Quantum News Briefs: March 19, 2024: LightSolver LPU100 Laser Computing System Empowers Enterprises to Solve the Toughest Optimization; D-Wave appoints Chief Revenue Officer and Chief Development Officer; Quantum eMotion Partners with The Platform for Digital and Quantum Innovation (PINQ2) for Testing its Security Platform using IBM Quantum Computer Powered Simulated Attacks; Zapata AI Expected to Trade on the Nasdaq Under Ticker Symbol ZPTA; Infleqtion Uses NVIDIA-enabled Quantum Computing for Enhanced Cybersecurity; Jülich Supercomputing Centre Acquires New 5-Qubit Quantum System from IQM to Advance Research; UMass Amherst Researchers Join $26 million Quantum Computing Efforts to Build the Internet of the Future; The Race to Build a Quantum Computer Is Paved With Gold – Says IDTechEx; “QC’s Finest: The 3 Most Fundamentally Sound Quantum Computing Stocks”; and MORE!
Quantum News Briefs: March 19, 2024:
LightSolver LPU100 Laser Computing System Empowers Enterprises to Solve the Toughest Optimization Problems
LightSolver has introduced the LPU100, a novel laser-based computing system that significantly enhances high-performance computing using 100 lasers to address complex optimization problems, offering a faster alternative to quantum and supercomputers. The LPU100, accessible via a new cloud platform, utilizes an all-optical approach to perform mathematical operations rapidly, boasting a capability to handle problems with up to 1M variables. It is designed to operate under ambient conditions, resembling the size of a conventional desktop computer, and can complete tasks such as vector-matrix multiplication in just 10 nanoseconds. This innovation caters to various industries, including logistics, manufacturing, aerospace, and finance, by facilitating improved decision-making and optimization processes. LightSolver’s breakthrough has garnered interest from major financial institutions for its potential to enhance revenue and mitigate risks. The technology has already shown superior performance in logistics optimization challenges, positioning LightSolver as a scalable and practical solution for businesses seeking to leverage advanced computing capabilities.
D-Wave appoints Chief Revenue Officer and Chief Development Officer
D-Wave, a pioneer in quantum computing and the world’s first commercial provider of quantum computers, announced today the expansion of its executive team with the appointment of Lorenzo Martinelli as Chief Revenue Officer and Dr. Trevor Lanting as Chief Development Officer. With a 30-year track record of guiding startups to IPO and extensive experience in leadership roles at companies such as QAD DynaSys and IBM, Martinelli will oversee sales, marketing, professional services, and customer success, integral to the company’s new go-to-market strategy. Dr. Lanting, previously the Senior Vice President of Software, Algorithms, and Cloud Services at D-Wave, will now lead the product innovation roadmap, covering the company’s entire quantum computing hardware and software solutions, including the Leap real-time quantum cloud service and the ongoing development of the Advantage and Advantage2 annealing quantum computing systems. This strategic expansion bolsters D-Wave’s quantum computing innovation and market reach leadership.
Quantum eMotion Partners with The Platform for Digital and Quantum Innovation (PINQ2) for Testing its Security Platform using IBM Quantum Computer Powered Simulated Attacks
Quantum eMotion Corp. has formed a strategic partnership with The Platform for Digital and Quantum Innovation (PINQ2), an initiative backed by Quebec’s Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy and the Université de Sherbrooke, to bolster its security platform against advanced threats, including those from simulated quantum computer attacks using IBM Quantum’s Qiskit platform. This collaboration is set to evaluate and enhance the resilience of Quantum eMotion’s security solutions, including the Kyber algorithm and Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG), against quantum computing threats. The partnership signifies a pivotal step in Quantum eMotion’s aim to establish an open-source test bed for post-quantum security solutions, marking a significant advancement in the development of quantum-resistant security technologies. Through rigorous testing and analysis facilitated by PINQ2’s exclusive operation of Canada’s first 127-qubit IBM Quantum System One, this endeavor aims to fortify Quantum eMotion’s platform against emerging cybersecurity challenges, underscoring a shared commitment to innovation and the advancement of quantum-resistant security solutions.
Zapata AI Expected to Trade on the Nasdaq Under Ticker Symbol ZPTA
Andretti Acquisition Corp. announced its upcoming business combination with Zapata Computing, Inc., a leading industrial generative AI company, aiming to list the merged entity on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbols “ZPTA” for common stock and “ZPTAW” for public warrants. This move highlights Zapata AI’s advancement and its recognition as a high-growth technology entity, with CEO Christopher Savoie emphasizing Nasdaq as the ideal platform for the company’s future, enhancing its credibility among its notable customer base, which includes giants like BASF and BP. Zapata AI, known for developing AI solutions to tackle complex problems for enterprise and government clients, plans to leverage its public status to propel innovation, customer acquisition, and its growth strategy. Meanwhile, Andretti will cease trading on the NYSE, transitioning to Nasdaq following the business combination, marking a significant step in its journey without necessitating any action from its current shareholders and warrant holders.
Infleqtion Uses NVIDIA-enabled Quantum Computing for Enhanced Cybersecurity
At Defence Cyber Marvel 3 (DCM3), Europe’s largest cyber exercise, Infleqtion showcased the transformative potential of NVIDIA-enabled quantum computing in cybersecurity. This event, which ran from February 11 to 16, brought together representatives from defense, government, industry, and international allies to engage in simulated cyber threat scenarios, highlighting the critical role of quantum computing and AI in enhancing data defense mechanisms. Infleqtion, as the exercise’s lead quantum innovator, demonstrated its Superstaq quantum software platform, leveraging NVIDIA technology to address complex cybersecurity challenges effectively. The collaboration focused on quantum-secured data and the Supercheq protocol for creating “quantum fingerprints,” offering a glimpse into the future of secure and efficient data management. With the support of NVIDIA GPUs and cuQuantum, Infleqtion’s efforts at DCM3 underscore the accelerated potential of quantum computing in safeguarding critical information, setting the stage for future advancements in quantum technology and cybersecurity.
Jülich Supercomputing Centre Acquires New 5-Qubit Quantum System from IQM to Advance Research
Forschungszentrum Jülich is set to enhance its quantum computing capabilities by acquiring a 5-qubit quantum system from IQM Quantum Computers, a German–Finnish manufacturer. Scheduled to become operational in July 2024 within the JUNIQ quantum computing infrastructure, the IQM Spark quantum computer will be integrated with Jülich Supercomputing Centre’s (JSC) classical supercomputers. This integration explores how quantum computing can expedite calculations traditionally performed on classical supercomputers, particularly in transport, finance, and chemical simulation. Designed for basic experiments and educational use, the cost-effective IQM Spark is tailored for easy expansion and connectivity, aligning with JUNIQ’s goal to foster quantum-classical hybrid computing systems. This move is expected to significantly advance quantum computing research and applications across Germany and Europe, leveraging JSC’s ambition to build a leading quantum computing community and IQM’s commitment to supporting this with technical expertise and innovative technology.
UMass Amherst Researchers Join $26 million Quantum Computing Efforts to Build the Internet of the Future
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is making significant strides in quantum computing under Don Towsley, a Distinguished Professor at the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences. In collaboration with the College of Engineering, Towsley’s team is at the forefront of designing the infrastructure necessary for city-scale quantum networks as part of the Center for Quantum Networks, a major initiative led by the University of Arizona with $26 million in funding from the National Science Foundation. Quantum computing, leveraging “qubits” capable of representing quantum states for enhanced computing power, holds promise for breakthroughs like drug discovery, cryptography, and scientific simulations. The UMass Amherst team is tackling the challenges of transmitting qubits securely over quantum networks, aiming to integrate quantum computers into a quantum internet for digital security and computational power boosts. This effort is bolstered by significant support, including a $5 million donation towards a center of excellence at UMass Amherst for quantum information systems research, highlighting the institution’s key role in advancing quantum computing and network security.
Stony Brook University and Brookhaven Lab Scientists “Crack the Quantum Code”
Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory and Stony Brook University, led by theorist Dmitri Kharzeev, have conducted quantum simulations to delve into the phenomenon of entanglement, a fundamental aspect of quantum mechanics where particles remain correlated despite vast distances. Their research, aiming to understand entanglement within jets of secondary particles from high-energy collisions, used quantum code on classical supercomputers to reveal strong, though short-distance, entanglement correlations. This work, described in Physical Review Letters, advances theoretical understanding and sets the stage for experimental verification in particle colliders like the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider and the Large Hadron Collider. Additionally, it showcases the potential of existing computing resources to simulate quantum phenomena, marking a significant step toward integrating quantum simulations into mainstream scientific research and potentially improving quantum computer performance through enhanced error mitigation efforts. This pioneering study highlights the intricate dance of quantum particles and offers insights into leveraging classical computing power for quantum research, supported by the DOE Office of Science.
The Race to Build a Quantum Computer Is Paved With Gold – Says IDTechEx
According to a new IDTechEx report, the quantum computing industry is witnessing rapid advancements and substantial investment, highlighted by funding rounds exceeding US$100 million and a quadrupling in the number of companies developing quantum computer hardware over the last decade. As these companies transition from laboratory experiments to commercial products, they face the challenge of scaling up the number of logical, error-corrected qubits – a critical factor for achieving a meaningful computational advantage over classical computers. Despite the current leaders in the field operating with 1 to 50 logical qubits, thousands will be necessary for significant progress. The market is competitive, not just among companies but also between different quantum computing technologies, including superconducting, silicon-spin, and trapped-ion methods, each with its own challenges in scalability, error reduction, and infrastructure requirements. Yet, the sector continues to grow in revenue, driven by early-stage machines installed for research and the potential economic and national security benefits. Government involvement and the potential for substantial returns indicate a promising future despite the long journey ahead to commercial viability. IDTechEx‘s report, “Quantum Computing Market 2024-2044,” provides a comprehensive analysis of these technologies, forecasting a market growth of US$800M by 2034, fueled by applications in various industries and the increasing installation of quantum computers in data centers and research institutes
MIT’s iQuHACK Brings a Community of Quantum Enthusiasts
At the MIT Interdisciplinary Quantum Hackathon (iQuHACK), a vibrant community of “quhackers” convened both online and in-person at MIT to explore and expand the frontiers of quantum computing. Over three days in February, participants from 77 countries worked on diverse projects, from a quantum-powered dating service to an organ donor matching app, leveraging real quantum computers and simulators. The hackathon, led by co-chairs Alessandro Buzzi and Daniela Zaidenberg, became a melting pot for ideas, with 260 in-person and 1,000 remote quhackers engaging in challenges set by the event’s sponsors. These challenges, aimed at improving quantum computing performance and exploring its application in various fields, offered quhackers an opportunity to directly influence quantum platform development. Notably, projects like the MITqute dating platform demonstrated the unique capabilities of quantum algorithms in providing more flexible and inclusive matching systems. Beyond the technical achievements, iQuHACK fostered a strong sense of community and collaboration, inspiring attendees to continue exploring quantum computing’s potential and sparking the formation of quantum computing clubs and initiatives at universities worldwide.
In Other News: Investor Place article: “QC’s Finest: The 3 Most Fundamentally Sound Quantum Computing Stocks”
Quantum computing, poised for exponential growth with forecasts suggesting annual growth rates above 35% beyond 2030, offers investors a high-potential yet risky avenue due to the nascent stage of many companies in the field, highlights a recent Investor Place article. Amidst this backdrop, investors are advised to focus on the most fundamentally sound quantum computing stocks to safeguard their investments while capitalizing on future growth. Leading the pack in this regard are FormFactor (FORM), IBM (IBM), and Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL), each representing a robust investment opportunity with solid footing in the quantum computing space. FormFactor stands out as a near pure-play investment, thanks to its critical cryogenic systems for quantum computing, while IBM boasts a growing network of quantum systems worldwide, indicating its deep commitment to quantum innovation. Alphabet’s ambitious goal to build a quantum computer with 1 million physical qubits further underscores these companies’ serious investments and potential in reshaping computing’s future, making them standout choices for investors looking to dive into quantum computing stocks.
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.
