Commentary and a selection of the most important recent news, articles, and papers about Quantum.
Today, we look at quantum sensing and communication, material simulation, and continuous-variable approaches for analog quantum computing.
Today’s Brief Commentary
Here’s a story idea for journalists: Given the gate-and-circuit “digital” model of hashtag#quantumcomputing,
ask vendors two things about their eventual implementations:
At the time you eventually have 1,000 fully connected logical qubits, where we generously define a logical qubit
as having logical error rates of no more than 10-6 = 0.000001 = 1 in a million,
- What do you estimate your system’s 3D space requirements will be? That is, how much room will it take up?
- What do you estimate the power consumption will be?
Bonus question: What will your estimated cost per qubit be to construct such a system?
General News, Articles, and Analyses
QUAntum Sensing for Humanity (QUASH) event brings together builders and users of quantum sensors | California NanoSystems Institute
Author: Nicole Wilkins
Commentary: This article highlights an important aspect regarding quantum sensing: it’s not just for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) and RF receivers. There are medical uses such as MRI and applications for detecting contaminants in air and water.
(Monday, October 7, 2024) “This team is addressing one of the greatest problems of our generation – how to track and to respond to a rapidly changing climate. Through the group’s discussion, a quantum sensor network to understand atmospheric chemistries, aerosols, and climate variables, may hold the key.”
Toyota and Xanadu Collaborate to Pioneer Quantum Computing Applications in Materials Simulations
(Tuesday, October 8, 2024) “Toyota Research Institute of North America (TRINA) and Xanadu, a leader in quantum computing, have launched a new project to harness the power of quantum computing in advancing materials science simulations. This collaboration focuses on developing quantum algorithms to improve the design, characterization, and optimization of complex materials, including those with desired quantum properties critical for future mobilities. The initiative targets at new avenues towards material discovery and development, with broad applications across quantum sensors, energy technologies, and beyond.”
Southeast Side residents call on officials to slow down massive quantum campus project – WBEZ Chicago
Author: Esther Yoon-Ji Kang
(Saturday, October 19, 2024) “The project was first announced by state, county and city officials in late July. The multibillion-dollar, 440-acre Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park, is to be anchored by Silicon Valley startup PsiQuantum. Gov. JB Pritzker touted “limitless opportunities for economic investment and innovation right here on the South Side.” The announcement signaled a major leap forward in Pritzker’s goal of creating a “Silicon Valley of quantum development” in the state.”
Post-Quantum Cryptography and Security
TII and UAE Space Agency to Partner on Developing Quantum Communication Infrastructure
Author: Matt Swayne
(Tuesday, October 15, 2024) “The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research pillar of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), have recently signed a strategic partnership with the UAE Space Agency (UAE SA), announced at GITEX, to establish a comprehensive quantum communication infrastructure, deploying UAE-built Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technologies.”
Technical Papers, Articles, and Preprints
[2107.02151] Continuous Variable Quantum Algorithms: an Introduction
https://arxiv.org/abs/2107.02151
Authors: Buck, Samantha; Coleman, Robin; and Sargsyan, Hayk
Commentary: Most of the quantum systems with which users are aware use a discrete-variable model, also called “gate-and-circuit” or “digital.” Other systems, including some photonic ones, use continuous-variable or “analog” models. I’m not a big fan of the digital-analog terminology.
(Monday, July 5, 2021) “Quantum computing is usually associated with discrete quantum states and physical quantities possessing discrete eigenvalue spectrum. However, quantum computing in general is any computation accomplished by the exploitation of quantum properties of physical quantities, discrete or otherwise. It has been shown that physical quantities with continuous eigenvalue spectrum can be used for quantum computing as well. Currently, continuous variable quantum computing is a rapidly developing field both theoretically and experimentally. In this pedagogical introduction we present the basic theoretical concepts behind it and the tools for algorithm development. The paper targets readers with discrete quantum computing background, who are new to continuous variable quantum computing.”
[2410.12365] Continuous-Variable Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computation under General Noise
https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.12365
Authors: Matsuura, Takaya; Menicucci, Nicolas C.; and Yamasaki, Hayata
(Wednesday, October 16, 2024) “The quantum error-correcting code in the continuous-variable (CV) system attracts much attention due to its flexibility and high resistance against specific noise. However, the theory of fault tolerance in CV systems is premature and lacks the general strategy to translate the noise in CV systems into the noise in logical qubits, leading to severe restrictions on the correctable noise models. In this paper, we show that the Markovian-type noise in CV systems is translated into the Markovian-type noise in the logical qubits through the Gottesman-Kitaev-Preskill code with an explicit bound on the noise strength. Combined with the established threshold theorem of the concatenated code against Markovian-type noise, we show that CV quantum computation has a fault-tolerant threshold against general Markovian-type noise, closing the existing crucial gap in CV quantum computation. We also give a new insight into the fact that careful management of the energy of the state is required to achieve fault tolerance in the CV system.”
