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2023/03/05 12:53:50

Quantum Computers and Quantum Communications

Quantum computing systems are devices that use the phenomena of quantum superposition and quantum entanglement to transmit and process data. Such devices operate with qubits (quantum bits), which can simultaneously take the value of both logical zero and logical one. Therefore, as the number of qubits used increases, the number of simultaneously processed values ​ ​ increases exponentially.

The first quantum computers resemble old bulky computing systems, they come in large cabinets 10 feet high (about 3 m) and 700 cubic meters in volume. feet (about 20 cubic meters) m). At the same time, the size of the quantum chip itself is quite small and comparable to the size of the thumb nail.

Most of the rest of the computer space is occupied by cooling and shielding systems. They are designed to create the necessary conditions for the operation of the computer and eliminate external influences. Thanks to the use of a cooling system based on liquid helium, the temperature of the quantum chip is at − 273 ° C.

Content

What is a quantum computer?

A quantum computer is a means of computing, where the work of the central processor is based on the laws of quantum mechanics. Such a computer is fundamentally different from traditional PCs based on silicon chips.

This device does not apply classical algorithms for calculation, but quantum nature processes - quantum algorithms that use the effects of quantum mechanics, such as quantum parallelism and quantum entanglement.

The basis for calculations of this type is the qubit - a system in which the number of particles is similar to the pulse, and the phase variable (energy state) is the coordinate. The phase qubit was first implemented in the laboratory of Delft University and has been actively studied since then.

In the figure, the elementary diagram of the phase qubit and its photograph. Source: t-z-n.ru

Unlike a regular bit capable of having only values of 1 and 0, a quantum bit (qubit) can be in a superposition of these states, that is, simultaneously in a value of 1 and 0. In practice, a qubit can exist in a variety of combinations of these values, which in the future will allow creating ultra-fast computers. Qubits will become the building blocks of future quantum computers capable of solving problems practically inaccessible to classical digital computers. To perform calculations on a quantum computer, it is necessary to interact several qubits, and in such a way that they form a single quantum system. Then this system should be allowed to develop according to the laws of quantum mechanics and after a certain time find out what state it has come to.

With the increase in the number of combined qubits, the computational power of such a quantum system grows exponentially. In theory, this allows a quantum computer to cope with tasks that would take an ordinary digital computer millions of years. For example, the so-called Shore algorithm has long been known, which allows you to quickly decompose large numbers into prime factors (a task necessary to crack modern ciphers). Conventional computers solve this problem by enumerating possible divisors, so modern computers can process long numbers for years. A quantum computer would cope with such a task in a matter of minutes or even seconds, depending on performance.

Why do quantum computers matter?

The amount of data created daily is simply huge, and modern computers no longer always keep up with such volumes. Modern supercomputers are still too slow to perform some of the most important scientific tasks, such as testing the effects of new drugs at the molecular level.

Thanks to the ability to perform very complex calculations much faster, or even simulate these drugs at the molecular level, quantum computers are able to provide such a necessary increase in performance and speed. Most experts agree that quantum computers are our chance to cope with the challenges of the 21st century.

Second quantum revolution

The first quantum revolution took place in the second half of the 20th century and led to the emergence of lasers, transistors, nuclear weapons, and later - mobile telephone communications and the Internet. The technologies of the first quantum revolution are used in computers, mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, communication systems, LED lamps, MRI scanners, scanning tunneling microscopes, etc.

The market volume of relevant products in the world is $3 trillion per year. At the same time, the "Moore's Law," according to one of the statements of which, the performance of processors should double every 18 months, no longer works.

Since the end of the 20th century, the world has been on the verge of a second quantum revolution. In the first quantum revolution, technologies and devices were built on the management of collective quantum phenomena.

In the second quantum revolution, technologies will be built on the ability to drive complex quantum systems at the level of individual particles, such as atoms and photons. Technologies based precisely on such a high level of control over individual quantum objects, it is customary to combine the term quantum technologies.

Scientific research on quantum computing

Main article: Scientific research on quantum computing

Global Quantum Computer Market

Main Article: Quantum Computers (Global Market)

Quantum computers and networks in Russia

Main article: Quantum computers and networks in Russia

Russian Quantum Center (RCC)

Main article: Russian Quantum Center (RCC, Russian Quantum Center, RQC)

Digital Economy Quantum Communication Platform

Main article: Digital Economy Quantum Communication Platform

Quantum computer "Rosatom"

Main article: Quantum technologies of Rosatom

Quantum technologies in Russian Railways

Main article: Quantum technologies in Russian Railways

Quantum computers in the United States

Main article: National Quantum Initiative in the United States (National Quantum Initiative)

IBM Quantum Computers

Main article: IBM Quantum Computers

Quantum Computing in Medicine

Main article: Quantum Computing in Medicine

Quantum Internet

Main article: Quantum Internet

Quantum and post-quantum cryptography

Quantum physics

Main article: Quantum physics

2024

Russia has developed a unique material for the creation of quantum telecommunications

Alferov University has developed the first high-quality silicon-based indium nitride crystals in Russia, which can be used in the creation of quantum telecommunications devices and photonic integrated circuits. This was announced at the beginning of March 2024 in the Competence Center of the NTI "Photonics." Read more here.

In Russia, approved standards in the field of quantum communications

At the end of February 2024, it became known about the approval of two new standards in the field of quantum communications. They were told in the press service of the Platform of the National Technological Initiative (NTI).

One of the new standards concerns the architecture of a typical firmware key distribution complex, which provides secure key delivery to quantum Internet of Things devices, the direct connection of which to quantum key distribution networks is technically impossible or impractical.

It became known about the approval of two new standards in the field of quantum communications

In the second standard, we are talking about setting the requirements for the connection interfaces of a typical software and hardware complex for key distribution in terms of interaction with a quantum key distribution network, as well as interfaces for transmitting quantum and quantum-secure keys to quantum Internet of Things terminals.

According to the NTI Platform, the standards began to operate on February 1, 2024. The documents are designed for three years. Nikita Utkin, Deputy Director of ANO Platform NTI, Chairman of TC 194 Cyber-Physical Systems, noted that the standards pave the way for the widespread practical introduction of quantum technologies, in particular, quantum key distribution, in various fields of activity: from the banking sector to the industrial Internet of things and consumer smart systems.

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For us, working on these documents was extremely important from several points of view: firstly, this is a charismatic example of the implementation of the principle of advanced regulation in the field of high technologies, secondly, this is an example of extremely difficult collective work and reaching an industry consensus, and thirdly, these standards consolidate the fact of the existence and transition to the practical channel of an extremely promising technological market, in which Russian developers have very serious groundwork, - said Utkin.[1]
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US Geological Survey begins using quantum technology to search for minerals

January 16, 2024 USGS and the company Q-Ctrl announced the conclusion of a cooperation agreement, the purpose of which is to use quantum technologies to find useful ones. minerals In addition, the parties will explore new methods for predicting natural disasters. More. here

2023

Banks begin to use protection of operations from attacks from quantum computers

On December 6, 2023, HSBC announced that it was the first bank in the world to implement quantum protection of AI transactions related to foreign currency trading. The new method, as noted, will be able to protect financial systems from powerful next-generation cyber attacks - including those that use quantum computers. Read more here.

The world's first modular quantum computer presented

On December 4, 2023, IBM announced the world's first modular quantum computer, the Quantum System Two platform. This system is based on the latest IBM Heron quantum processors with 133 qubits (quantum bits). Read more here.

Alibaba curtails quantum computing lab due to lack of money

On November 27, 2023, the Chinese technology corporation Alibaba Group Holding announced the closure of the quantum computing research laboratory. This decision is associated with a lack of money and the need to improve financial performance in an unstable macroeconomic situation. Read more here.

Quantum computer created with record 1,225 qubits

On October 24, 2023, startup Atom Computing announced the industry's first quantum computer with more than 1,000 qubits. The company says this is a landmark development, as with the advent of similar systems, universal quantum computers will begin to transform the high-performance computing (LDC) industry. Read more here.

China has created a photon quantum computer that solves the tasks that supercomputers will cope with in 20 billion years in a split second

On October 11, 2023, researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei (an urban district in Anhui province) announced the development of a photonic quantum computer JiuZhang 3. It is claimed that the system is capable of solving ultra-complex mathematical problems in millionths of a second, while the world's most powerful supercomputer will take billions of years. Read more here.

China launches largest cloud quantum computing platform

On August 19, 2023, China's largest cloud quantum computing platform began operations. It is expected that the system will speed up the solution of resource-intensive tasks in various areas, including the aerospace industry and the transport sector. Read more here.

Laser chip could be key to building scalable quantum memory

Quantum memory is an important component for creating quantum networks compatible with fiber-optic links. They are needed for high-quality communication, fast data transfer, as well as for efficient calculations and much more. Engineers and IT specialists have not yet been able to recreate such a network in large sizes. This became known on August 1, 2023.

A team of researchers led by Xueying Zhang described how to provide multimode storage of a single photon on a chip written. laser The development will significantly increase the transmission rate information compared to single-mode storage (single-mode quantum communication channels).

The storage device based on lithium niobate doped with erbium ions is integrated with fiber optic components of the telecom range. This paves the way for the creation of quantum networks based on integrated photon circuits.

Zhang and colleagues designed a waveguide directly related to the single-mode fiber. Optical collimators were used for compatibility with fiber optic communication. The chip implemented a quantum memory system based on an atomic frequency crest with a width of 4 GHz.

In multimode storage experiments, bound pairs of photons were generated in a lithium niobate waveguide. A single laser pulse was used for single-mode storage.

To create an atomic frequency crest, erbium ions were introduced into a periodic structure with a tooth interval of 5 MHz.

Thus, it was possible to demonstrate a new way of storing non-classical light with a large time bandwidth. Scientists have created quantum memory on a chip with a storage time of as much as 200 nanoseconds.

The results of the experiment will help improve high-speed quantum networks. At the same time, improvements will be needed to create a full-fledged device, in particular, the integration of photon sources with memory[2].

Europe is not ready for a quantum apocalypse: a new report reveals all the weaknesses of the EU in terms of cybersecurity

On July 17, 2023, a list of recommendations for the European Union to ensure the protection of member states from a new type of cyber attack using quantum computing was released. Read more here.

Russia successfully launched a satellite to create quantum-secure satellite communications systems

On June 27, 2023, Russia successfully launched a satellite to create quantum-secure satellite communications systems. We are talking about the development of NUST "MISIS" and the quantum startup QSpace Technologies. Read more here.

A device has been developed that allows you to store quantum information in sound waves

On June 22, 2023, American scientists from the California Institute of Technology announced the development of a new technology for storing information in quantum computers. We are talking about the translation of electric quantum states into sound waves. Read more here.

China has developed a quantum computer that copes with AI tasks 180 million times faster than supercomputers

In early June 2023, scientists from the University of Science and Technology of China said they had reached another milestone in quantum computing, saying their Jiuzhang device could perform tasks commonly used in AI 180 million times faster than the world's most powerful supercomputer. Read more here.

Drone-based quantum key distribution system presented in China

In early June 2023, scientists at Nanjing University, led by Tian Xiaohui, developed a new approach that will increase the range of protected quantum communications, as well as make it more mobile and accessible outside the walls of cities. So, scientists have created a compact installation for quantum key distribution, which can be installed on any drone.

Drone-based quantum communications have the potential to implement a mobile quantum network, and the entanglement distribution has been demonstrated with one and two drones. Tian Xiaohui reported the first drone-based quantum key distribution (QKD), with an average safe key rate of over 8 kHz average safe rate, using a deceptive state and polarization coding BB84 protocol.

Drone-based quantum key distribution system presented in China

The Compact Collection, Guidance and Tracking System (APT) and QKD modules were designed and installed on a home-made octocopter whose take-off weight does not exceed 30 kg. Scientists at the University of Nanjing have shown how a reliable connection is established between a flying octocopter and a ground station located at a distance of 200 m, and QKD is performed in real time for 400 seconds.

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The successful implementation of this experiment suggests the possibility of using drones equipped with systems to organize future mobile quantum communication systems. The quantum key distribution method uses quantum phenomena to guarantee secure communication and makes it possible for two users to detect the presence of a third party trying to get information about the key, said project head Tian Xiaohui.
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A study done by scientists at Nanjing University shows the potential of drone-based quantum communications for future mobile quantum networks worldwide. Due to the fact that it is possible to increase the transmission range of quantum information by exchanging data not through fiber optic cables, but through communication satellites or using atmospheric lasers. [3]

Scientists from the University of Minnesota in the USA have created a super-conductive diode

On June 8, 2023, it became known that the team scientists from University of Minnesota in the United States created, supercarrying out diode which can help scale for quantum computers industrial use and increase performance systems. Compared to artificial intelligence other superconducting diodes, the researchers' device more, can energy efficient process multiple signals electric simultaneously and contains a number of gates to control the flow of energy, which has never been implemented in superconducting diodes before. More. here

State communications operator China Telecom created a company for the development of quantum computing and invested $422 million in it

On May 30, 2023, the Chinese state telecom operator China Telecom announced the formation of a company in the field of quantum information technology - Quantum Information Technology Group. Investments in the project amounted to 3 billion yuan (approximately $422 million at the exchange rate as of May 31, 2023). Read more here.

Rolls-Royce begins to use quantum computing in the development of aircraft engines

On May 21, 2023, Nvidia, Rolls-Royce and Classiq announced a breakthrough in quantum computing that is expected to significantly improve the efficiency of jet engines. Read more here.

New types of optical fibers have been developed in Russia, opening up great opportunities for quantum communication

The Schwabe holding and scientists from the Volga State University of Telecommunications and Informatics (PGUTI) announced the development of new classes of optical fibers. Materials that provide a reliable connection when creating telecommunications networks are used in the development of high-tech optical devices, the press service of Rostec (Schwabe is part of this state corporation) said in March 2023. Read more here.

Physicists have learned to control quantum light. This opens up great opportunities for medvisualization and quantum computers

On March 20, 2023, a team of Australian and Swiss scientists announced that they had for the first time been able to demonstrate the possibility of manipulating a small number of interacting photons. This opens up fundamentally new possibilities for the creation of quantum computers and other devices, for example, medical imaging systems.

The work was attended by employees of the University of Sydney and the University of Basel. The researchers were able to capture stimulated radiation from single photons. In particular, scientists were able to measure the direct time delay between one photon and a pair of coupled photons scattered on one quantum dot. Physicists say it opens the door to manipulating what could be called "quantum light."

Scientists managed to romanipure a small number of interacting photons

According to experts, the system created by them induces such strong interactions between photons that you can observe the difference between one and two particles. As a result, with the use of quantum light, more accurate measurements with increased resolution can be made using fewer photons. This approach will be in demand in a number of fields, in particular in biological microscopy, when high light intensity can damage samples or when the observed features are extremely small. In addition, experts intend to find out how the results of their research can be used to create light states useful for fault-tolerant quantum computing.

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We noticed that one photon lingers for longer compared to two photons. With this really strong photon-photon interaction, the two photons become entangled in the form of what is called a two-photon bound state, said Dr. Natasha Tomm of the University of Basel.[4]
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China builds quantum satellite network

In early March 2023, it became known that Chinese research institutes are working to create a quantum communication network using satellites in low, medium and high Earth orbits. Read more here.

China begins mass production of 24 qubit quantum computers

China has installed its first serial quantum computer that can be used to solve practical problems. This was announced at the end of January 2023 by the newspaper of the Ministry of Science of the PRC. Read more here.

2022

Quantum tech startups raise $2.35 billion in venture capital investments

Quantum computing can give the world an incentive for the development of new industries based on big data processing, according to the analytical report "Quantum Computing: Prospects for Business," which representatives of Sberbank shared with TAdviser on September 21, 2023. In addition, they can provide increased performance and efficiency of algorithmic intelligence, accuracy of models and simulations of complex systems (such as new drug molecules, chemical reactions or physical processes), as well as provide a new level of calculations in finance and logistics, new solutions to climate problems and cryptographic algorithms that will provide a higher level of security.

According to data available for April 2023.

As noted in the report, the leaders, countries of the world understanding the breakthrough potential of this area, include quantum technologies in national programs and allocate all the largest budgets for research. The leader here is the China total amount of state financing in the amount of $15.3 billion, which is 4 times higher than the same indicator USA and 2 times higher than the indicator. EU

At the same time, more and more attention in the world is being paid to supporting startups in the field of quantum technology. So, in 2022, venture investors around the world invested $2.35 billion in them.

Also in 2022, almost 1,600 patents were issued and published in the world in all sub-areas of quantum computing: from physical implementations of quantum equipment and error correction to AI and machine learning, the document says.

The world's leading technology corporations have their own development programs. So, IBM which has already manufactured quantum processor 433, qubit plans to increase the number of qubits to 1121 in 2023 Google , and intends to show a device per thousand qubits after 2025. The corporation announced its intention to develop a full stack of technologies for quantum computing Intel and has already launched quantum chips on spin qubits, produced using technologies for the release of classical ones. semiconductor transistors

According to data available for April 2023.

In turn, in Russia, work in the field of quantum computing is being carried out on four key physical platforms: superconducting qubits, photon circuits, neutral atoms and ions in traps. A pool of organizations has been formed, among which both companies and scientific institutes and universities that conduct research and development, study the applicability of quantum computing to practical tasks.

The report notes the following main technological results achieved in Russia:

  • experimental samples of an 8-qubit quantum processor based on superconductors, a 4-qubit quantum computer based on photon chips and a 16-qubit quantum computer based on neutral atoms have been created (Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russian Quantum Center (RCC));
  • presented is a 16-qubit ion processor in kudit-based traps (FIAN, RCC). The accuracy of quantum logical operations of each of the qubits and their pair interactions is worked out;
  • a demonstration circuit of an 8-qubit quantum simulator on superconductors (MIPT, MISiS) has been developed. According to the results of 2022, as part of the work on the roadmap, for the first time in Russia, a machine learning algorithm was implemented on it.

For the progressive development of quantum computing in Russia, according to the conclusions of the analytical report, it is necessary that there are more researchers in the Russian quantum community, and business is more involved in setting tasks and developing applied technologies. Corporations need to be more open to introducing a new one and invest, among other things, in training personnel for the new industry.

In general, the authors of the study come to the conclusion that, although no one in the world has yet been able to demonstrate practical quantum superiority, nevertheless, companies should plan today what will happen after it is achieved. Quantum computing can be seamlessly integrated into data processing workflows using adaptation tools for popular programming languages ​ ​ and interfaces.

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"Sberbank, in collaboration with partners, analyzed the situation with quantum computing in Russia and the world not just from the point of view of science, but also from the point of view of business, finding out how" quanta "will affect technology companies. Having studied dozens of reports, investment strategies, national programs and roadmaps of the world's leading countries and corporations, we concluded that the introduction of quantum computing could yield a multiple of the efficiency of financial and logistical processes, will speed up the development of new drugs and materials with specified properties, process huge amounts of data and do it not only quickly, but also with significant savings in computing resources and energy, - said Albert Efimov, Vice President, Director of the Research and Innovation Department of Sberbank. - And the synergy of "quantum" and AI opens the way to a new technological revolution, led by a strong artificial quantum intelligence. This will be a new level of smart machines that will become full-fledged interlocutors, assistants and human assistants. "
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You can read more about Sberbank's report "Quantum Computing: Prospects for Business" at the link. The document was prepared by the bank together with partners - VNIIA named after N. L. Dukhov and the Institute of Artificial Intelligence AIRI. The collection gives an assessment of the current state and concludes on the development of quantum computing, obstacles and restrictions that have to be overcome on the path of the practical use of quantum computers both in the world and Russia. The report also contains a list of tasks that business can solve using quantum computing, and an overview of key Russian and foreign players in this area.

Hacking the RSA cryptographic algorithm using a quantum computer

On December 23, 2022, the results of a study by Chinese scientists were released, saying that RSA encryption keys were hacked using|quantum computers. Read more here.

Mishustin reduced budget expenditures on Russian Railways quantum networks

In December 2022, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed an order that reduced budget spending on development Russian Railways quantum networks - from 9.92 billion to 9.43 billion rubles. Thus, investments for 2023 were reduced from 2.99 billion to 2.69 billion rubles, for 2024 - from 1.97 billion to 1.77 billion rubles. The length of quantum networks that Russian Railways should build in the end remained the same - 7 thousand km. Read more here.

How quantum technology is helping Toyota assemble cars

On October 21, 2022, Japanese auto giant Toyota and Fujitsu Limited announced cooperation as part of a project to introduce Fujitsu Digital Annealer technology at car manufacturing facilities. Read more here.

Baidu unveils its first quantum computer

On August 25, 2022, the Chinese company Baidu, developing the search engine of the same name (the largest in the PRC), introduced its first quantum computer. It was named Qianshi. Read more here.

Nvidia unveils Quantum Optimized Device Architecture computing platform

Nvidia has unveiled its Quantum Optimized Device Architecture (QODA) computing platform, which aims to bridge the gap between quantum and classical applications. This became known on July 13, 2022. Read more here.

Fujitsu introduced a quantum computer simulator

At the end of March 2022, Fujitsu introduced a quantum computer simulator capable of processing 36-qubit quantum circuits in a cluster system with a PRIMEHPC FX 700 supercomputer equipped with the same processor as the world's fastest Fugaku supercomputer. Read more here.

2021

Hitachi has developed a quantum computer to control train traffic

In mid-October 2021, the Japanese industrial giant Hitachi announced the development of an automation system based on quasi-quantum computing technology to optimize the operation of railways. According to the developers, their solution makes up a staff schedule in just 30 minutes, while usually this process takes 3-5 days. Read more here.

Sales of the world's first sver­khprovodyashchego processor for quantum komp­yuterov have begun

In mid-July 2021, the Dutch startup QuantWare released the world's first commercially available superconducting processor for quantum computers (QPU). Experts believe that this development could significantly accelerate the revolution in quantum computing. Read more here.

China has created the world's most powerful quantum computer

In mid-July 2021, Chinese researchers demonstrated the most powerful in the world, quantum computer squeezing processor Sycamore away from Google leadership positions. More. here

Toshiba has created a hacking-resistant quantum network

In mid-June 2021, researchers from the Cambridge Research Laboratory Toshiba Europe demonstrated that quantum information can be successfully transmitted over optical fibers that are longer than 600 km. A new record distance will pave the way for the transmission of quantum information over long distances between megacities. It is also argued that the created quantum network cannot be hacked.

One of the most difficult technological challenges in building a quantum internet is the problem of transmitting quantum bits over long optical fibers, the researchers explained. Previously, the transmission of qubits over fiber-optic networks was limited by the small length of the network. Minor changes in the environment, including temperature fluctuations, can trigger cable expansion or compression, leading to information destruction.

Toshiba introduced a quantum network immune to hacking

To reduce environmental impacts, Toshiba created a method called dual-band stabilization. It involves transmitting data through two signals, one of which compensates for rapidly changing deviations, and the second is designed to more accurately adjust the phase. Thus, engineers have achieved the ability to qualitatively transmit information at a distance of up to 600 km.

Thanks to the latest achievement, engineers will be able to create a new generation network through which data can be safely transmitted between cities and even countries.

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Our vision is a quantum information technology services platform that will provide not only secure connectivity on a global scale, but also transformative technologies such as cloud quantum computing and distributed quantum sensing.
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The first use of the new technology is likely to be to apply it to quantum key distribution (QKD). The information transmitted by the optical fiber is encrypted using QKD technology. Scientists explained that, to form encryption keys, the protocol uses quantum networks that practically exclude penetration. In a potential network hack, both sides will be alerted.[5]

NSA launched a laboratory to develop quantum computing

In early May 2021 United States Army , the Army Research Office and the Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the National Security Agency announced NSA the launch of a research center for development. quantum computing The project was named. LPS Qubit Collaboratory (LQC) More. here

Toshiba brings quantum computing to conventional computers

In early April 2021, it became known that Toshiba implemented the ability to integrate its Simulated Bifurcation Algorithm or SBA with a programmable gate array (FPGA), which can be connected to workstations. Read more here.

How fuel and energy complex companies use quantum computing

At the end of March 2021, the Smart Energy International portal published an article on how companies in the fuel and energy complex (fuel and energy complex) use quantum technologies to solve business problems. One application of such developments is to predict the amount of electricity consumption.

In addition, quantum computing helps enterprises develop new technologies and environmental projects, and in the future can help in making investment decisions, experts say.

Fuel and Energy Complex companies began to use quantum computing to solve environmental problems
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Balancing output and consumption in an increasingly decentralized power system is increasingly challenging. As the amount of distributed energy grows and the consumption trend becomes increasingly erratic, the calculations become more complex and time-consuming. As a result, energy companies resort to computing on a quantum computer, the publication says (quoted by TASS).
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As an example, it is reported that ExxonMobil, in collaboration with IBM, is exploring several options to improve the environmental friendliness of the oil company, including optimizing the power system and developing new materials for carbon capture. In addition, BP is IBM refusing to help solve environmental problems.

Enel Group hopes that quantum computing in the future will help optimize human resources processes and even make investment decisions. By the end of March 2021, the company uses algorithms based on quantum concepts to optimize the time group employees spend traveling to the distribution site or business trip. Each year, the group distributes more than 32 million employees in 13 companies of the group, computer computing has already helped reduce the travel time of Enel Group employees to the place of business trips.[6]

Quantum Brilliance quantum accelerator announcement at room temperature

At the end of March 2021, Quantum Brilliance introduced, according to the company, the world's first diamond-based quantum accelerator that can operate at room temperature. Read more here.

Announcement of Origin Pilot - operating system for quantum computers

In mid-February 2021, the Chinese company Origin Quantum announced the development of an operating system for quantum computers. This product, according to its creators, can several times increase the efficiency of existing quantum computing systems. Read more here.

2020

Announcement of the Honeywell System H1 quantum computer

At the end of October 2020, Honeywell introduced the System H1 quantum computer, which has 10 qubits. According to the American company, the system provides twice the performance due to quantum volume increased to 128. Read more here.

US President Trump allocated $1 billion for 7 AI institutes and 5 quantum computing centers

At the end of August 2020, Trump allocated $1 billion to create seven research institutes of artificial intelligence and five research centers of quantum computing for five years. Under the leadership of the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy 12 interdisciplinary centers will investigate new technologies and train future employees. Read more here.

Start using Honeywell's most powerful quantum computer

In June 2020, Honeywell announced the launch, according to the company, of the most powerful quantum computer in history. Several customers have already started using the system, including JP Morgan Chase. Read more here.

US increases government spending on quantum technologies by 20%

On April 27, 2020, it became known that the Presidential Administration USA Donald Trump , when planning the state budget for 2021, decided to increase spending on quantum computer science by 20% to $237 million. At the same time, it reduces the cost of scientific activity in 2021 as a whole by 10%.

Of the $237 million indicated, the US Department of Energy plans to spend $25 million in 2021 on the development of quantum Internet.

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This level of funding will allow us to start developing the foundations for complex, practical and highly efficient quantum networks, "said David Auschalom, a quantum engineer at the University of Chicago.
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Existing at the same time as traditional Internet for public use, quantum Internet can offer new unique opportunities. For example, scientists would be able to develop completely new drugs and materials, modeling the behavior of atoms on network quantum computers, and financial institutions and governments could get more reliable data channels. Many countries are investing in the study of quantum technologies, and with the proposal of the budget for 2021, the Trump administration seeks to increase these efforts.

Quantum Internet is a promising area, so the United States decided to increase investment in it. As of April 2020, the country has prototypes of quantum networks in Chicago and New York. In 2020, scientists conducted a successful experiment in the Chicago network.

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We created confusing states of light, "Aushalom said," and tried to use them as a vehicle to test how entanglement works in the real world.
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Similar experiments are being conducted on the East Coast of the United States, where researchers send entangled photons over fiber optic cables connecting Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York with the University of New York at Stony Brook at a distance of about 18 kilometers.[7]

Honeywell develops the most powerful quantum computer

In early March 2020, Honeywell International announced that it was joining the race to build a quantum computer. The company is preparing to release the most powerful system in the world. Read more here.

India allocated $1.12 billion for the development of quantum computers

In early February 2020, the Indian government approved its budget for 2020, allocating about $1.12 billion for the development of quantum computers. These funds will go to the development of the National Program on Quantum Technologies and Applications. Read more here.

2019

Quantum computers have begun to protect cars from cyber attacks

In early January 2020, the Canadian company ISARA, a leading supplier of quantum cybersecurity systems, unveiled the updated Karma Revero GT, which, according to the developers, is capable of sending and receiving electronic voice messages without fear that information will be intercepted and decrypted - even using a quantum computer. ISARA created a communication solution using quantum communication. Read more here.

Who wins the quantum race: Leaders on patents

A joint 2019 study by Rostelecom, Innopraktika and FIPS of the patent landscape in quantum technologies helps clarify some points.

  • Intel is the world leader in the number of quantum patent applications submitted. This speaks of the productivity of their research center, Pavel Krasovsky, one of the authors of the study, deputy director of the center for strategic innovations at Rostelecom, explained to Necifrovaya Ekonomiya.

  • However, the Japanese Toshiba has the most patents already received. She is one of the main companies in the field of quantum encryption.

  • The most cited patents in other applications are from the Canadian D-Wave and the American military-industrial company Northropp Grumman. These companies have the greatest "strength of patents," Krasovsky explains, that is, they invented technologies that are of great importance to researchers.

  • Google and Alibaba Group are world leaders in the number of countries where their quantum technologies are patented (12 countries each). In third place is the Swiss company Quantique (11 countries).

The number of countries, Krasovsky said, shows how close companies are to commercializing their technology. Filing patent applications is a very costly procedure, and companies begin to spend money on this only if they see commercial prospects in a particular market.

Interesting situation now with Chinese companies. According to Krasovsky, Chinese patents are usually considered "garbage," since Chinese research centers have KPIs tightly tied to the number of patents at the state policy level. Therefore, they patent a lot domestically, but if they try to patent the same technology abroad, they usually get rejected due to lack of novelty.

However, a number of Chinese companies, such as Ruban Quantum Technology, have recently begun to actively apply. So far, they have no patents, so this process takes at least six months, but if you conduct the same study in a year, then there is a possibility that Ruban Quantum Technology will be among the leaders.

Positions of Russia

Russia ranks 9th in the world in terms of the number of patents in the field of quantum technologies, follows from a joint study by Rostelecom, Innopraktika and FIPS. The top five include the United States, China, Japan Korea and Germany.

  • Most patent families in Russia have the Russian Academy of Sciences (including the Kurchatov Institute) - 6 families. In second place is the Advanced Research Foundation, it has three patent families related to quantum technologies. Two patent families each at the Cascade IEC, and the Optical-Fiber Instrument Laboratory. The other six organizations have one family each. Among them are the Russian Quantum Center, InfoTeCS, Photonic Nano-Meta Technologies, as well as two Nizhny Novgorod Universities and one Irkutsk.

  • The authors of the study also note a large number of patent applications in Russia by foreign companies. For example, British Element Six Technologies, Fisk Software and University of Cophengagen.

  • Most actively, Russian companies were engaged in patenting in the field of quantum technologies in 2012-2015. The report's authors attribute this surge to increased funding.

  • If we take the international patent classification, then most often in Russia quantum technologies are patented in the field of devices for secret or hidden communication, automatic control of frequency or phase and synchronization, quantum communication and in devices or methods of data processing.

Google has created the most powerful quantum computer in the world

In mid-September 2019, Google announced that it had been able to create the world's most powerful quantum computer. Information about the device was published in a NASA report, which was subsequently removed from the organization's website. Read more here.

Germany to invest €650m in quantum computing

In mid-September 2019, it became known that the German government will invest 650 million euros over the next two years to support the transition of quantum technologies from basic research to ready-to-use applications. Read more here.

20 years of development of quantum computing. Infographics

For August 2019, Rigetti, a quantum computing startup, is expected to launch the 128-qubit system in 2019. This could be an important achievement in the quantum arena.

The fundamental difference between modern computers and the computing systems with which we interact is the enormous speed and way information is processed on the server. The creation of such machines threatens modern data encryption standards.

Bank starts using quantum computing to protect against cyber attacks for the first time

At the end of June 2019, it became known that ABN Amro was the first among banks to use quantum computing to combat cyber attacks. To do this, the Dutch company began cooperation with the research  institute QuTech, which was created by the Delft Technical University in conjunction with the Dutch Organization for Applied Scientific Research. Read more here.

Launch of the world's first commercial quantum network in Britain

At the end of March 2019, the world's first commercial quantum network was launched in Britain. The secure network will apply quantum key distribution (QKD): to protect encrypted messages, the principles of quantum mechanics are used, and not complex mathematical calculations. Read more here.

2018

Ford to use NASA quantum computer to solve transport problems

On December 5, 2018 Ford , within the framework of the next project, it will develop comprehensive route maps for diesel trucks that will help maintain the normal operation of particulate filters. In 2019, the company will gain access NASA to the artificial intelligence Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab at the Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley.

Ford specialists, together with NASA representatives, will work with a computer operating on the principle of quantum relaxation (quantum annealing), which will help solve the most difficult problems. Quantum computing capabilities will be applied to the development of solutions in the field of managing large car parks. Read more here.

Microsoft Quantum Computer

In March 2018, it became known that researchers at the Dutch center Microsoft, located  at the Technical University   of Technology, are working to create a quantum computer with a much lower error rate than in projects that are being tested by competing companies such as IBM and Google

According to a study published in the journal Nature, Microsoft has obtained reliable evidence of the creation of Majorana fermions - an elementary particle that is its own antiparticle - in a wire consisting of semiconductor and superconducting materials. The unique properties of these fermions mean they can be used to create quantum computers. 

Microsoft's' quantum refrigerator'preserves qubits at ultra-low temperature needed for computer computing

They are trying to get them in the Dutch division of Microsoft in Delft, where there are several refrigeration plants worth more than $500 thousand each. They cool special circuits to ultra-low temperatures, at which it becomes possible to obtain Majorana fermions. Hanging next to several fridges are giant 68-pound magnetic rings, which the Microsoft team is using to reduce the error rate in computing. Magnets, however, as physicist Leo Kouwenhoven admits, are a double-edged sword, since their large size and weight make experiments difficult.

According to Kouwenhoven, Microsoft believes that the calculations of its quantum computer - if it can be created - will be 1,000 and 10,000 times more accurate than those of existing models. Young researchers are working in the same room next to the refrigerators, analyzing colorful graphs, but so far there are no signs of the appearance of fermions. Accurate measurements in a dense magnetic field are harder to obtain, and while the theory is on the side of the researchers, they may simply not have enough time to build a quantum dream computer. The goal of the Kouwenhoven group is to obtain stable Majorana fermions by the end of 2018.

Other tested versions of quantum computers make too many calculation errors to be used in practice, for example, to create new chemical catalysts or hack encryption codes, which the creators originally hoped for. Therefore, despite the high costs, Microsoft is trying to get fermions to create qubits - a quantum discharge or the smallest element for storing information in a quantum computer. 

Until now, Microsoft has been inferior to competitors: Google and IBM already have machines that are believed to be close to achieving "quantum superiority" - the ability to solve problems that are too difficult for standard computers - while Microsoft has not even received a working qubit yet. However, qubits based on Majorana fermions can become the basis for a potentially more efficient quantum computer. Therefore, Microsoft gathered a group of scientists who set to work in laboratories in,, USA Netherlands Denmark and Australia. Responsible for the project was one of Microsoft's most experienced executives, Todd Holdhal, who had previously worked on game consoles Xbox and game glasses. augmented reality HoloLens 

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella explained that quantum developments along with artificial intelligence and augmented reality will be critical to the company's future, and in November 2017, Holdhal said in an interview with Bloomberg that Microsoft will bring its own quantum computer to market within the next five years.[8]

2017

Intel Quantum 17 qubit processor

In October 2017, it was announced the supply of an experimental superconductivity-based 17-qubit processor Intel technology to a Dutch research center QuTech engaged in physics research with Intel quantum., Processor manufactured at Intel's production facilities, has a unique crystal structure that allows you to increase the yield of suitable crystals on the plate and achieve a significant increase in productivity.

Quantum communication was first established between the ground and the plane

Physicists from Waterloo University (Canada) first implemented a quantum communication channel to distribute secret encryption keys between a flying aircraft as a recipient and a ground station as a sender. As part of the experiment, scientists managed to generate a secret key in 6 attempts out of 14. In the future, the system may find application for quantum communication between aircraft and satellites. The study is published[9] in the journal Quantum Science and Technology, briefly reported by[10] Physics World[11][12][13].

Existing cryptography systems are based on the existence of a secret key with which information is encrypted. Without knowing this key, decryption is essentially impossible. For example, in the encryption notepad method, both the recipient and the sender store absolutely identical sets of random data that are summed up with the text of the message. Without a notebook, enumerating all possible keys will give all possible messages of this length.

However, the key must be passed in some way between the communication participants. Intercepting the key at this stage will allow the attacker to completely decrypt all correspondence. In order for such an interception to be impossible at the level of the laws of physics, scientists have developed an algorithm for quantum key distribution. It is based on the transmission of single photons prepared in a random state ("zero" or "one") and in a random basis (in vertical/horizontal or diagonal polarization). When an attacker tries to measure the polarization of a photon, the state of the latter will change. This will be able to easily track the sender and recipient and discard the compromised key.

To implement such communication protocols, it is necessary to establish quantum communication between the sender and the recipient. In the case of urban networks, this can be done using fiber optic lines. Also, the distribution of the key between stationary objects can be organized "through the air" using a laser and a detector. These approaches have already been implemented - the maximum distances are about several hundred kilometers in both cases. The technique is limited by losses in fiber and scattering on turbulent flows in the air.

The authors of the new work demonstrated the fundamental possibility of quantum key distribution between a flying aircraft and a ground station. To receive and transmit signal photons, physicists used a pair of motorized telescopes. The receiver was mounted on a Twin Otter aircraft that flew around the ground station in an arc or in a straight line at an altitude of 1.6 kilometers. Nominal distances between the source and receiver ranged from 3 to 10 kilometers. In the installation, methods were taken to protect against the simplest attacks, including the Trojan Horses.

In total, the plane performed 14 flights near the ground station at a speed of about 200-250 kilometers per hour. In exactly half of the cases, the researchers managed to establish a quantum communication channel and in six of them - to generate a secret key. Quantum communication time ranged from 30 seconds to four and a half minutes, the maximum size of the secret key was 867 kilobits.

It took scientists almost eight years to prepare the experiment. Previously, a similar experiment was staged in Germany, but the aircraft contained a photon source, not a receiver. According to physicists, it is in the new production of the experiment that the key can be successfully generated for communication between the satellite and the aircraft. The advantage of using a satellite in the absence of natural interference between the sender and the recipient, for example, is a much more rarefied environment.

Microsoft is working to create a quantum computer

Microsoft announced in June 2017 that it was developing a quantum computer. Such machines are capable of turning the entire industry around, as they will allow processing in seconds volumes of data, the analysis of which would now take years. The technology used in them is based on qubits (quantum bits), which can simultaneously be in two states - 0 and 1, while ordinary bits are in only one of them. In the future, this technology will affect areas such as cryptography and ultra-secure communications, as well as climate modeling and the search for dark matter[14].

The project to create a quantum computer Microsoft is led by Todd Holmdahl, who was previously among the leaders of the Kinect, HoloLens and Xbox development teams. He now talks about quantum computing as a new direction in business, not theoretical or research projects. And he is confident that it is Microsoft that will become a pioneer in this area by introducing quantum technologies into its cloud platforms.

The Todd Holmdahl-led team, part of the newly formed Microsoft AI and Research Group, will work on both the hardware and software parts of the quantum computer. "Like classical high-performance computing, we need not only hardware, but also optimized software," comments Matthias Troyer, professor of computational physics at the Swiss Higher Technical School of Zurich, who was specially invited to participate in the Microsoft research team project.

Microsoft is confident that the knowledge accumulated by Microsoft Research has reached the level that will create a real breakthrough in the creation of a quantum computer. Asked when Microsoft will be able to build its first topological qubit, Holmdahl, now 52, doesn't provide an exact answer. However, he noted that he would soon retire and the event would happen before that moment.

2016

Microsoft Research Project

In November 2016, it became known that Microsoft it was developing a quantum computer. To do this, the company formed a separate research project, led by Microsoft veteran Todd Holmdahl, who was among the leaders of the development teams, and Kinect HoloLens. Xbox

Quantum computing suggests that computer systems using them can be in two states at the same time. If traditional PCs write bits of information sequentially (in zero or one states), then quantum ones can perform several calculations in parallel, encoding two values ​ ​ at once.

Todd Holmdal is head of Microsoft's quantum computer project

Microsoft intends to create a "topological" quantum computer with two-dimensional particles called enions, forming three-dimensional interlaces with two spatial dimensions of enions and time. The company plans to use such systems in artificial intelligence projects, clinical research, modeling climatic conditions, etc.

In addition to Todd Holmdahl, Microsoft's team of quantum computing researchers also included well-known specialists in the field - professors Leo Kouwenhoven from Delft University of Technology, Charles Marcus from the University of Copenhagen, David Reilly from the University of Sydney and Matthias Troyer from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.

Microsoft became interested in the concept of quantum computing back in 2005, then creating the Station Q research laboratory under the guidance of mathematician Michael Freedman. In 2015, Microsoft introduced the LIQUi|> (Language-Integrated Quantum Operations) simulator, which allows anyone to study the possibilities of quantum computing[15]

China to build new quantum communication line

China plans to build a new quantum communication line with a length of more than 300 kilometers by the end of 2017, the China Daily newspaper writes, citing the Chinese aerospace company (CASIC).

The construction of the line, which will connect the city of Wuhan and Hefei, will begin in the near future. As CASIC spokesman Wu Xiaofeng noted, the line will be used by government agencies and then become available to local business. The investment is estimated at $29 million. This line will later be connected to the line between Beijing and Shanghai, scheduled to open in late 2016.

In China, in November 2016, the world's longest quantum communication line was opened, its length is 712 kilometers. It connects the city of Hefei in Anhui and Shanghai. It is part of a project of a quantum communication line with a length of 2 thousand kilometers, the creation of which began in 2013. There are 11 ground stations on the line.

China began developing a quantum communications satellite in 2011. In mid-August, the world's first quantum communications satellite, Mo-Tzu (Micius), was successfully launched.

As academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Pan Jianwei said earlier, all satellite systems work properly. It was noted that the Mo-Tzu, after three months of testing in orbit, will be commissioned in the second half of November. Prior to that, Pan Jianwei also said that China could create a global quantum communications network by 2030.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, scientists have been developing methods for encrypting and securely transmitting information. They have two key disadvantages - they can be hacked when applying sufficient computing power (for example, a quantum computer), or information can be extracted by "eavesdropping" on its transmission via a data channel.

So-called quantum networks solve both of these problems due to the fact that the fundamental position of quantum physics - the Heisenberg uncertainty principle - does not allow the "third superfluous" to read information from the data channel and match the key to it.

2015: Google says it's likely to build quantum computers

Quantum computers will never benefit from modern classical computers unless they acquire the ability to independently correct errors that destroy the "fragile" quantum states of their quantum bits, qubits. The Google group of companies, leading research in the field of quantum computing, has demonstrated the world's first system capable of independently correcting emerging errors - a step that brings the field of quantum computing closer to its practical implementation[16].

Процессор квантового компьютера D-Wave, 2014

The achievement was made possible by the transfer to Google of a group of scientists from the University of California, Santa Barbara, in the fall of 2014. At one time, she developed and manufactured a system of quantum superconducting circuits operating with a level of accuracy and reliability sufficient to implement error elimination technology.

"This is the first time in the history of information technology that" natural "errors resulting from the impact of various environmental factors on qubits can be corrected," said Rami Barends, engineer at Rami Barends. "We have created the first quantum device that can independently correct errors that occur during its operation."

Those interested in the field of quantum computing are well aware - the main problem faced by the creators of quantum computing systems is the need to preserve the quantum state of qubits for a long time. A fragile quantum state can be disturbed by the intervention of any, from a sufficiently large set of external factors, from which it is not possible to completely isolate itself fundamentally. The solution to this problem is the quantum error correction code, the basis of which is the classical error elimination method, which is quite widely used in modern computer technology.

But the main problem that the researchers had to face is that the developed correction code does not have the ability to detect the error that occurred in a direct way, without disrupting the quantum state of the qubits.

The researchers bypassed this problem using the phenomenon of quantum entanglement, by which one qubit can share information with other qubits through a "ghost" quantum connection. The correction code included in the quantum system measures the value of the quantum state of a qubit entangled with several adjacent qubits, which helps keep its original state unchanged.

The created error correction code works by using a certain spatial arrangement of qubits, which is somewhat reminiscent of a chessboard. In the white squares of this board there are information qubits involved in performing quantum computational operations, and in the black squares there are "measuring" qubits used to correct errors arising in adjacent information qubits.

To demonstrate the technology, the researchers manufactured a simple device consisting of nine qubits ordered as a 3 by 3-element matrix. And the work of this system, more precisely, the work of the correction code was checked using 90 thousand specialized computing operations, which made it possible to collect the required amount of statistical data.

"This was proof that the years spent on theoretical research did not go to waste and the practical implementation of error correction technologies is possible," said Julian Kelly, an engineer at Google.

Another achievement: the researchers demonstrated that the rates of successful error elimination in a quantum system increased with increasing qubits. For example, the error rate for a five-qubit system was 2.7 times less than the error rate for a single-qubit system. And the difference in these levels between systems with one and nine qubits was just over 8.5 times.

"
This is exciting news for the field of quantum computing. Everything indicates that systems with a large number of quantum bits can be stable and will not collapse under the pressure of an avalanche of emerging errors, "said Julian Kelly. "And this, in turn, means that quantum computers operating with a large number of qubits can still be created."

2013: Lockheed Martin uses Canada's D-Wave quantum system

As of July 2013, even modern, not yet very advanced, quantum computing systems enjoy the great interest of the world's leading campaigns. Thus, the Canadian quantum computer D-Wave is used by the defense company Lockheed Martin, and in early 2013, D-Wave strengthened Google's computing power. D-Wave is not a universal quantum computer, although it can be used as the basis for its development. D-Wave is a 512-qubit superconducting ring computer designed to solve so-called combinatorial optimization problems, such as genome analysis, protein folding options, etc. Google will use D-Wave to design self-learning artificial intelligence systems.

See also

Notes