Dear Qubit Community Members,
As Yom Kippur has just ended, we find ourselves in a moment of reflection and renewal. We are pleased to bring you the 18th edition of our Qubit community newsletter, filled with the latest innovations, fascinating discussions, and significant developments in the world of quantum technologies.
We are also deeply aware of the recent events impacting Israel, and our thoughts remain with those affected. In these times, the importance of unity, cooperation, and mutual support is more evident than ever.
This newsletter is packed with insights, updates, and opportunities to engage with fellow quantum enthusiasts. Stay informed, stay curious, and let’s continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible together.
Gmar Chatima Tova and happy reading!
Business and Investments
Adapting Lean Startup Methods for Deep Tech: Challenges and Solutions – Deep-tech innovation, grounded in scientific advancements, has sparked groundbreaking companies like SpaceX and mRNA vaccines. While lean startup methodologies, known for minimizing market risks, are popular in traditional tech, deep-tech ventures face unique challenges due to extended R&D timelines, high costs, and complex technologies. Entrepreneurs should focus on technological de-risking, strategic partnerships, and demonstrating proof of concept while embracing "learning by thinking" over rapid iterations. Adapting these approaches can help navigate deep-tech's uncertainties.
For further information: https://hbr.org/2024/10/do-lean-startup-methods-work-for-deep-tech
Technology and Engineering
Chinese Quantum Computing Breakthrough Threatens Military-Grade Encryption – Chinese scientists have reportedly used a quantum computer to breach military-grade encryption algorithms. A team from Shanghai University employed D-Wave's quantum annealing machine to attack SPN-structured algorithms, commonly used in advanced encryption standards (AES) critical to military and financial sectors. While the researchers highlighted limitations like environmental interference and undeveloped hardware, this breakthrough indicates that quantum technology could soon pose a real threat to modern cryptographic systems. However, no specific passcodes have been cracked yet.
For further information: https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/10/11/chinese-scientists-report-using-quantum-computer-to-hack-military-grade-encryption/
IBM Launches AI-Powered Qiskit Code Assistant for Quantum Developers – IBM has unveiled the Qiskit Code Assistant, designed to streamline quantum programming using AI tools. Integrating Watsonx language models, the tool helps developers generate, optimize, and clean up Qiskit code effortlessly within familiar environments like Visual Studio Code and JupyterLab. The assistant can generate quantum circuits from natural language prompts and enhance code accuracy. IBM plans to open-source key components, encouraging community collaboration. This marks a significant step in making quantum programming more accessible.
For further information: https://www.ibm.com/quantum/blog/qiskit-code-assistant
IBM's Quantum Roadmap: Scaling Quantum Computing for Real-World Impact – IBM has released an updated quantum roadmap that outlines its plan to scale quantum computing and expand its real-world utility. Key highlights include developing modular quantum systems, integrating error correction, and launching quantum-centric supercomputing. The roadmap sets ambitious goals extending into the next decade, including achieving fault-tolerant quantum systems and improving global infrastructure. IBM’s efforts aim to make quantum computing more accessible and commercially viable across industries.
For further information: https://www.ibm.com/quantum/blog/ibm-quantum-roadmap-2025
Research
Physicists Combine Atomic Clocks and Quantum Computers for Unprecedented Precision – Researchers have successfully merged atomic clocks with quantum computing, achieving groundbreaking precision in time measurement. Using "tweezer clocks," where neutral strontium atoms are manipulated by lasers, physicists demonstrated that quantum computations can enhance the accuracy of timekeeping through quantum entanglement. This innovation could lead to advances in studying general relativity, detecting gravitational waves, and probing dark matter. The method showcases the potential for integrating quantum sensors with quantum computers for scientific exploration.
For further information: https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/10/10/physicists-merge-atomic-clocks-with-quantum-computers/
Researchers Unveil New Type of Superconductivity with Revolutionary Potential – Scientists have demonstrated a new class of superconductivity, called "type III," which involves superconducting islands separated by non-superconducting regions. This breakthrough introduces unique magnetic and electrical properties, offering dissipationless behavior under electromagnetic fields. This discovery could lead to advances in superconducting technologies, improving the efficiency of quantum computing and electronic devices by reducing energy losses. The research was published in Physical Review B and promises to push the field of superconducting technology forward.
For further information: https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/10/10/researchers-demonstrate-new-type-of-superconductivity/
For the research paper: https://journals.aps.org/prb/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevB.110.094506
Altair and TUM Push Boundaries in Quantum Computational Fluid Dynamics – Altair and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have made significant strides in quantum computational fluid dynamics (CFD) by developing a new quantum algorithm integrating the Lattice-Boltzmann Method. This breakthrough promises faster and more scalable CFD simulations, potentially transforming industries like healthcare, finance, and engineering. The research highlights the potential of quantum computing to tackle complex real-world problems, bringing quantum technologies closer to practical applications in product design and beyond.
For further information: https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/10/10/altair-and-technical-university-of-munich-make-advance-in-using-quantum-computers-for-computational-fluid-dynamics/
For the research paper: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010465524002960
Scalable Photonic Quantum Computing Approach Demonstrated by Researchers – Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have developed a scalable, resource-efficient method for quantum computation using photonics. By leveraging high-dimensional spatial encoding, the team generated large cluster states with over nine qubits, significantly reducing computation time. Their breakthrough tackles scalability issues in quantum computing, enabling faster and more fault-tolerant quantum systems. This innovation paves the way for practical, photonic-based quantum computing applications.
For further information: https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/10/10/researchers-demonstrate-scalable-photonic-approach-to-quantum-computing/
For the research paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41566-024-01524-w
Google Quantum AI Team Identifies ‘Sweet Spot’ for Practical Quantum Computing – Researchers from Google Quantum AI have discovered a phase where today’s noisy quantum computers can outperform classical supercomputers. Using random circuit sampling with a 67-qubit system, they identified a low-noise "sweet spot" where quantum systems maintain sufficient complexity for practical calculations. This breakthrough could enable quantum computers to address real-world challenges in finance, materials science, and life sciences, even before fully fault-tolerant quantum systems are developed.
For further information: https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/10/09/google-quantum-ai-led-researchers-find-sweet-spot-to-use-current-quantum-computers-to-make-practical-calculations/
For the research paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07998-6
Microwave Control Enhances Diamond Qubit Stability for Quantum Communication – Researchers at the KIT's Physikalisches Institut in Germany have developed a method to precisely control tin-vacancy diamond qubits using microwaves, improving their coherence times to 10 milliseconds. This breakthrough brings scalable quantum computing and secure quantum communication closer to reality, as the team efficiently controlled qubits at extremely low temperatures using superconducting waveguides. These findings could significantly impact the future of quantum technologies, particularly in data transmission and secure communication systems.
For further information: https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/10/06/quantum-communication-scientists-use-microwaves-to-efficiently-control-diamond-qubits/
For the research paper: https://journals.aps.org/prx/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevX.14.031036
QCircuitNet: A Comprehensive Dataset for Quantum Algorithm Development – QCircuitNet, introduced by researchers, is a large-scale hierarchical dataset designed to enhance quantum algorithm design. It offers structured data to tackle the challenges in creating quantum algorithms by leveraging AI for efficient circuit construction and optimization. The dataset is hierarchical, allowing flexibility in algorithm testing across various quantum computing architectures. QCircuitNet aims to bridge gaps in quantum algorithm development and accelerate progress in the quantum computing field.
For the research paper: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2410.07961
For the dataset: https://github.com/estelyang/qcircuitnet_dataset