coffee never mixno matter how hard you stir them.

The groups findings may lead to new advances in quantum computer chips, potentially providing engineers with new ways to store information in incredibly tiny objects.

Think of the initial swirling patterns that appear when you add cream to your morning coffee, said Nandkishore, senior author of the new study. Imagine if these patterns continued to swirl and dance no matter how long you watched.

Researchers still need to run experiments in the lab to make sure that these never-ending swirls really are possible. But the groups results are a major step forward for physicists seeking to create materials that remain out of balance, or equilibrium, for long periods of timea pursuit known as ergodicity breaking.

The teams findings were recently published in the journal Physical Review Letters.

The study, which includes co-authors David Stephen and Oliver Hart, postdoctoal researchers in physics at CU Boulder, hinges on a common problem in quantum computing.

Normal computers run on bits, which take the form of zeros or ones. Nandkishore explained that quantum computers, in contrast, employ qubits, which can exist as zero, one or, through the strangeness of quantum physics, zero and one at the same time. Engineers have made qubits out of a wide range of things, including individual atoms trapped by lasers or tiny devices called superconductors.

But just like that cup of coffee, qubits can become easily mixed up. If you flip, for example, all of your qubits to one, theyll eventually flip back and forth until the entire chip becomes a disorganized mess.

In the new research, Nandkishore and his colleagues may have figured a way around that tendency toward mixing. The group calculated that if scientists arrange qubits into particular patterns, these assemblages will retain their informationeven if you disturb them using a magnetic field or a similar disruption. That could, the physicist said, allow engineers to build devices with a kind of quantum memory.

This could be a way of storing information, he said. You would write information into these patterns, and the information couldnt be degraded.

In the study, the researchers used mathematical modeling tools to envision an array of hundreds to thousands of qubits arranged in a checkerboard-like pattern.

The trick, they discovered, was to stuff the qubits into a tight spot. If qubits get close enough together, Nadkishore explained, they can influence the behavior of their neighbors, almost like a crowd of people trying to squeeze themselves into a telephone booth. Some of those people might be standing upright or on their heads, but they cant flip the other way without pushing on everyone else.

The researchers calculated that if they arranged these patterns in just the right way, those patterns might flow around a quantum computer chip and never degrademuch like those clouds of cream swirling forever in your coffee.

The wonderful thing about this study is that we discovered that we could understand this fundamental phenomenon through what is almost simple geometry, Nandkishore said.

The teams findings could influence a lot more than just quantum computers.

Nandkishore explained that almost everything in the universe, from cups of coffee to vast oceans, tends to move toward what scientists call thermal equilibrium. If you drop an ice cube into your mug, for example, heat from your coffee will melt the ice, eventually forming a liquid with a uniform temperature.

His new findings, however, join a growing body of research that suggests that some small organizations of matter can resist that equilibriumseemingly breaking some of the most immutable laws of the universe.

Were not going to have to redo our math for ice and water, Nandkishore said. The field of mathematics that we call statistical physics is incredibly successful for describing things we encounter in everyday life. But there are settings where maybe it doesnt apply.

Reference: Ergodicity Breaking Provably Robust to Arbitrary Perturbations by David T. Stephen, Oliver Hart and Rahul M. Nandkishore, 23 January 2024, Physical Review Letters. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.040401

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Quantum Breakthrough: New Method Preserves Information Against All Odds - SciTechDaily

Quantum computing represents a frontier in science that promises to unlock mysteries beyond the reach of todays most advanced computers.

Natalia Chepiga, a quantum scientist at Delft University of Technology, is at the forefront of this exploration.

She has developed a groundbreaking guide aimed at enhancing quantum simulators, a subset of quantum computers designed to probe the depths of quantum physics.

This innovation could pave the way for unprecedented discoveries about the universe at its most fundamental level.

Quantum simulators stand as a beacon of potential in the scientific community, according to Chepiga.

Creating useful quantum computers and quantum simulators is one of the most important and debated topics in quantum science today, with the potential to revolutionize society, she states.

Unlike traditional computers, quantum simulators delve into quantum physics open problems, aiming to extend our grasp of the natural world.

The implications of such advancements are vast, touching upon various societal aspects, from finance and encryption to data storage.

A crucial aspect of developing effective quantum simulators is their ability to be controlled or manipulated, akin to having a steering wheel in a car.

A key ingredient of a useful quantum simulator is the possibility to control or manipulate it, Chepiga illustrates. Without this capability, a quantum simulators utility is severely limited.

To address this, Chepiga proposes a novel protocol in her paper, likening it to creating a steering wheel for quantum simulators.

This protocol is essentially a blueprint for constructing a fully controllable quantum simulator that can unlock new physics phenomena.

Chepigas protocol introduces a method for tuning quantum simulators by using not one, but two lasers with distinct frequencies or colors to excite atoms to different states.

This approach significantly enhances the simulators flexibility, allowing it to mimic a broader range of quantum systems.

Chepiga analogizes this advancement to the difference between viewing a cube as a flat sketch and exploring a three-dimensional cube in real space. Theoretically, introducing more lasers could add even more dimensions to what can be simulated.

The challenge of simulating the collective behavior of quantum systems with numerous particles is immense.

Current computers, including supercomputers, struggle to model systems beyond a few dozen particles without resorting to approximations due to the sheer volume of calculations required.

Quantum simulators, built from entangled quantum particles, offer a solution.

Entanglement is some sort of mutual information that quantum particles share between themselves. It is an intrinsic property of the simulator and therefore allows to overcome this computational bottleneck, Chepiga explains.

In essence, Chepigas research lays the groundwork for a new era of quantum computing. By enhancing the controllability of quantum simulators, she opens the door to exploring complex quantum systems more deeply and accurately than ever before.

This advancement furthers our understanding of the quantum realm and holds the promise of significant societal benefits, from more secure data encryption to solving problems currently beyond our reach.

Chepigas contribution to quantum science marks a significant step towards harnessing the full potential of quantum computing, setting the stage for discoveries that could fundamentally alter our understanding of the universe.

The full study was published in the Physical Review Letters.

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The exact reason behind high-temperature superconductivity in cuprates, which are a type of material, is still a mystery at the microscopic level. Many scientists think that understanding the pseudogap phase, which is a normal non-superconducting state in these materials, could lead to significant progress in this area. One key question is whether the pseudogap comes from strong pairing fluctuations.

Unitary Fermi gases, in which the pseudogapif it existsnecessarily arises from many-body pairing, offer ideal quantum simulators to address this question.

An international team of scientists has made a breakthrough discovery that could shed light on the microscopic mystery behind high-temperature superconductivity. It could also address global energy challenges.

In a recent study, Associate Professor Hui Hu from Swinburne University of Technology collaborated with researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). Together, they conducted experiments that revealed the presence of pseudogap pairing in a strongly interacting cloud of fermionic lithium atoms.

This discovery confirms that multiple particles are pairing up before reaching a critical temperature, leading to remarkable quantum superfluidity. This finding challenges the previous notion that only pairs of particles were involved in this process.

Swinburne University of Technologys Associate Professor Hui Hu said,Quantum superfluidity and superconductivity are the most intriguing phenomenon of quantum physics.

Despite enormous efforts over the last four decades, the origin of high-temperature superconductivity, particularly the appearance of an energy gap in the normal state before superconducting, remains elusive.

The central aim of our work was to emulate a simple text-book model to examine one of the two main interpretations of pseudogap the energy gap without superconducting using a system of ultracold atoms.

In 2010, scientists attempted to investigate pseudogap pairing with ultracold atoms. However, their experiment was unsuccessful. In this new experiment, researchers used advanced methods to prepare homogeneous Fermi clouds and eliminate unwanted interatomic collisions, along with precise control over magnetic fields.

These advancements enabled the observation of a pseudogap without relying on specific microscopic theories to interpret the data. The researchers found a reduction in spectral weight near the Fermi surface in the normal state.

According to researchers,This discovery will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for the future study of strongly interacting Fermi systems and could lead to potential applications in future quantum technologies.

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Quantum research sheds light on the mystery of high-temperature superconductivity - Tech Explorist

Quantum computing has long been celebrated for its potential to surpass traditional computing in terms of speed and memory efficiency. This innovative technology promises to revolutionize our ability to predict physical phenomena that were once deemed impossible to forecast.

The essence of quantum computing lies in its use of quantum bits, or qubits, which, unlike the binary digits of classical computers, can represent values anywhere between 0 and 1.

This fundamental difference allows quantum computers to process and store information in a way that could vastly outpace their classical counterparts under certain conditions.

However, the journey of quantum computing is not without its challenges. Quantum systems are inherently delicate, often struggling with information loss, a hurdle classical systems do not face.

Additionally, converting quantum information into a classical format, a necessary step for practical applications, presents its own set of difficulties.

Contrary to initial expectations, classical computers have been shown to emulate quantum computing processes more efficiently than previously believed, thanks to innovative algorithmic strategies.

Recent research has demonstrated that with a clever approach, classical computing can not only match but exceed the performance of cutting-edge quantum machines.

The key to this breakthrough lies in an algorithm that selectively maintains quantum information, retaining just enough to accurately predict outcomes.

This work underscores the myriad of possibilities for enhancing computation, integrating both classical and quantum methodologies, explains Dries Sels, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at New York University and co-author of the study.

Sels emphasizes the difficulty of securing a quantum advantage given the susceptibility of quantum computers to errors.

Moreover, our work highlights how difficult it is to achieve quantum advantage with an error-prone quantum computer, Sels emphasized.

The research team, including collaborators from the Simons Foundation, explored optimizing classical computing by focusing on tensor networks.

These networks, which effectively represent qubit interactions, have traditionally been challenging to manage.

Recent advancements, however, have facilitated the optimization of these networks using techniques adapted from statistical inference, thereby enhancing computational efficiency.

The analogy of compressing an image into a JPEG format, as noted by Joseph Tindall of the Flatiron Institute and project lead, offers a clear comparison.

Just as image compression reduces file size with minimal quality loss, selecting various structures for the tensor network enables different forms of computational compression, optimizing the way information is stored and processed.

Tindalls team is optimistic about the future, developing versatile tools for handling diverse tensor networks.

Choosing different structures for the tensor network corresponds to choosing different forms of compression, like different formats for your image, says Tindall.

We are successfully developing tools for working with a wide range of different tensor networks. This work reflects that, and we are confident that we will soon be raising the bar for quantum computing even further.

In summary, this brilliant work highlights the complexity of achieving quantum superiority and showcases the untapped potential of classical computing.

By reimagining classical algorithms, scientists are challenging the boundaries of computing and opening new pathways for technological advancement, blending the strengths of both classical and quantum approaches in the quest for computational excellence.

As discussed above, quantum computing represents a revolutionary leap in computational capabilities, harnessing the peculiar principles of quantum mechanics to process information in fundamentally new ways.

Unlike traditional computers, which use bits as the smallest unit of data, quantum computers use quantum bits or qubits. These qubits can exist in multiple states simultaneously, thanks to the quantum phenomena of superposition and entanglement.

At the heart of quantum computing lies the qubit. Unlike a classical bit, which can be either 0 or 1, a qubit can be in a state of 0, 1, or both 0 and 1 simultaneously.

This capability allows quantum computers to perform many calculations at once, providing the potential to solve certain types of problems much more efficiently than classical computers.

The power of quantum computing scales exponentially with the number of qubits, making the technology incredibly potent even with a relatively small number of qubits.

Quantum supremacy is a milestone in the field, referring to the point at which a quantum computer can perform a calculation that is practically impossible for a classical computer to execute within a reasonable timeframe.

Achieving quantum supremacy demonstrates the potential of quantum computers to tackle problems beyond the reach of classical computing, such as simulating quantum physical processes, optimizing large systems, and more.

The implications of quantum computing are vast and varied, touching upon numerous fields. In cryptography, quantum computers pose a threat to traditional encryption methods but also offer new quantum-resistant algorithms.

In drug discovery and material science, they can simulate molecular structures with high precision, accelerating the development of new medications and materials.

Furthermore, quantum computing holds the promise of optimizing complex systems, from logistics and supply chains to climate models, potentially leading to breakthroughs in how we address global challenges.

Despite the exciting potential, quantum computing faces significant technical hurdles, including error rates and qubit stability.

Researchers are actively exploring various approaches to quantum computing, such as superconducting qubits, trapped ions, and topological qubits, each with its own set of challenges and advantages.

As the field progresses, the collaboration between academia, industry, and governments continues to grow, driving innovation and overcoming obstacles.

The journey toward practical and widely accessible quantum computing is complex and uncertain, but the potential rewards make it one of the most thrilling areas of modern science and technology.

Quantum computing stands at the frontier of a new era in computing, promising to redefine what is computationally possible.

As researchers work to scale up quantum systems and solve the challenges ahead, the future of quantum computing shines with the possibility of solving some of humanitys most enduring problems.

The full study was published by PRX Quantum.

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Quantum computer outperformed by new traditional computing - Earth.com

Amy Catanzano is an associate professor of English in creative writing and the poet-in-residence at Wake Forest. On Wednesday, Jan. 31, she streamed her talk titled Quantum Poetics: On Physics and Poetry, which emerged from her upcoming book, The Imaginary Present: Essays in Quantum Poetics. She then answered questions during a live, virtual Q&A session.

Catanzanos work, which she broadly refers to as quantum poetics, combines quantum physics the study of matter at the sub-atomic level with poetry to produce a variety of writing from poetry to essay to memoir. She is particularly interested in the potential that theoretical physics creates for new modes of artistic expression.

While Catanzano is primarily a writer and professor of creative writing, she has dedicated much of her life to studying and researching physics. Such scientific inquiry has led her to collaborate with renowned scientists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland, the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile and the Simons Center for Geometry and Physics in New York. She is especially excited by the cutting-edge fields of quantum computing, high-energy particle physics and astrophysics.

The talk began with a meditation on time, which did well to set the stage for what was to follow. Catanzano declared that one doesnt need to be a poet or a scientist to get the sense that time is not what it appears to be, but that poetry and physics are quite alike in their ability to challenge normative temporality. While breakthroughs in physics like Albert Einsteins theory of relativity have effectively demonstrated the subjectivity of time, a poem can make a reader feel that instability.

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Ordinary conceptions of time must be revised in order to account for the discoveries that scientists about the universe have made, Catanzano said. Poetry is an effective tool for such revision.

Physics and poetry are often understood as disparate fields on polar ends of the sciences-humanities spectrum, but Catanzanos work illustrates the complementary nature of the two. She spoke about how she has come to understand physics as a philosophical and cultural discourse one that is constantly reinventing and challenging itself.

One doesnt need to be a poet or a scientist to get the sense that time is not what it appears to be.

Amy Catanzano

Quantum poetics [posits] that quantum theory is encoded in and by artistic practice, she said.

The influence goes both ways.

Quantum poetics is rooted in a rich tradition of artists responding to scientific paradigm shifts around them. Yet Catanzano believes that quantum poetics departs from some of the conventions of this tradition by heading off the grid altogether. Quantum poetics does not simply allude to scientific research; the two are completely intertwined. One such instance is Catanzanos poem World Lines, a quantum supercomputer poem.

World Lines contains lines of poetry that criss-cross over top of one another. At these intersections, the lines share a word where ordinarily a quantum knot would be produced in a topological quantum computer. The reader can read the poem in a linear or choose a branch of poetry to follow when they get to a shared word.

Catanzano knew that there were multiple poems within the poem existing in a state of quantum superposition but she did not know how many. That was until she collaborated with Michael Taylor, a computer scientist who created an AI that, thus far, has found over a thousand distinct poems within World Lines.

One might wonder what poetry can do for a robust field like physics how can poems impact a scientific discipline built on real-world experiments and mathematical proofs? According to Catanzano, poetry is especially poised to respond to a question that science on its own has been unable to answer. That question is: what does quantum physics mean?

Poetry, with its endless freedom, gives us the necessary outlet to grapple with the ramifications of quantum physics as well as imagine the new doors it can open for us. Via poetry, written and spoken words take on the role of physical manifestations of possibility in potentia, the imagination made material.

After the talk concluded, Catanzano pivoted to answering live questions from the comments section of the video. The audiences reception was ecstatically positive as dozens of questions poured in not due to confusion but curiosity. Quantum physics and avante-garde poetry are liable to be inaccessible to the general public, but Catanzanos talk was easy to follow without sacrificing much of its complexity and nuance.

If the questions directed toward Catanzano after her talk can confirm anything, it is that many viewers walked away having learned a great deal, but still they were hungry to discover even more.

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'Quantum Poetics' marries quantum physics and poetry Old Gold & Black - Old Gold & Black