IBM has deployed more quantum computers at its quantum data center in New York according to Dan Swinhoe in his September 30 article in Data Center Dynamics.
The company recently announced the completion of its latest expansion of the IBM Quantum Data Center in Poughkeepsie, New York, with the installation of a second IBM Heron processor-based system.
“Since IBM made the first quantum computer available on the cloud in 2016, we have broken barriers across quantum hardware and software to build our largest and highest-performing fleet of globally accessible quantum systems,” said Jay Gambetta, VP at IBM Quantum.
IBM said the Poughkeepsie sites operates the highest number of utility-scale quantum computers at a single location in the world. Introduced late last year, IBM’s Heron quantum processors offer 156 qubits.
Quantum News Briefs September 30: U of Waterloo Achieves ‘Impossible Task’ of Controlling Light in Quantum Computing • G7 Cyber Expert Group Highlights Cybersecurity Risks from Quantum Computing • Queensland Government Invests AU$53M in Quantum and Advanced Tech • IBM Installs More Quantum Computers at New York Campus
University of Waterloo Scientists Achieve ‘Impossible Task’ of Controlling Light in Quantum Computing
A team of researchers at the University of Waterloo, Canada has cracked a way to control laser light used in manipulating qubits, which are the building blocks of quantum information as reported by Akash Pandey on September 28 in NewsBytes. This is important because it solves one of the toughest problems in quantum science: keeping qubits safe during their reset, measurement, or deletion. They also managed to measure and reset a trapped ion qubit without interfering with the ones nearby.
The researchers brought together two technologies—ion trap qubits and beam holographic shaping—to manage laser light in a way that it doesn’t interfere with other qubits when one’s at work. This method keeps the light laser-focused on its target and prevents it from spilling over to other qubits, keeping them safe and sound.
The team’s experiment was a success. They successfully controlled and contained scattered photons, ensuring that neighboring qubits stayed safe from any disturbance or damage. This is an important achievement, as it was previously believed to be nearly impossible to measure a single qubit without impacting the qubits in the surrounding.
G7 Cyber Expert Group Highlights Cybersecurity Risks from Quantum Computing
The G7 Cyber Expert Group (CEG) highlighted the potential cybersecurity risks to financial firms from developments in quantum computing in a recent statement according to September 27 FinancialRegNews article by Daniel
The group, chaired by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Bank of England, also recommended steps financial authorities and institutions can take to address those risks.
“The G7 CEG looks to help support the responsible use of emerging technologies like Cloud, AI, and Quantum in the financial sector while balancing the risks to the global economy,” Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection Todd Conklin, co-chair to the G7 CEG, said. (The G7 CEG was founded in 2015 to serve as a multi-year working group that coordinates cybersecurity policy and strategy across the member jurisdictions.)
Recently, an initial set of quantum-resilient encryption standards were released by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Additional standards from NIST and other standard-setting bodies are expected in the future.
The G7 CEG recommends that financial authorities and institutions take steps now to build resilience against quantum computing risks.
OpenGov reports “Queensland Government Invests AU$53M in Quantum and Advanced Tech”
The Queensland Government has announced AU$53 million in funding for five grant programmes aimed at advancing quantum and related technologies as reported by Alita Sharon in September 30 OpenGov.
The funding, part of the Queensland Quantum and Advanced Technologies Strategy, is intended to support research and development in fields such as quantum computing, new materials, and biomedicine, with applications spanning various sectors.
The largest portion of this funding, AU$28.1 million, is allocated to the Quantum and Advanced Technologies Commercialisation Infrastructure Program. This initiative will establish six new cutting-edge facilities that will bolster research and commercialisation capabilities in the state. The facilities are expected to support the development and manufacturing of semiconductor devices, cryogenics-based quantum sensing and computing components, as well as advanced photonics technology.
In addition to this major infrastructure investment, AU$10 million has been directed to the establishment of the Queensland Quantum Decarbonisation Alliance.
