Category Archives: Quantum Physics
1000s of sensors to sniff out evidence of quantum gravity in Antarctica – Interesting Engineering
A large-scale experiment in Antarctica may solve one of the greatest enigmas in physics: the existence of quantum gravity.
The University of Copenhagen researchers are part of this scientific exploration taking place at the IceCube Neutrino Observatory located near the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica.
It consists of thousands of sensors covering vast areas to detect and monitor neutrinos the ghostly particles reaching Earth from outer space.
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1000s of sensors to sniff out evidence of quantum gravity in Antarctica - Interesting Engineering
Breakthrough in Quantum Chemistry: The Creation of the Coldest Complex Molecule – yTech
Summary: In a groundbreaking experiment, scientists have managed to synthesize an ultra-cold four-atom molecule, providing new insights into quantum behavior and the potential for developing materials with unprecedented properties, such as high-temperature superconductors.
The world of quantum mechanics often surprises with its counterintuitive nature, and researchers have now reached a new milestone by creating an ultracold four-atom molecule, the coldest of its kind, at a temperature that is near absolute zero. Utilizing a sophisticated multi-step cooling technique including laser and evaporative cooling, scientists were able to construct this molecule at 134 nanokelvin just a whisper above the lowest temperature theoretically possible in the universe.
This breakthrough comes with significant challenges. At such low temperatures, quantum mechanics becomes the dominant force, and manipulating the complex array of quantum states in molecules as opposed to simpler atoms or ions is an intricate task. Roman Bause, a quantum optics researcher, has likened the plethora of quantum states in molecules to a thick book, reflecting the complex nature of their behavior.
Yet, overcoming these obstacles has immense potential benefits. A key application of understanding ultracold molecules lies in the simulation of other quantum systems. This research could pave the way for the development of materials critical to future technology, such as high-temperature superconductors or advanced lithium batteries.
The team, led by Tao Shi at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, circumvented the tendency of the molecules to clump and lose their experimental control by carefully orchestrating microwaves to finely tune the bonding process. As a result, they were able to form this unique four-atom molecule with a bond length a thousand times longer than that within its component parts.
The success of forging such a molecule is a testament to the innovative techniques in the field of ultracold science, offering a new perspective on the quantum world and hinting at revolutionary advancements in materials science.
The Synthesis of Ultracold Four-Atom Molecules and Its Impact on the Quantum Mechanics Industry
The synthesis of the ultracold four-atom molecule represents a significant achievement in the realm of quantum mechanics and underlines the rapid progression within this industry. The ability to create and manipulate matter at near absolute zero temperatures is not only a triumph of experimental physics but also a milestone that could influence market dynamics by driving the development of new technologies.
Industry and Market Forecasts
The quantum mechanics industry has been evolving with research progressing towards practical applications such as quantum computing, precision sensors, and advanced materials. The creation of such molecules could factor importantly into the development of high-temperature superconductors, which promise to revolutionize industries by substantially reducing energy losses in electrical systems. The market for superconductors alone has significant growth potential, with forecasts projecting substantial expansion fueled by advancements in sectors like medical imaging, scientific research, and power utilities.
Moreover, as the technology matures, it can lead to improvements in the manufacturing of advanced lithium batteries, which are pivotal to the green energy transition, particularly in the electric vehicle market. The synthesis of ultracold molecules contributes to understanding how quantum systems interact, paving the way for innovative battery technologies with higher energy capacities and faster charging times.
The quantum mechanics industry is also interconnected with other fields, like materials science and nanotechnology, and this synergy could lead to a host of unforeseen products and applications that rely on the manipulation of quantum states.
Issues Related to the Industry or Product
Despite the exciting possibilities, there are significant challenges facing the industry. The complexity of quantum states presents a considerable barrier to commercialization, requiring sophisticated and expensive equipment for experimentation and development. Furthermore, quantum materials and technologies might face regulatory and safety concerns due to their novel properties and the potential impact on existing markets and infrastructures.
To further explore the field of quantum mechanics and its potential implications, one might visit reputable scientific research organizations or industry-leading technology companies that are pioneering quantum technologies. A reliable source for such information could be found through the official links of these organizations or companies, such as:
The European Quantum Industry Consortium: qurope.eu The National Quantum Initiative: quantum.gov The Quantum Technology Hub: quantumcommshub.net
Please note that these are suggested domains for further information on quantum technology and should be verified for accuracy before use.
The synthesis of an ultracold four-atom molecule is a blueprint for our understanding of quantum interactions. It carries with it the promise of breakthroughs in numerous applications. As researchers and industries delve deeper into this field, the impact on both science and the global market will continue to unfold, bearing witness to the transformative power of quantum mechanics.
Roman Perkowski is a distinguished name in the field of space exploration technology, specifically known for his work on propulsion systems for interplanetary travel. His innovative research and designs have been crucial in advancing the efficiency and reliability of spacecraft engines. Perkowskis contributions are particularly significant in the development of sustainable and powerful propulsion methods, which are vital for long-duration space missions. His work not only pushes the boundaries of current space travel capabilities but also inspires future generations of scientists and engineers in the quest to explore the far reaches of our solar system and beyond.
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Breakthrough in Quantum Chemistry: The Creation of the Coldest Complex Molecule - yTech
For the 1st Time Scientists Found Experimental Evidence of Graviton-like Particle – IndianWeb2.com
Gravitons are fascinating hypothetical particles that play a pivotal role in our understanding of gravity. These are the fundamental particles that mediate the force of gravitational interaction in the realm of quantum field theory.
In simpler terms, they carry the gravitational force, much like how photons carry the electromagnetic force. When you toss something upward, and it gracefully descends due to gravity, it's essentially the gravitons at work.
Like photons, gravitons are expected to be massless and electrically uncharged. Gravitons too travel at the speed of light, zipping through the fabric of spacetime. Their existence is rooted in the quest for a unified theory that combines quantum mechanics and gravity.
Gravitons are the focus of the search for the "theory of everything", which would unify Einstein's General Relativity (GR) theory of gravity with quantum theory
Gravitons remain elusive and unobserved and continue to intrigue scientists as we seek to unravel the mysteries of gravity and the cosmos.
In a latest however, scientists have glimpsed into graviton-like particles and these particles of gravity have shown their existence in a semiconductor.
An international research team led byChinese scientists has, for the first time, presented experimental evidence of a graviton-like particle called chiral graviton modes (CGMs), with the findings published in the scientific journal Nature on Thursday.
By putting a thin layer of semiconductor under extreme conditions and exciting its electrons to move in concert, researchers from eastern Chinas Nanjing University, the United States and Germany found the electrons to spin in a way that is only expected to exist in gravitons.
Despite the breakthrough, Loren Pfeiffer at Princeton University, who wrote the paper of this findings, said "This is a needle in ahaystack [finding]. And the paper that started this whole thing is from way back in 1993." He wrote that paper with several colleagues including Aron Pinczuk, who passed away in 2022 before they could find hints of the gravitons.
The term "graviton" was coined in 1934 by Soviet physicists Dmitrii Blokhintsev and F. M. Gal'perin. Paul Dirac later reintroduced the term, envisioning that the energy of the gravitational field should come in discrete quantathese quanta he playfully dubbed "gravitons."
Just as Newton anticipated photons, Laplace also foresaw "gravitons," albeit with a greater speed than light and no connection to quantum mechanics or special relativity.
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For the 1st Time Scientists Found Experimental Evidence of Graviton-like Particle - IndianWeb2.com
Strontium Unlocks the Quantum Secrets of Superconductivity – SciTechDaily
Researchers observed the dynamic phases of BCS superconductor interactions in a Cavity QED by measuring the light leakage from the cavity. Credit: Steven Burrows/Rey and Thompson Groups
Superconductivity makes physics seem like magic. At cold temperatures, superconducting materials allow electricity to flow indefinitely while expelling outside magnetic fields, causing them to levitate above magnets. MRIs, maglev trains, and high-energy particle accelerators use superconductivity, which also plays a crucial role in quantum computing, quantum sensors, and quantum measurement science. Someday, superconducting electric grids might deliver power with unprecedented efficiency.
Yet scientists lack full control over conventional superconductors. These solid materials often comprise multiple kinds of atoms in complicated structures that are difficult to manipulate in the lab. Its even harder to study what happens when theres a sudden change, such as a spike in temperature or pressure, that throws the superconductor out of equilibrium.
Quantum theory has predicted intriguing behaviors when a superconductor is driven out of equilibrium. However, it has been challenging to perturb these materials in the lab without disrupting their delicate superconducting properties, leaving these predictions untested.
However, scientists can obtain surprisingly deep insights into superconductivity by studying it with fully controllable arrays of atoms in a gas. That is the approach of a research collaboration at JILA, a joint institute of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Colorado Boulder.
In their latest work, JILA researchers caused a gas of strontium atoms to act like a superconductor. Even though the strontium atoms themselves are not superconducting, they follow the same rules of quantum physics. The researchers could make atoms in a gas interact in a way that preserves the sorts of interactions responsible for superconductivity while suppressing other competing, complex interactions. By throwing the atoms out of equilibrium, the researchers saw changes in atomic interactions that would affect the properties of actual superconductors.
With their strontium gas acting as a quantum simulator, the researchers were able to observe a behavior of superconductors that has been predicted to exist for years. This study, published in Nature, offers new insight into how superconductors work when appropriately driven out of equilibrium, and sheds light on how to make superconductors more robust, and how to use their unique properties in other quantum technologies.
In a normal material, electrons move in an incoherent way, bumping into one another constantly; normally, electrons repel each other. As they move, they collide, losing energy and generating heat; thats why electric currents dissipate when electrons flow in a metallic wire. In a superconductor, however, electrons join up into weakly bonded pairs, called Cooper pairs. When these pairs form, they all tend to move coherently, and that is why they flow through the material with no resistance.
The physics is simple in some sense, explains theoretical physicist Ana Maria Rey, a NIST and JILA Fellow. Cooper pairs exist in a low-energy state because vibrations in the materials crystalline structure pull the electrons together. When formed, Cooper pairs prefer to act coherently and lock together. The Cooper pairs are kind of like arrows that want to line up in the same direction. To unlock them or make one of the arrows point along a different direction, you need to add extra energy to break the Cooper pairs, Rey explains. The energy that you need to add to unlock them is called an energy gap. Stronger interactions between the atoms create a larger energy gap because the attraction that keeps the Cooper pairs locked is so strong. Overcoming that energy gap takes a lot of energy away from the Cooper pairs. So this energy gap acts as a buffer, letting the Cooper pairs remain happily locked in phase.
This all works when the system is in equilibrium. But when you introduce a sudden, rapid change, the superconductor falls out of equilibrium, or becomes quenched. For decades, scientists have wanted to know what happens to superconductivity following a quench that is abrupt but not so strong to completely break the Cooper pairs, said JILA physicist James Thompson.
In other words, how robust are these things? Thompson said.
Theorists predicted three different possibilities or phases that could happen when the superconductor is quenched. Think of it like a big group of square dancers, Thompson says. At first everyone is in sync, keeping to the beat of the music. Then some people get a little tired or some others start moving a little too fast, they crash into each other, and it turns into a mosh pit. Thats Phase I, when superconductivity collapses. In Phase II, the dancers get off the beat, but manage to stay in sync. Superconductivity survives the quench. Scientists have been able to observe and study these two phases.
But they have never seen a long-predicted third phase, in which the superconductivity of the system oscillates over time. In this phase, our dancers will move a bit faster or a bit slower at times, but no one crashes. That means sometimes its a weaker superconductor, and sometimes its a stronger superconductor. Until now, no one had been able to observe that third phase.
Working with Reys theory group, Thompsons team at JILA laser-cooled and loaded strontium atoms into an optical cavity, a space with highly reflective mirrors at either end. Laser light bounces back and forth millions of times before some light leaks out at one end.
The light in the cavity mediated interactions between the atoms, causing them to align into a superposition state meaning they are in both the excited and ground state at the same time and to lock in phase, like Cooper pairs do, Rey explains.
Using lasers, scientists can quench the system, and by measuring the light that leaks out, they learn how the energy gap has changed over time. With this quantum superconductor simulation, they were able to observe all three dynamic phases for the first time.
They found that in the third phase the energy gap can keep superconductivity going even when the system is out of equilibrium. Using quantum simulators like this could help scientists engineer unconventional or more robust superconductors, and better understand the physics of superconductors in general.
Its also a counterintuitive way for scientists who work in measurement science to see atomic interactions, like the ones that cause the energy gap, as a benefit, not a curse.
In measurement science, interactions are usually bad. But here, when interactions are strong, they can help you. The gap protects the system everything flows, Rey says. At the heart of this idea you could have something that oscillates forever.
Having something that oscillates forever is a dream for quantum technology, Thompson adds, because it would let sensors work better for longer. Much like the superconductors, groups of atoms, photons and electrons in quantum sensors need stay in sync, or coherent, to work, and we dont want them to turn into a quantum mosh pit or dephase.
I am stoked that one of the dynamical phases that we observe can be used to protect quantum optical coherence against dephasing. For instance, this may one day allow an optical atomic clock to tick for longer, Thompson said. It represents a whole new way to increase the precision and sensitivity of quantum sensors, a topic that is at the frontier of quantum metrology, or measurement, science. We want to harness the many atoms and take advantage of the interactions to build a better sensor.
Reference: Observing dynamical phases of BCS superconductors in a cavity QED simulator by Dylan J. Young, Anjun Chu, Eric Yilun Song, Diego Barberena, David Wellnitz, Zhijing Niu, Vera M. Schfer, Robert J. Lewis-Swan, Ana Maria Rey and James K. Thompson, 24 January 2024, Nature. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06911-x
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Strontium Unlocks the Quantum Secrets of Superconductivity - SciTechDaily
Design rules and synthesis of quantum memory candidates – EurekAlert
image:
The double perovskite crystal structure of Cs2NaEuF6synthesized in this research.
Credit: The Grainger College of Engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
In the quest to develop quantum computers and networks, there are many components that are fundamentally different than those used today. Like a modern computer, each of these components has different constraints. However, it is currently unclear what materials can be used to construct those components for the transmission and storage of quantum information.
In new research published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign materials science & engineering professor Daniel Shoemaker and graduate student Zachary Riedel used density functional theory (DFT) calculations to identify possible europium (Eu) compounds to serve as a new quantum memory platform. They also synthesized one of the predicted compounds, a brand new, air stable material that is a strong candidate for use in quantum memory, a system for storing quantum states of photons or other entangled particles without destroying the information held by that particle.
The problem that we are trying to tackle here is finding a material that can store that quantum information for a long time. One way to do this is to use ions of rare earth metals, says Shoemaker.
Found at the very bottom of the periodic table, rare earth elements, such as europium, have shown promise for use in quantum information devices due to their unique atomic structures. Specifically, rare earth ions have many electrons densely clustered close to the nucleus of the atom. The excitation of these electrons, from the resting state, can live for a long timeseconds or possibly even hours, an eternity in the world of computing. Such long-lived states are crucial to avoid the loss of quantum information and position rare earth ions as strong candidates for qubits, the fundamental units of quantum information.
Normally in materials engineering, you can go to a database and find what known material should work for a particular application, Shoemaker explains. For example, people have worked for over 200 years to find proper lightweight, high strength materials for different vehicles. But in quantum information, we have only been working at this for a decade or two, so the population of materials is actually very small, and you quickly find yourself in unknown chemical territory.
Shoemaker and Riedel imposed a few rules in their search of possible new materials. First, they wanted to use the ionic configuration Eu3+ (as opposed to the other possible configuration, Eu2+) because it operates at the right optical wavelength. To be written optically, the materials should be transparent. Second, they wanted a material made of other elements that have only one stable isotope. Elements with more than one isotope yield a mixture of different nuclear masses that vibrate at slightly different frequencies, scrambling the information being stored. Third, they wanted a large separation between individual europium ions to limit unintended interactions. Without separation, the large clouds of europium electrons would act like a canopy of leaves in a forest, rather than well-spaced-out trees in a suburban neighborhood, where the rustling of leaves from one tree would gently interact with leaves from another.
With those rules in place, Riedel composed a DFT computational screening to predict which materials could form. Following this screening, Riedel was able to identify new Eu compound candidates, and further, he was able to synthesize the top suggestion from the list, the double perovskite halide Cs2NaEuF6. This new compound is air stable, which means it can be integrated with other components, a critical property in scalable quantum computing. DFT calculations also predicted several other possible compounds that have yet to be synthesized.
We have shown that there are a lot of unknown materials left to be made that are good candidates for quantum information storage, Shoemaker says. And we have shown that we can make them efficiently and predict which ones are going to be stable.
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Daniel Shoemaker is also an affiliate of the Materials Research Laboratory (MRL) and the Illinois Quantum Information Science and Technology Center (IQUIST) at UIUC.
Zachary Riedel is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, National Quantum Information Science Research Center Q-NEXT. The National Science Foundation through the University of Illinois Materials Research Science and Engineering Center supported the use of facilities and instrumentation.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
Design Rules, Accurate Enthalpy Prediction, and Synthesis of Stoichiometric Eu3+ Quantum Memory Candidates
12-Jan-2024
Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.
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Design rules and synthesis of quantum memory candidates - EurekAlert
Quantum physics and the end of naturalism | Bruce L. Gordon – IAI
Naturalism, the idea that there are no gods, spirits, or transcendent meanings, is the leading theory of our time. However, in this instalment of our idealism series, in partnership with the Essentia Foundation, Bruce Gordon argues that quantum mechanics not only beckons the end of naturalism, but also points towards the existence of a transcendent mind.
Naturalism remains a popular philosophy in the academic world. Its articulation varies, so lets be clear what we mean. Theoretical physicist and philosopher Sean Carrolls definition will suffice: Naturalism is a philosophy according to which there is only one worldthe natural world, which exhibits unbroken patterns (the laws of nature), and which we can learn about through hypothesis testing and observation. In particular, there is no supernatural worldno gods, no spirits, no transcendent meanings. Advocates of naturalism tend to regard it as the inevitable accompaniment of a scientific mindset. It seems appropriate, therefore, to undermine it using the most fundamental of sciences: quantum physics.
Given its scientific pretensions, its appropriate that the doctrine that the natural world is self-contained, self-explanatory, and exceptionless is at least falsifiable. All we need is one counterexample to the idea that nature is a closed system of causes and effects, or one clear example of natures non-self-sufficiency, to be justified in rejecting naturalism, yet contrary evidence and considerations abound. Rather than trying to cover the gamut of cosmological fine-tuning, the origin of biological information, the origin and nature of consciousness, and the evidentiary value of near-death experiences, lets focus on the implications of quantum physics as a less familiar aspect of naturalisms failure.
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Particle talk has pragmatic utility in relation to measurement results and macroscopic appearances, but no basis in unobserved (mind-independent) reality.
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Quantum physics sets aside classical conceptions of motion and the interaction of bodies and introduces acts of measurement and probabilities for observational outcomes in an irreducible way not ameliorated by appealing to our limited knowledge. The state of a quantum system is described by an abstract mathematical object called a wave function that only specifies the probability that various observables will have a particular value when measured. These probabilities cant all equal zero or one and measurement results are irreducibly probabilistic, so no sufficient physical reason exists for one outcome being observed rather than another. This absence of sufficient material causality in quantum physics has experimentally confirmed consequences that, as we shall see, put an end to naturalist conceits.
SUGGESTED READING Quantum mechanics makes no sense without the mind By Shan Gao
The delayed-choice quantum eraser experiment provides a good example with which to start. This experiment measures which path a particle took after wave function interference inconsistent with particle behavior has already been created. The interference can be turned off or on by choosing whether or not to measure which way the particle went after the interference already exists. Choosing to look erases wave function interference and gives the system a particle history. The fact that we can make a causally disconnected choice whether wave or particle phenomena manifest in a quantum system demonstrates that no measurement-independent causally-connected substantial material reality exists at the microphysical level.
We see this in other ways too. First, the physically reasonable assumptions that an individual particle, like an electron, cannot serve as an infinite source of energy or be in two places at once, entail that quantum particles have zero probability of existing in any bounded spatial region, no matter how large. Unobserved electrons (for example) dont exist anywhere in space, and thus have no reality apart from measurement. In short, there is no intelligible notion of microscopic material objects: particle talk has pragmatic utility in relation to measurement results and macroscopic appearances, but no basis in unobserved (mind-independent) reality.
Secondly, microphysical properties do not require a physical substrate. Reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland, quantum physics has its own Cheshire Cat in which quantum systems behave like their properties are spatially separated from their positions. For example, an experiment using a neutron interferometer has sent neutrons along one path while their spins follow another. In macroscopic terms, this would be like still having the spin once the top is taken away, having a dance without any dancer, or having a water wave without any water. Under appropriate experimental conditions, quantum systems are decomposable into disembodied propertiesa collection of Cheshire Cat grins.
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While this quantum sea is the basis of our experiential reality, none of the mathematical-structural components of interacting quantum wave functions are materially real.
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But how, then, should we understand the transition between the microscopic and macroscopic worlds? Every quantum wave function is expressible as a superposition of different possibilities (states) in which the thing it describes fails to possess the properties those possibilities specify. No quantum system, microscopic or macroscopic, ever has simultaneously determinate values for all its associated properties. You could think of it this way: imagine a house that, if you were looking at the front, didnt have a back, and vice-versa. Everything we experience with our senses, if we take it to be a mind-independent object rather than just a phenomenological appearance, is metaphysically incomplete. What is more, under special laboratory conditions, we can create macroscopic superpositions of properties that are, classically speaking, inconsistentfor instance, a single object appearing in more than one location simultaneously. Large organic molecules have been put into such superpositions, and Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs) have superposed a billion electrons moving clockwise around a superconducting ring with another billion electrons moving anticlockwise, so that two incompatible macroscopic currents are in superposition.
What this reveals is that the macroscopic stability we normally observe is the product of what physicists call environmental decoherencethe destructive interference of probability waves as quantum systems interact. You can imagine this as two water waves the same size meeting each other from opposite directions. When the crest of one wave meets the trough of the other, there is destructive interference as the waves cancel out and waters surface is momentarily flat and calm. The quantum realm behaves analogously: our experiential world of appearances is cloaked in an illusory stability, while underneath, innumerable probability waves are destructively interfering in a roiling quantum sea.
SUGGESTED VIEWING Beyond Quantum With Gerard 't Hooft
It is important to keep in mind that, while this quantum sea is the basis of our experiential reality, none of the mathematical-structural components of interacting quantum wave functions are materially real. They are mathematical abstractions, a hollow and merely quantitative informational architecture. Speaking of the mathematical framework of physical theory, Robert Adams remarks that [it] is a framework that, by its very nature, needs to be filled in by something less purely formal. It can only be a structure of something of some not merely structural sort it participates in the incompleteness of abstractions [whereas] the reality of a substance must include something intrinsic and qualitative over and above any formal or structural features it may possess. Our experiential reality rests on a quantum-informational construct that is not materially substantial.
As a final observation before nailing the coffin of naturalism shut, in the case of laboratory-created macroscopic superpositions, our conscious self is not in the superposition but rather observing it. We are substantial, but the world of our experience is not. Our mental life transcends quantum reality. While this reality is given to us and not produced by our own consciousness, it is merely phenomenologicalit goes no deeper than the perceptual possibilities across all five of our sensory modalities decohering (destructively interfering) to produce our world.
But why should this be so? When there is no sufficient physical reason why one observation occurs rather than another, why should mere perceptions cohere across our sensory modalities, and why should all of us inhabit the same world? Saying that since no physical explanation is possible, no explanation is required, would be a mistake of disastrous proportions. If there were no reason why we observe one thing rather than another, if the regularities of nature were metaphysically ungrounded, then our current perception of reality and its accompanying memories might be happening for no reason at all. How could we know? No objective probability and hence no likelihood is assignable to something for which there is no explanation, so we couldnt even say this possibility is unlikely.
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Clearly, naturalism is inadequate: it cannot meet the ineluctable explanatory demand. A proper ultimate explanation must terminate upon something that transcends contingent reality and has self-contained existence as its very essence.
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Lets be perfectly clear. If we affirm brute chance by saying that some things can happen for no reason at all, we have deprived ourselves of any basis for deciding which things these are, and they could well include all of the perceptions and beliefs we currently take ourselves to have. This means we dont even know whether were in touch with reality. Were stuck with an irremediable skepticism that deprives our experience of any credibility, not only destroying any basis for doing science, but eliminating the very possibility of our knowing anything at all! Embracing brute chance by denying that every contingent event must have an explanation is the pathway to epistemic nihilism. An explanation must exist.
SUGGESTED READING Reality is not a simulation and why it matters By Marcelo Gleiser
But what could the explanation be? The laws of nature, specifically those of quantum physics, wont suffice. Theyre neither logically nor metaphysically necessary. The reality they describe did not need to exist and they certainly didnt cause its existencein short, they are in need of explanation themselves. Clearly, naturalism is inadequate: it cannot meet the ineluctable explanatory demand. A proper ultimate explanation must terminate upon something that transcends contingent reality and has self-contained existence as its very essence.
The required conclusion is obvious: since every contingent state of affairs requires an explanation, there must exist a transcendent, independent, necessarily existent being the existence of which is explained by its intrinsic necessity. This being is unique, not just because two or more necessary beings is overkill, but because their mutual dependence would create unexplainable contingency. Furthermore, since spacetime and mass-energy are contingent phenomena, this transcendent being must be incorporeal. Finally, in explaining why any reality exists, especially in the absence of a uniquely best reality, a non-arbitrary self-determined decision based on a perfectly ranked and complete set of reasons known to this necessarily existent being must be made. This means the necessary ground for the phenomenological reality of our experience is a transcendent, omniscient Mind. Given such considerations, quantum physics not only shows the falsity of naturalism, it leads to a transcendent form of idealism. Goodbye, Richard Dawkins, and hello, Bishop Berkeley!
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Quantum physics and the end of naturalism | Bruce L. Gordon - IAI
Quantum computing and finance | UDaily – University of Delaware
Article adapted with permission by Karen B. Roberts Photo illustration by Jeffrey C. Chase March 11, 2024
Over the next decade, quantum computers are expected to have a transformative impact on numerous industry sectors, as they surpass the computational capabilities of classical computers. In finance, for example, quantum computing will one day be used to speed banking, make financial predictions and analyze financial patterns and risks.
The technology, however, is still in its infancy.
The University of Delawares Ilya Safro, associate professor and associate chair for graduate studies and research in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences, is part of a team of researchers from industry, academia and the U.S. Department of Energys Argonne National Laboratory that recently published a primer on quantum computing and finance.
The paper, published in Nature Reviews Physics, summarizes the current state of the art in quantum computing for financial applications and outlines advantages and limitations over classical computing techniques used by the financial industry. It also sheds light on some of the challenges that still need to be addressed for quantum computing to be used in this way.
It's an important topic across the world and at UD, which is among the first institutions in the United States to offer an interdisciplinary graduate degree program in quantum science and engineering.
The work, facilitated by the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) and led by a team that includes UD, Argonne, JPMorgan Chase and University of Chicago scientists, lays groundwork for future applications and highlights the need for cross-sector collaboration. Other partners include Fujitsu Research of America, Inc., and Menten AI.
The hope, Safro said, is to bring the financial world to what is called practical quantum advantage, where processes are faster, more accurate and more energy efficient.
Finance is an area where even a small improvement will be felt literally in dollars, said Safro. Even a tiny improvement at the level of economy will be very significant. For example, it may amplify efficiencies across entire industries, leading to substantial cost reductions, enhanced productivity or more sustainable practices.
This is one reason finance is considered a major beneficiary of quantum computing.
Written for researchers who arent necessarily quantum computing experts, the team views the primer as a one-stop resource on the use of quantum computers to accelerate solutions for the finance sector. The paper discusses challenges in three categories at the intersection of finance and computing: optimization, machine learning and stochastic modeling.
We got together as a group of researchers from different institutions to better understand the state of the art of quantum computing for financial applications, said Marco Pistoia, head of Global Technology Applied Research at JPMorgan Chase. We wanted this to be appreciated by a larger audience. Our paper can be the starting point for researchers to better understand the landscape and then dive deeper in the areas that theyre interested in.
Quantum computing harnesses features of physics at the level of the atom to perform computations at speeds that leave traditional computing in the dust. In some cases, a quantum computer will be able to calculate in a few minutes what it would take a supercomputer 10,000 years to run.
The upside of quantum computing is absolutely humongous, said Argonne scientist Yuri Alexeev, one of the reports co-authors. Were talking about a potential speedup of millions of times for solving certain problems.
It is precisely the advantage of supersonic speed that finance experts are interested in.
In the financial world, time and accuracy are of the essence, Alexeev said. Getting solutions quickly can have huge benefits.
This could apply to everything from improving portfolio management to optimizing investment strategies to advancing the speedy detection of credit card fraud, to name just a few examples.
All these problems sound very general, but in fact, they are mathematical problems. Moreover, many of them are mathematical optimization problems, said Safro, whose expertise is in algorithms and models for quantum computing, machine learning and artificial intelligence systems, with a focus on natural language processing.
The three categories of challenges the paper discusses optimization, machine learning and stochastic modeling are at the intersection of finance and computing.
Optimization refers to methods for rapidly obtaining the best solution to a problem. For example, financial companies could use quantum computers to rapidly select assets that would provide the maximum return on a customers investment with minimal risk.
The second category, machine learning, is already a part of many financial institutions toolkits. In machine learning, computers draw on massive data sets to make predictions about various behaviors, such as patterns in the stock market. Combining quantum algorithms with machine learning can massively speed up those predictions.
The third category, stochastic modeling, is used across the sciences to predict the spread of disease, the evolution of a chemical reaction, or weather patterns. The mathematical technique models complex processes by making random changes to a variable and observing how the process responds to the changes. The method is used in finance, for instance, to describe the evolution of stock prices and interest rates. With the power of quantum computing behind it, stochastic modeling can provide faster and more accurate predictions about the market.
As the Nature Reviews Physics report makes clear, there is no shortage of finance challenges for quantum computers to tackle. Training the future workforce is a key part of solving future challenges.
UD is among the first higher-education institutions in the country to offer graduate and doctorate-level degrees in quantum science and engineering. Launched in 2023, the UD program offers three tracks: quantum nanotechnology, quantum theory or quantum algorithms and computation. Housed within the Universitys Graduate College, the interdisciplinary program is designed to equip next-generation quantum experts with skills expected to be in high demand, including algorithms, theoretical physics, engineering and nanoscale science.
According to Safro, one of the things that makes the field and ongoing research in this area exciting is the unknown.
Currently, there is no one specific quantum technology that we know for sure will take over the market, he said.
This means that multiple quantum technologies and vendors must compete to scale up quantum hardware, making it more powerful, reliable and accessible for broad use in scientific research to practical applications for a variety of industries.
Once researchers demonstrate practical scalability of quantum computing devices in one of these technologies, we will have an exact roadmap of how we build bigger and bigger quantum computers to tackle very large, real-world problems and how to hybridize them with classical supercomputers, Safro continued. With this literal breakthrough, I think the number of available jobs in quantum computing will explode, similar to what we have seen today with artificial intelligence.
This research was facilitated by the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE), an intellectual hub that brings together academia, government, and industry to advance quantum research, train the future quantum workforce and drive the quantum economy. Argonne and UChicago are founding members of the CQE, which is also anchored by DOEs Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of WisconsinMadison and Northwestern University. JPMorgan Chase is a CQE corporate partner.
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Quantum computing and finance | UDaily - University of Delaware
Protecting quantum computers from adversarial attacks – Innovation News Network
The solution, Quantum Noise Injection for Adversarial Defence (QNAD), counteracts the impact of adversarial attacks designed to disrupt the interference of quantum computers. This is AIs ability to make decisions or solve tasks.
Adversarial attacks designed to disrupt AI inference have the potential for serious consequences, said Dr Kanad Basu, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science.
The work will be presented at the IEEE International Symposium on Hardware Oriented Security and Trust on 6-9 May in Washington, DC.
Quantum computers can solve several complex problems exponentially faster than classical computers. The emerging technology uses quantum mechanics and is expected to improve AI applications and solve complex computational problems.
Qubits represent the fundamental unit of information in quantum computers, like bits in traditional computers.
In classical computers, bits represent 1 or 0. However, qubits take advantage of the principle of superposition and can, therefore, be in a state of 0 and 1. By representing two states, quantum computers have greater speed compared to traditional computers.
For example, quantum computers have the potential to break highly secure encryption systems due to their computer power.
Despite their advantages, quantum computers are vulnerable to adversarial attacks.
Due to factors such as temperature fluctuations, magnetic fields, and imperfections in hardware components, quantum computers are susceptible to noise or interference.
Quantum computers are also prone to unintended interactions between qubits.
These challenges can cause computing errors.
The researchers leveraged intrinsic quantum noise and crosstalk to counteract adversarial attacks.
The method introduced crosstalk into the quantum neural network. This is a form of Machine Learning where datasets train computers to perform tasks. This includes detecting objects like stop signs or other computer vision responsibilities.
The noisy behaviour of quantum computers actually reduces the impact of attacks, said Basu, who is senior author of the study. We believe this is a first-of-its-kind approach that can supplement other defences against adversarial attacks.
The researchers revealed that during an adversarial attack, the AI application was 268% more accurate with QNAD than without it.
The approach is designed to supplement other techniques to protect quantum computer security.
In case of a crash, if we do not wear the seat belt, the impact of the accident is much greater, Shamik Kundu, a computer engineering doctoral student and a first co-author, said.
On the other hand, if we wear the seat belt, even if there is an accident, the impact of the crash is lessened. The QNAD framework operates akin to a seat belt, diminishing the impact of adversarial attacks, which symbolise the accident, for a QNN model.
The research was funded by the National Science Foundation.
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Protecting quantum computers from adversarial attacks - Innovation News Network
How one theory ties together everything we know about the universe – New Scientist
You can sip your coffee thanks to the fundamental forces of nature
Vladimir Arndt / Alamy
The following is an extract from our Lost in Space-Time newsletter. Each month, wehand over the keyboard to a physicist or mathematician to tell you about fascinating ideas from their corner of the universe. You can sign up for Lost in Space-Time for freehere.
Though our world is bewildering in its diversity, all known natural phenomena can be classified into just a few categories.Four of these gravitational, electromagnetic, strong nuclear and weak nuclear are
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How one theory ties together everything we know about the universe - New Scientist