Quantum News Briefs February 8, 2024:
SemiQon and CMC Microsystems announce a collaboration to accelerate development and access to quantum computing with silicon-based processors
In a significant move to push the boundaries of quantum computing, SemiQon from Finland and Canada’s CMC Microsystems have embarked on a collaborative journey to develop silicon-based quantum processor technology. Announced on February 7, 2024, this partnership aims to harness SemiQon’s innovative semiconductor quantum processors, providing prototypes to CMC for research and development towards creating more potent quantum computers capable of achieving the million-qubit milestone. Leveraging silicon, a more scalable, affordable, and sustainable material compared to traditional atom or superconductor-based quantum processors, this collaboration addresses the critical challenges of quantum computing’s global advancement. With both nations holding aligned quantum computing roadmaps, the synergy between SemiQon’s scalable technology and CMC’s four-decade expertise in semiconductor services and quantum platforms promises a significant leap forward in making quantum computing more accessible and impactful across various sectors worldwide.
Projects by memQ and Argonne National Laboratory develop new techniques for making qubits out of erbium
Researchers from startups, government labs, and academia have developed innovative techniques for creating qubits out of erbium, marking a significant advancement in quantum technology. The quantum startup memQ, spun out of the University of Chicago, and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory have each utilized different host materials for erbium, demonstrating the element’s versatility and potential in quantum computing and communication, working with the University of Chicago . MemQ’s method uses a laser to selectively activate erbium qubits within a titanium dioxide (TiO2) crystal, enabling more effective design and control of multi-qubit devices. This approach allows scientists to choose specific erbium atoms to function as qubits by altering the crystal structure around them, thereby facilitating communication at a uniform frequency. On the other hand, Argonne’s research focused on achieving long coherence times for erbium qubits by embedding them in cerium dioxide (CeO2), a material with a highly symmetric crystal structure that enhances qubit stability. These groundbreaking developments underscore the critical role of materials science in the progress of quantum technology, offering new pathways for engineering quantum devices with enhanced performance and reliability.
Stony Brook University Research Team and Qunnect Inc. Take Major Step Toward a Functioning Quantum Internet
A team of physicists from Stony Brook University, in collaboration with other researchers, has made a pivotal advancement in quantum networking by demonstrating a key quantum network measurement with room-temperature quantum memories, a critical step toward establishing a quantum internet testbed. Published in the Nature journal Quantum Information, their research underpins the development of a quantum internet. It aims to enable unhackable communication and solve complex problems vastly faster than current internet systems by leveraging quantum states and entanglement. Unlike traditional quantum research requiring near-absolute zero temperatures, this team’s quantum hardware operates at room temperature, significantly reducing costs and operational complexities. This breakthrough, which also involves demonstrated memory-assisted entanglement swapping and synchronization of photon retrieval, marks a significant milestone toward building quantum repeaters capable of distributing entanglement over long distances. The Stony Brook team, along with their collaborators, including Qunnect, Inc. and the University of Padova, are pushing the boundaries of quantum internet development, with their efforts potentially revolutionizing secure communication and computational capabilities globally.
In Other News: New Scientist article: “Quantum computer uses a time crystal as a control dial”
Researchers have successfully created a time crystal within a quantum computer, achieving a significant breakthrough in stabilizing fragile quantum states akin to Schrödinger’s cat, according to an article New Scientist. Time crystals, a concept first proposed by Nobel laureate Frank Wilczek in 2012, are an unusual state of matter that oscillates between two configurations indefinitely without requiring energy input, challenging traditional physics laws. This development in quantum computing harnesses the unique properties of time crystals to enhance the stability of quantum systems, potentially giving quantum computers an advantage over their classical counterparts. Creating time crystals in laboratory settings marks a pivotal advancement in quantum research, opening new avenues for developing more robust and reliable quantum computing technologies.
In Other News: Investor Place article: “The 3 Most Undervalued Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy in February 2024”
In February 2024, investors are being guided towards undervalued quantum computing stocks as potential goldmines for substantial future gains, despite the S&P 500 and Nasdaq experiencing pullbacks after a significant rally in 2023, states a recent Investor Place article. IonQ (IONQ), Nvidia (NVDA), and Microsoft (MSFT) are spotlighted as key players in this emerging field, with each company uniquely positioned to capitalize on the quantum computing revolution. IonQ, leveraging trapped ions for quantum computing, is forecasted to surge revenue and achieve breakeven profitability by FY2027, buoyed by partnerships like that with Amazon’s Braket Direct program. Nvidia is enhancing quantum application development through its DGX Quantum project and QODA, aiming to marry quantum and classical computing’s strengths. Microsoft continues to advance in the quantum computing arena with its Q# development kit, aiming to set industry standards and achieve milestones in quantum algorithm execution and error handling. These companies represent strategic investment opportunities in the burgeoning quantum computing sector, promising to drive forward technological advancements and offering investors a chance at significant returns.
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry is the Managing Editor at Inside Quantum Technology and the Science Communicator at JILA (a partnership between the University of Colorado Boulder and NIST). Her writing beats include deep tech, quantum computing, and AI. Her work has been featured in National Geographic, Scientific American, Discover Magazine, New Scientist, Ars Technica, and more.