January’s Quantum Round Up
As January draws to a close, it's time to reflect on the biggest strides and breakthroughs that have been made in the quantum field this month. It’s only the first month of the year, but the quantum computing space has been buzzing, and these news stories have captured the attention of enthusiasts, experts, and industry leaders alike - read on to find out more.
Baidu’s Out of Quantum
It was revealed this month that Baidu, the Chinese search engine company, is planning to discontinue its quantum computing division, and will be donating its research facility to the Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences (BAQIS for short). Just a few short years ago, Baidu had aimed to be a global leader in quantum computing research. Some of its biggest achievements include a 36-qubit quantum chip, quantum software-hardware interfaces, a quantum operating system, and a cloud-based quantum machine-learning platform. The company's move follows a similar decision by Alibaba last year - Alibaba donated its quantum lab to Zhejiang University in November. Both Baidu and Alibaba, having already spent substantial amounts on quantum research, are now shifting focus, with Baidu looking at how AI can be in agriculture and healthcare, and Alibaba also concentrating on AI research.
Solving Quantum Errors
Researchers at Princeton University have developed a new method to find and erase errors in quantum computers in real-time, making them up to ten times easier to correct. The innovative approach involves biassing certain kinds of errors - acknowledging that not all errors are equal. The researchers used an array of 10 qubits based on neutral atoms to characterise error rates, achieving 0.1 percent per operation for single qubits and 2 percent per operation for pairs of qubits. This new technique allows for the real-time detection of errors without destroying any qubits, converting errors into a type known as erasure errors, which are simpler to correct. The researchers believe that this could significantly reduce the computational costs of implementing error correction in quantum computing, helping to make quantum computers more scalable and widely available.
Quantum-safe 5G
Earlier this month, Arqit and Ampliphae - in collaboration with Athonet (HPE) announced that they had completed the SEViN-5G project. The project, funded by Innovate UK, was designed to create a quantum-safe private 5G network, and uses Arqit’s symmetric key agreement platform and Ampliphae’s network security analytics. Athonet, meanwhile, provided radio access network equipment. Private 5G networks like this are vital for industries like healthcare and defence, as they provide high-speed, scalable, and reliable wireless connectivity. This project was completed at the end of last year, and is a huge step in ensuring the security of private 5G networks.
New Quantum Computers
Researchers from the University of Chicago, the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, the University of Iowa, and Tohoku University in Japan have been working together to develop a proof-of-concept for a novel quantum computer design. Using magnets to send signals, the researchers were able to connect individual qubits across a chip, addressing challenges in quantum entanglement. Although quantum entanglement is crucial for building quantum computers, it often requires qubits to be extremely close. The researchers used magnets to transmit microwave signals, called magnons, allowing the qubits to be entangled over longer distances, and overcome the limitations of nanometer-scale interactions. This approach, if it proves to be successful in further experiments, could enhance the scalability and practicality of quantum computers and allow more people to use them.
Korea Takes a Quantum Leap
IBM has entered a collaboration with Korea Quantum Computing (KQC) to provide advanced AI software, infrastructure, and quantum computing services. KQC's ecosystem will access IBM's full AI stack, including watsonx, for training and deploying advanced AI models. KQC, an IBM Quantum Innovation Center since 2022, will continue offering access to IBM's global quantum systems over the cloud. Plans include deploying an IBM Quantum System Two on-site in Busan, South Korea, by 2028. The collaboration also involves an investment in infrastructure for generative AI, including advanced GPUs, IBM's Artificial Intelligence Unit (AIU), and Red Hat OpenShift for a cloud-native environment. This partnership aims to drive innovation across Korean industries by combining AI and quantum computing.
Quantum computing and quantum technology are no longer the stuff of scientific theories - they’re already shaping and changing the technological landscape. We’re witnessing a surge of innovation, and we’re only at the beginning of 2024. Stay tuned to learn what we can expect to see in the months to come!