Quantum News Briefs: January 9, 2023: Infleqtion Adds Six Industry Experts to its Board of Directors, Advisory Board, and Leadership Team; Scientists propel “Star Trek” tech into reality with quantum teleportation breakthrough; First graphene semiconductor could fuel future quantum computers; 3 Quantum Computing Stocks to Make You the Millionaire Next Door: 2024 Edition; and MORE!
Quantum News Briefs: January 9, 2023:
Infleqtion Adds Six Industry Experts to its Board of Directors, Advisory Board, and Leadership Team
Infleqtion, a leading quantum information company, has announced the expansion of its leadership by adding six experts to its Board of Directors, Advisory Board, and executive team. This strategic move comes as the company continues to advance in the field of quantum technology, following significant achievements in 2023, such as participating in Japan’s Quantum Moonshot program and launching the world’s first quantum matter service, Oqtant. The new team members, including veterans from the semiconductor, government, and academic sectors, will play a crucial role in guiding Infleqtion’s growth and innovation. The company’s CEO, Scott Faris, will further outline Infleqtion’s ambitious plans for 2024 in an upcoming industry webinar. These plans include exceeding their 2023 record bookings and delivering cutting-edge technology solutions in key markets like healthcare, financial services, defense, and communications, signaling a strong year ahead in both commercial and defense sectors.
Scientists propel “Star Trek” tech into reality with quantum teleportation breakthrough
In an achievement bridging science fiction and reality, scientists have made a significant leap towards actual teleportation, reminiscent of the technology seen in Star Trek. This groundbreaking research, a collaborative effort by teams from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and The Institute of Photonic Sciences in Spain, has successfully “teleported” images across a network using advanced quantum communication. Without physical data transfer, this method relies on quantum physics to transmit intricate information, such as fingerprints and facial features. Central to this achievement is a novel “teleportation-inspired configuration” and a nonlinear optical detector that efficiently eliminates the need for excess photons. This technology promises profound implications, particularly in the banking sector, where it could revolutionize security by allowing the transfer of sensitive data like fingerprints without direct physical transmission, thereby minimizing the risk of interception by hackers. However, the researchers, including Dr. Adam Vallés and Professor Andrew Forbes, advocate for cautious optimism. They acknowledge current limitations, like the requirement of a bright laser beam for the detector’s efficiency and the possibility of a deceptive sender retaining superior copies of the data, which underscores the nascent stage of this technology in achieving full quantum implementation.
First graphene semiconductor could fuel future quantum computers
Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology have created the world’s first functional graphene-based semiconductor, potentially revolutionizing the future of computing technology. Published in Nature on January 3, the study introduces a new semiconducting material crafted from epitaxial graphene, which is more efficient than traditional silicon due to its higher electron mobility, allowing transistors to operate at terahertz frequencies—ten times faster than current silicon-based transistors. This advancement overcomes the limitations of silicon, which include maximum transistor speed, heat generation, and miniaturization. Despite graphene’s superior conductivity, its use in electronics was previously hindered by the absence of a “band gap,” essential for transistor switching. The researchers successfully navigated this challenge by doping graphene on silicon carbide, preserving its remarkable properties while introducing the band gap. This graphene semiconductor is not only groundbreaking but also compatible with existing manufacturing processes and holds promise for future applications in quantum computing, where its quantum mechanical properties can be harnessed, particularly at very low temperatures. This development marks a significant step in overcoming the plateau in computing advancements and opens new avenues for faster and more efficient computing technologies.
In Other News: Physics World article: “Unifying gravity and quantum mechanics without the need for quantum gravity”
A Physics World article reports that Jonathan Oppenheim from University College London has proposed a new theoretical framework to bridge the gap between quantum mechanics and classical gravity, challenging the long-standing pursuit of a quantum gravity theory. His approach maintains gravity as a classical force while integrating it with the quantum world through a stochastic mechanism. This is a significant departure from the prevailing view that gravity needs to be quantized. This innovative theory, described in Physical Review X, tackles the inconsistency between Einstein’s general theory of relativity, which accounts for gravity, and quantum theory, which explains virtually all other physical phenomena. The fundamental discord arises from quantum theory treating space-time as fixed, while general relativity views it as dynamically influenced by mass. Oppenheim’s model bypasses this issue by suggesting that the interaction between quantum mechanics and gravity could be random, probabilistic, rather than deterministic. This stochastic framework allows for a ‘classical quantum state’ that accommodates the unique rules of quantum mechanics and classical gravity, potentially aligning these realms without violating core principles like Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. This approach could also open new avenues in understanding the relationship between general relativity and quantum field theory. However, the theory is not without its critics, as some physicists find the idea of quantum information loss in black holes, as implied by Oppenheim’s framework, problematic.
In Other News: Investor Place article: “3 Quantum Computing Stocks to Make You the Millionaire Next Door: 2024 Edition”
Quantum computing stocks are emerging as lucrative investments, with companies like IonQ, FormFactor, and Quantum Computing (QUBT) at the forefront a recent Investor Place article highlights. IonQ, listed as IONQ on NYSE, has developed the IonQ Forte quantum computer and is gaining attention for its strong performance despite its volatility. Its share price significantly rose in 2023, indicating substantial investor interest. FormFactor (FORM), a semiconductor company, presents a diversified investment option in this sector. While not primarily a quantum computing firm, FormFactor’s involvement in semiconductor testing and releasing a quantum computing chip makes it a compelling choice. Its financial performance has been mixed, with better-than-expected earnings but slightly lower revenues. Lastly, Quantum Computing (NASDAQ: QUBT) stands out for its potential to generate high returns, albeit being a smaller company with modest revenue. It has shown significant progress by releasing products, making its first hardware sale, and building a quantum chip facility. The company’s growing relationship with NASA and the possibility of securing large contracts in the future underscores its promising prospects. Overall, the quantum computing sector is expected to experience rapid growth, making these stocks potentially valuable for investors seeking substantial future returns.
