Category Archives: Quantum Computer
Post-Quantum Cryptography Should Be Part Of Your Security Strategy – Forbes
McClure, Manager, Quantum Engineering, IBM Research on October 18, 2019 at IBM's research facility in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. (Photo by Misha Friedman/Getty Images)Getty Images
The news that IBMIBM has used a quantum computer to solve a problem that that stumps the leading classical methods is another step on the road to what has become known as quantum advantage, where a quantum system solves a problem that cannot be solved by any amount of classical computation. For those of us in and around fintech, the one problem that we really want to solve is breaking public key cryptography so that we can forge digital signatures, get access to bank systems and, of course, steal a lot of BitcoinBTC.
This is important stuff. In the British governments new technology strategy, quantum computing is one of the priority technologies and it is easy to understand why. That point about solving problems beyond the reach of existing computers means that there is something of an arms race underway, with quantum supremacy as the goal.
It will take a while to get to the aforementioned quantum supremacy, where quantum computers can outgun the classical incumbents. But the IBM solution is already at 127 qubits (quantum bits). If quantum computers are put up against a classical supercomputer capable of up to a quintillion (10^18) floating-point operations per second, quantum supremacy could be reached with as few as 208 qubits. Quantum supremacy isnt science fiction.
Now, as is well known, one of the interesting problems that a quantum computer can solve is breaking the asymmetric cryptography at the heart of cryptocurrency in order to transfer money out of lost or abandoned wallets. If you look at Bitcoin, for example the accountants Deloitte reckon that about four million Bitcoins will be vulnerable to such an attack. That means there are billions of dollars up for grabs in a quantum computing digital dumpster dive.
If we apply quantum computers to the problem of breaking the 256-bit elliptic curve encryption of keys in the Bitcoin network within the small available time frame in which it would actually pose a threat to do so, researchers calculate it would require 317 106 physical qubits to break the encryption within one hour using the surface code, a code cycle time of 1 s, a reaction time of 10 s, and a physical gate error of 103 10 3. To instead break the encryption within one day, it would require 13 106 physical qubits. So never mind quantum supremacy with a few hundred quibits, quantum computers would need millions of physical qubits to be a threat to Bitcoin.
OK, thats not going to happen tomorrow. Nevertheless, quantum computing will come. So is the sky falling in for the banks and the credit card companies and mobile operators and the military and everyone else who uses public key cryptography then? Well, no. They are not idiots with their heads in the sand and they are already planning to adopt a new generation of Quantum Resistant Cryptographic (QRC) algorithms to defend their data against the inevitable onslaught from quantum computers in unfriendly hands.
They have been looking towards the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which last year selected a set of algorithms designed to withstand such an onslaught after a six-year effort to devise encryption methods that could resist an attack from a future quantum computer that is more powerful than the comparatively limited machines available today. NIST has now released these algorithms as standards ready for use out in the wild.
(If you are interested in the details, the algorithms are:
CRYSTALS-Kyber, designed for general encryption purposes such as creating secure websites, is covered in FIPS 203;
CRYSTALS-Dilithium, designed to protect the digital signatures we use when signing documents remotely, is covered in FIPS 204;
SPHINCS+, also designed for digital signatures, is covered in FIPS 205;
FALCON, also designed for digital signatures, is slated to receive its own draft FIPS in 2024.)
These algorithms are important because, as noted, while there are no cryptography-breaking quantum computers around right now, they will come. As the quantum technology advances, there will be an inevitable competition between the quantum computers that can break cryptographic algorithms and the cryptography community's efforts to develop quantum-resistant algorithms. This means there will be a period where entities (eg, Visa and the DoD, not just Bitcoin) will be transitioning to new cryptographic methods.
That period is now, by the way, which is why the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has just issued a note calling on critical infrastructure and other organizations to begin work now to create road maps for how theyll migrate to QRC.
(The cryptocurrency world should follow suit so that if and when quantum computers become a threat, then cryptocurrencies can be updated to use QRC. This would be a significant undertaking, but it's theoretically possible.)
Technology strategists in banks, fintechs and crypto know why these standard algorithms are being pushed out now, when any actual quantum computer is still some years away. The fact is that you can be at risk from quantum computers that do not yet exist because of what is known as the harvest now, decrypt later attack. Its the idea that your enemy could copy your data, which is encrypted, and they can hold onto it right now. They cant read it. But maybe when a quantum computer comes out in 10 years, then they can get access to your data.
If the information youre protecting is valuable enough, then youre already in trouble because of that threat and you need to start working on your road map soon.
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Post-Quantum Cryptography Should Be Part Of Your Security Strategy - Forbes
Quantum computing and ethics – Scientific Computing World
New technology and ethics are inseparably linked in today's rapidly evolving technological landscape. Quantum computing is no exception: as we stand on the precipice of a new era of computing, the ethical considerations that arise are complex and far-reaching. As a company that recognises the importance of these ethical consideration and is committed to responsible innovation, we believe that these concerns must be understood and addressed.
Ethical quantum concerns typically fall into several major categories:
1. Resource Allocation and Inequality: Quantum computing is a resource-intensive technology, both in terms of the physical resources required to build quantum computers and the human resources needed to program and operate them. Such resources are available only to a few nations. Given this, and given the rise in quantum nationalism - the development of country-specific quantum programs - will the benefits of quantum computing primarily accrue to the wealthy, developed nations that can afford to invest in it? This could further deepen global socio-economic divides. Within the legal frameworks of the countries QuEra operates in, we seek to provide equitable access to potential users, whether via the cloud or by owning a quantum computer.
2. Misuse of power: a sufficiently powerful quantum computer could one day break many current encryption schemes leading to unparalleled breaches of privacy and security. Thats why many experts warn against bad actors that implement Store Now Decrypt Later, capturing encrypted information today while hoping to decrypt it in a few years. This is especially relevant for information with a long shelf life such as medical records or certain financial transactions
3. Accountability and Transparency: The complexity of quantum algorithms could lead to a lack of transparency and accountability. If a quantum algorithm, for instance, makes a mistake or causes harm, it may be difficult to understand why or how it happened. Ensuring such explainability is a key requirement of many algorithms such as those deciding the outcome of a loan application. At QuEra, we seek to understand the reasons certain algorithms work and share this knowledge with our customers.
4. Job Displacement: The increased processing power and efficiency of quantum computers could automate many jobs currently performed by humans, leading to potential job displacement. We do our best to support education and re-training programs both to address the potential of job displacement as well as to train the next generation of scientists and technicians that will help build, program and maintain these advanced machines.
Some of these categories, such as job displacement, are not specific to quantum computing and present themselves when discussing other technologies such as AI or robotics. Others breaking the encryption system - are specific to quantum, whereas AI presents its own unique challenges such as bias and discrimination, the ability to generate artificial consciousness.
Striving to address these concerns, several organisations have started constructing ethical frameworks for quantum computing. The World Economic Forum has developed a set of Quantum Computing Governance Principles that aim to guide the responsible development and use of quantum computing including inclusiveness and equity, security and safety, environmental sustainability, and transparency and accountability. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has published a report on The Ethics of Quantum Computing that identifies a number of ethical issues including the potential malicious use of quantum computing, the potential to disrupt existing industries, the negative environmental potential, and the need to ensure that quantum computing is developed and used in a way that is fair and equitable. Last, Deloitte has developed a Trustworthy & Ethical Tech Framework that can be used to guide the development and use of quantum computing.
Beyond ethical frameworks, one could imagine some solutions. Job displacement, for instance, is often associated with the introduction of transformative technologies. Factory workers that manually assembled cars might find themselves displaced by robots, but these robots need to be built and serviced by people. If quantum computers make certain jobs obsolete, they open other opportunities.
Other solutions might require multinational collaboration. For example, the World Health Organization serves an important function that ultimately helps both developed as well as developing nations. Promoting standards, monitoring global trends, and coordinating emergency responses have helped address inequality in healthcare, benefiting all. Similarly, a World Quantum Organization might provide shared quantum resources to benefit all, not just those that could develop an autonomous quantum ecosystem.
Concurrent with developing solutions and ethical frameworks, there is a need to educate and inform the public, policymakers, and stakeholders about the potential implications of quantum computing to foster informed discussions about its ethical, social, and economic impacts.
Quantum computing's potential to revolutionise industries is matched by the complexity of the ethical considerations it raises. At QuEra, we recognise these challenges and are committed to responsible innovation that prioritises inclusiveness, security, and sustainability. Collaborative efforts, such as the proposed 'World Quantum Organization,' resonate with our belief in shared quantum resources and global partnerships, and we invite interested parties to engage with us. As we navigate this exciting frontier, we must do so with both eyes open to the potential downsides, ready to tackle them head-on, and always guided by ethical principles.
Yuval Boger is the Chief Marketing Officer at QuEra Computing.
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Quantum computing and ethics - Scientific Computing World
Quantum Computing Trends: Innovations, Investments & Hiring in … – Verdict
This article presents a quarterly round-up of the latest trends in the technology industry regarding quantum computing. It provides an overview of recent developments in quantum computing-related deals, talent acquisition, and patent filings within the technology industry.
Technology companies in the field of quantum computing are leveraging the latest patents to innovate and improve their businesses. Intel Corp has developed technologies for radiofrequency optimized interconnects for a quantum processor. These interconnects, carried in coplanar waveguides, increase thermal coupling and cooling of the quantum processor die. Waseda University has created a quantum computing unit that deterministically operates multiple quantum systems, allowing for more efficient quantum computing. UnitedHealth Group Inc has developed techniques for diagnosis and treatment recommendations using quantum computing, encoding patient information as qubits and implementing quantum search algorithms. Quantum Computing Inc has focused on machine learning mapping for quantum processing units, decomposing mathematical problems into quantum circuits and solving them using a classical computer system. International Business Machines Corp has developed an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit for cryogenic temperature operation in semiconductor quantum devices. These patents provide the acquirers with advancements in quantum computing technologies and applications, enabling them to enhance their capabilities and drive innovation in the field.
The industry experienced an 11% growth in the number of quantum computing-related patent applications in Q2 2023 compared with the previous quarter. On an annual basis, the number of quantum computing-related patent applications in the technology industry witnessed a rise of 5% compared with Q2 2022.
Technology companies are not only focusing on innovation to enhance their patent portfolios but are also making strategic investments in quantum computing. These investments aim to secure lucrative deals with partners and position themselves at the forefront of industry advancements. Some of the recent deals underscore the importance of quantum computing in the technology industry.
In Q2 2023, the number of quantum computing-related deals in the technology industry declined by 24% compared with Q2 2022. On a quarterly basis, there was 65% drop in the number of deals in Q2 2023 compared with the previous quarter.
In terms of new job posting, in Q2 2023, the technology industry experienced a 30% drop compared with the previous quarter. On an annual basis, job postings also declined by 42%. Notably, computer and mathematical occupations, with a share of 24%, emerged as the top quantum computing-related job roles within the technology industry in Q2 2023, with new job postings drop by 14% quarter-on-quarter. Management occupations came in second with a share of 13% in Q2 2023, with new job postings dropping by 27% over the previous quarter. The other prominent quantum computing roles include architecture and engineering occupations with a 7% share in Q2 2023, and life, physical, and social science occupations with a 4% share of new job postings.
Science Applications International, IonQ, Microsoft, International Business Machines, and SES are among the top companies leading in quantum computing hiring within the technology industry.
The US is the leading country in quantum computing adoption within the technology industry, boasting the highest number of quantum computing-related patents, jobs, and deals. Meanwhile, the UK, Germany, Japan and China also maintain significant positions in quantum computing adoption within the technology industry.
In summary, the technology industry is increasingly prioritizing quantum computing-related patents to drive innovation. However, strategic deals in this field have declined, and job postings have seen a notable decrease, reflecting changing dynamics in the industry. These trends highlight the evolving landscape of quantum computing within the technology sector and its far-reaching influence across various industries.
To further understand GlobalData's analysis on quantum computing in the technology industry, buy the report here.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence,providedthe underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalDatapatent analytics tracks patent filings and grants across companies and themes. Proprietary databases on deals and job analyticsare used to respectivelymonitorglobal deal activity and uncover insights from daily job postings toidentifytrends, company activities, and industry dynamics across different sectors globally.
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Quantum Computing Trends: Innovations, Investments & Hiring in ... - Verdict
OneQuantum PH looks to demystify quantum computing through … – Rappler
This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
'If you have a laptop, you can crack [a complex operation] in three hundred trillion years. A quantum computer with 4000 logical qubits can crack that in under ten seconds,' OneQuantum PH's president explains
Quantum computing community OneQuantum PH with CLASSIQ Technologies launched the Quantum Algorithms Design Workshop on August 10, one of its many skill-building initiatives aimed to make quantum computing projects accessible in the Philippines.
OneQuantums PH chapter started as a small Facebook group in 2017. Now partnered with the Department of Science and Technology Advanced Science and Technology Institute, they are set to lead the countrys first quantum computing hackathon later this year.
Other projects include talks with Bulacan State University in designing a quantum computing course and enhancing its computer science curriculum.
Quantum computing uses the unique principles of quantum mechanics, the physics of very small things, to create computers that can solve some complex mathematical problems years faster than current technology.
For Bobby Corpus Jr., president of OneQuantum PH, the technology can transform future strategies in tackling extensive computations for cybersecurity, agricultural simulations, infrastructure planning, and financial projections.
One thing about classical computing, he said, its nearing its limit.
There are several concepts that theoretically make quantum computing far more powerful than classical computing. One of these is called superposition.
In classical computing, bits are like pigeonholes that can only fit one pigeon at a time. They are capable of having one of two states: empty or full, 0 or 1. Binarys either-or ability enables the representation and processing of data.
Quantum computing, on the other hand, makes use of quantum bits, which are like pigeonholes that can fit many pigeons at the same time.
To illustrate, one qubit can simultaneously represent both 0 and 1. Two qubits can represent four states at the same time. A quantum computer with enough qubits can perform breakneck operations on very large numbers.
Corpus Jr. explains, If you have a laptop, you can crack [a complex operation] in three hundred trillion years. A quantum computer with 4000 logical qubits can crack that in under ten seconds.
The worlds highest-performing quantum computer has 433 qubits at present, made by IBM. The tech giant is also aiming for a 4000-plus-qubit quantum computer by 2025.
Despite the excitement surrounding quantum computing, Corpus Jr. points out that it is not a miracle cure for everything.
Today, creating quantum computers is an expensive pursuit, as they are incredibly sensitive to small disturbances in the environment.
Corpus Jr. believes that for the Philippines to truly benefit from this advancement, early preparations must be made to train the future workforce and secure the countrys information security before the technology is integrated into government and business practices.
In an introductory lecture, Corpus Jr. defined the goals of OneQuantum PH: to democratize quantum computing and remove its status as an ivory tower mystery in the Philippines. Ultimately, however, he believes that the fruits of their projects are for the future generation.
We believe that the future scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computer will be built by these kids in elementary schools. Thats why we pave the way for them. with reports from Jessica Bonifacio/Rappler.com
Jessica Bonifacio is an incoming third-year Environmental and Sanitary Engineering student in National University Manila.
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OneQuantum PH looks to demystify quantum computing through ... - Rappler
Alice & Bob Unveils New Consulting Unit Focused on High-Value … – HPCwire
PARIS, Aug. 29, 2023 Alice & Bob, a leading hardware developer in the race to fault-tolerant quantum computing, today announced the launch of a consulting unit called The Box. Alice & Bobs consulting team is dedicated to offering valuable insights into the status and potential of quantum computing, helping clients devise effective quantum strategies that focus on high-value applications, irrespective of platform.
The Box was created to address a specific need in the ecosystem for expert advice drawing from deep technical experience and business acumen, said Thau Peronnin, CEO and co-founder of Alice & Bob. Our efforts aim to support businesses in their journey towards developing and implementing quantum solutions on whichever hardware suits their needs best.
Major consulting firms and industry players are currently developing strategies to take advantage of quantum computing and are exploring use cases with todays early quantum devices. The Box has begun working with these organizations to construct comprehensive roadmaps for integrating quantum computing into their workflows. Current clients include:
The team assesses, identifies and prioritizes scalable use cases for each client to develop strong business strategies based on the market and technological potential, Peronnin said. They will enable organizations to extract the maximum business value from the technology as it develops over time.
The consulting unit is built upon a wealth of academic and strategic experience, with a team of quantum physicists and strategists led by Dr. Linde Hansen, who earned a Ph.D. in quantum computing from the University of Oxford and previously led McKinseys knowledge and business development around quantum technologies.
Our team provides winning strategies based on first-hand experience and research across the quantum landscape, said Hansen, Quantum and Business Strategy Manager at Alice & Bob. First-movers who develop resource-efficient, solution-specific algorithms are expected to capture the most value from quantum computing.
Alice & Bobs hardware development is focused on cat qubits superconducting quantum bits with built-in error correction that reduce the hardware requirements for effective quantum computing.
Our roadmap focuses on a new, faster path to fault tolerance, that skips any intermediate steps of error-prone quantum prototypes, said Peronnin. Since we dont currently offer hardware for commercial use in the NISQ era, the Box team can be truly hardware agnostic regarding the advantages and risks of the full range of quantum hardware and software solutions for organizations, laying the groundwork for future fault-tolerant quantum applications.
About Alice & Bob
Alice & Bob is a French start-up whose goal is to realize the first universal, fault-tolerant quantum computer. Founded in 2020, Alice & Bob has already raised 30M in VC capital, hired over 70 employees, and demonstrated experimental results surpassing those of technological giants like Google or Amazon. A laureate of the French Tech DeepNum 20 and French Tech 2030 programs, Alice & Bob specializes in cat qubits, a technology reducing hardware requirements by up to 60 times compared to competing approaches. Demonstrating the power of its cat qubit architecture, Alice & Bob recently demonstrated that the number of qubits required for Shors algorithm can be reduced from 22 million to 300 thousand through a combination of algorithm optimization and adaptation by leveraging its approach.
Source: Alice & Bob
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Alice & Bob Unveils New Consulting Unit Focused on High-Value ... - HPCwire
DOE Funds 3 Projects to Support Quantum Networking Research … – Executive Gov
Three research projects specializing in quantum computer networking will receive a total of $24 million in grants over a period of up to three years from the Department of Energy.
DOE announced Tuesday that the chosen projects will help advance devices, techniques and protocols to make distributed quantum computers a reality.
One of the teams involves Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Northwestern University, the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign. They are using a full-stack, heterogenous approach to co-designing scalable quantum networks.
The Argonne and Fermi laboratories are also part of another study with the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, Northwestern University and the California Institute of Technology. It focuses on error noise-robust correction techniques as well as hyper-entanglement-based networking, which are expected to enhance quantum networks used in science discovery.
Another group is developing performance-integrated scalable quantum internet protocols and architecture. The study is a collaboration among Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, University of Arizona and the Arizona State University.
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DOE Funds 3 Projects to Support Quantum Networking Research ... - Executive Gov
Research Fellow in High Energy Physics and Quantum Computing … – Times Higher Education
Theory Group
Location: Highfield CampusSalary: 34,980 to 41,732 Per annumFull Time Fixed Term for 24 monthsClosing Date: Friday 15 September 2023Interview Date: To be confirmedReference: 2402023WF
About us:
University of Southampton is a world-leading research centre in theoretical and computational high energy physics with a group consisting 16 academics, 2 emeritus professors, 5 Research Fellows, and 30 PGR students. Within the Southampton High Energy Physics (SHEP) group, Dr Bipasha Chakraborty leads research in quantum computation for high energy physics. The other research interests of the SHEP include: lattice QCD, physics beyond the standard model, particle physics and cosmology, neutrino physics, b-quark and kaon phenomenology, exact renormalization group, extra-dimensional models of the weak interactions, weak interaction corrections at high energies, twistor methods, holography, strings and branes, and high density QCD. More information is accessible via our website https://www.hep.phys.soton.ac.uk.
About the role:
SHEP invites applications for a Research Fellow (post-doctoral) position to work with Dr Chakraborty on robust and reliable implementation of near- and medium-term quantum computations in high energy physics. This position is for two years at the first instance and is funded by a large collaborative grant EPSRC RoaRQ: Robust and Reliable Quantum Computing project (in collaboration with Dr Miriam Backens at University of Birmingham, Dr Balint Koczor and Dr Zhenyu Cai at the University of Oxford, and Dr Sarah Malik at University College London).
Please note, this funding cycle is not in sync with usual theoretical high energy physics funding cycle, and so as the hiring. Therefore, the tentative joining date will be in October, 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter (we will consider cases where flexibility is needed).
For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Bipasha Chakraborty, B.Chakraborty@soton.ac.uk.
About you:
The successful applicant will have or be soon to complete a PhD* (or equivalent professional qualification and experience) in mathematics/theoretical physics/theoretical computer science/computational science, and have research experience in quantum field theories and/or high energy physics and/or quantum computation. Experience in lattice QCD computations or numerical simulations of quantum field theories is desired.
Candidates will need to apply through the online system to be considered for the position. Candidates will need to upload a cover letter in support of application, a Curriculum Vitae, a list of publications, and a research statement including past research experiences and future research interests (maximum two pages long), and arrange for three letters of reference to be uploaded by your referees on the online system by the application deadline. In case of no previous quantum computation research experience candidates should address it in their statement and explain why they are suitable for this role.
At the University of Southampton, we value diversity and equality. The University recognises that employees may wish to have working patterns that fit with their caring responsibilities or work-life balance. Due consideration will also be given to applicants who have had career breaks for reasons including maternity, paternity or adoption leave, disability or illness. Both the University of Southampton and Physics & Astronomy are proud to hold Athena Swan Silver Awards. The School of Physics & Astronomy is also a Project Juno Champion.
*Applications for Research Fellow positions will be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification. The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon successful completion of the PhD. Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given.
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Research Fellow in High Energy Physics and Quantum Computing ... - Times Higher Education
Clemson mathematicians’ collaborative digital signature is a … – Clemson News
August 28, 2023August 28, 2023
A digital signature developed by researchers from Clemson University and three universities in Europe could become part of the national standard for encryption tools designed to protect the privacy of digital information against quantum computers in the future.
The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is holding a competition to select standard post-quantum digital signature algorithms that would securely authenticate email, credit card and bank transactions, and digital documents from unwanted third parties tampering.
The researchers CROSS (Codes and Restricted Objects Signature Scheme) proposal was named a candidate for standardization.
Now, researchers from around the world will try to break it.
If you think about it, this is the best way to choose the standards, said Felice Manganiello, an associate professor in the Clemson School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences and one of the developers of CROSS. Once they decide which proposals are the candidates, the rest of the world can try to attack them to find vulnerabilities. These systems are secure until they are not anymore. So, these competitions are actually a healthy way to decide the standard by having a lot of people working on proving the security.
Clemson graduate student Freeman Slaughter and researchers from Polytechnic University of Marche,Polytechnic University of Milanand Technical University of Munich also worked on the proposal.
Quantum computers could revolutionize the future of fields such as medicine, finance, energy and transportation by solving complex problems that are beyond the reach of even the best of todays classic supercomputers.
Unlike conventional computers that perform computation and store information in binary form (1s and 0s), quantum computers exploit the strange properties of quantum physics to operate on information in multiple forms known as qubits. By leveraging two key phenomena quantum superposition and entanglement quantum computers can explore multiple solution pathways simultaneously, allowing them to solve problems that would take a classic computer too long to calculate.
With that power would come the ability to crack todays standards for encryption and digital signatures, which rely on math problems that even a combination of the fastest conventional computers find intractable.
The standards we have today would not be sufficient, Manganiello said.
The NIST announced the first group of three digital signatures in July 2022 after a multi-year vetting process. It called for additional digital signature proposals in 2022. About 50 proposals were received and 40 were named candidates.
A digital signature is a mathematical algorithm used to validate the authenticity and integrity of an email, credit card transaction or digital document. Digital signatures create a virtual fingerprint that is unique to a person or entity and are used to identify users and protect information in digital messages or documents.Digital signaturesare significantly more secure than other forms of electronic signatures, according to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Six of the digital signature candidates are code-based signatures, including CROSS.
Manganiello said that after the NISTs first call for proposals several years ago, researchers realized that code-based cryptography was not competitive because it led to large signatures.
The code-based problems were the oldest and safest problems, but they were leading to very large signatures. That made the whole community start working on what could be done to decrease these signature sizes, he said.
While CROSS is code-based, it uses Merkle trees and zero-knowledge protocols to make the signatures shorter.
Our digital signature algorithm is competitive because the signatures are quite small and the speed of computing them is faster with respect to the other candidates, he said. The only issue is that the system is based on a more recent problem than others and theres not as much literature attacking it, he said.
Manganiello said it could take several years for the NIST to decide whether the researchers algorithm will be selected as a standard.
Or email us at news@clemson.edu
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Clemson mathematicians' collaborative digital signature is a ... - Clemson News
Whats up with Deutsche Telekom, BT and Infovista, Broadcom and VMware – TelecomTV
In todays industry news roundup: Deutsche Telekom has opened a quantum lab to explore the future secure communications networking options; Infovista helps BT with the automation of its fixed voice operations; Broadcom and VMware report sales increases ahead of their impending nuptials; and more!
Broadcom will be in a chipper mood right now. Following various regulatory approvals for its planned $61bn acquisition of VMware, it noted recently that its confident it can complete the deal by 30 October. Now both Broadcom and VMware have reported decent sales increases in their most recent financial quarters. For the third quarter of its fiscal year 2023, which ended on 30 July, Broadcom reported a 5% year-on-year increase in revenues to $8.9bn and an 8% increase in adjusted EBITDA to $5.8bn. Meanwhile, VMware reported a 2% year-on-year increase in second-quarter revenues to $3.41bn and a 1% increase in non-GAAP operating income to $977m.
Deutsche Telekom has opened a Quantum Lab in Berlin that is dedicated to quantum research and the integration of quantum technology into commercial telecommunications networks, the giant German operator has announced. The Berlin facility has dedicated infrastructure for quantum-optical experiments and is hooked up to 2,000 km of fibre networks that connect the lab to partners around Germany, including the Technical Universities of Berlin, Dresden and Munich, as well as the Fraunhofer Institut HHI and others from academia and the business sector. The opening of our Quantum Lab is a clear signal that we are serious about bringing quantum technology to the commercial networks of telecommunications providers, noted Claudia Nemat, chief technology and innovation officer at Deutsche Telekom. We explicitly invite the research and innovation community to join us in leveraging networks at the interface between R&D and commercial exploration like ours to prove that innovative quantum technology solutions work under real-world conditions and to usher in a new era of communications service, she added. This is far from DTs first foray into the quantum computing sector. Its enterprise services division, T-Systems, is already providing its customers with cloud access to IBMs quantum systems as part of its quantum-as-a-service offering, while DT was earlier this year handed the lead role in a European Commission project to build a high-security communications network, the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI), which will be designed to protect the European Union (EU) against cyberattacks in the upcoming era of quantum computing. News of DTs Quantum Lab comes just days after SK Telecom, a very close R&D partner of DT, announced it is using an ITU security group meeting currently being hosted in South Korea to push for the development of global quantum-safe communications standards based on a combination of quantum key distribution (QKD) and post-quantum cryptography (PQC) technologies see SKT pushes for quantum-safe comms standards.
Telco automation comes in many forms, many of which can be filed under unglamorous but hugely important. In the UK, the incumbent national telco BT is taking steps to minimise fixed voice outages and service interruptions by introducing automated processes. It is deploying new technology from Infovista, the Paris, France-headquartered network lifecycle automation specialist. BT wants (and needs) the ability to rapidly identify the root cause of service disruptions as part of its drive to increase operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. In a press release about the deployment, Infovista noted that for BT it has leveraged its existing Ativa for Fixed Voice assurance solution to develop a tailored solution that will focus on the automation of RCA [root cause analysis] and notification, improving troubleshooting through intelligent pattern discovery, correlation, analysis and alarm generation. The expectation is that Infovistas solution, by promptly detecting network anomalies associated with network degradations within BTs infrastructure, will reduce current response times to network problems by very quickly identifying the root causes of customer or service disruptions. This, in turn, should reduce the all-important mean time to resolution (MTTR) metric by up to 66% while simultaneously transforming the troubleshooting processes in BTs trouble-ticketing system. In detail, the Infovista technology provides automated workflows for issue detection, analysis, and alarm generation, providing relevant data to streamline network, service, and subscriber issue troubleshooting. The move from manual to automated operations does away with the need for initial level 1 support and fast-tracks direct escalation to level 2 teams, as, when and where required. Reza Rahnama, BT Groups managing director for mobile networks, noted: BT is committed to developing and delivering next-generation services that continue to put our customers at the core of what we do and to deliver better outcomes. This means digitally transforming our own operations and using the power of automation across our network, infrastructure, services and operations.
US fixed wireless access (FWA) network operator Starry, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February this year, has come out the other end of the process, having agreed a restructuring plan with the bankruptcy courts in May. We said from the beginning that Starry would emerge from this restructuring process stronger and ready to meet the growing demand for high-quality internet services, noted the companys CEO Alex Moulle-Berteaux. Today, as we exit this process, Starry is a stronger company. We are more operationally efficient and laser-focused on driving this business to profitability. Im immensely proud of all of our employees, who kept their focus on our customers, our network and on delivering an internet service experience that far outshines our big internet competitors. Im excited for this next phase of company growth and success for the company. The company also published a blog about what the end of the Chapter 11 period means for customers and the company. Read more.
Lets hear it for Ethernet, the ever-popular, proven and trusted suite of cabled computer networking technologies commonly used in local area networks (LAN), metropolitan area networks (MAN) and wide area networks (WAN). Around for decades before Wi-Fi, Ethernet was for a long time THE way to link computing and comms devices together. The technology was commercially introduced back in 1980 and was initially standardised (as IEEE 802.3) in 1983. Since then, Ethernet has seen off competing wired LAN competitors, such as ARCNET and Token Ring. And, even today, Ethernet retains advantages over Wi-Fi, in that it can be faster, more robust, stable and secure. It has also been repeatedly tweaked to carry increased bit rates, support a higher number of nodes and link longer and longer distances while continuing to retain backward compatibility. And now Ethernet is getting another vote of confidence as, in the US (and elsewhere too), service providers are further increasing Ethernet speeds and reach in response to demand from their business and wholesale customers. The demand is for 100 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity as enterprises and wholesalers upgrade their wired services and explore optical wavelength and dark fibre solutions. According to specialist optical networking publication Lightwave, Customer demand for retail wavelength circuits continued to outpace wholesale deployments in 2022 due to the surge in gigabit bandwidth requirements from carriers, webscale network operators and enterprises. In the US, service providers, such as Cogent, Lumen and Windstream, are reacting quickly to the increased demand and are boosting their networks (either through organic growth or via acquisition) to support more optical wavelength services. For example, Lumen Technologies is expanding its US intercity dark-fibre network to 12 million fibre miles and creating diverse routes to more than 50 major cities nationwide. It also plans to expand its network further over the next five years. And it has built out its 400Gbit/s wavelength network and has deployed its intercity wavelength network across 70 markets, giving customers a multiplicity of routing options. More than 240 datacentres are enabled for 400G Lumen Wavelength Services, and its network boasts more than 800 Tbit/s of capacity. The independent research house Vertical Systems Group, based in Medfield, Massachusetts, says the wavelength circuits sector is enjoying double-digit growth with demand for connections of 100Gbit/s or more expected to remain stratospheric until at least the end of 2027. Whats more, demand is also ramping up for services running at 400Gbit/s or more. And in addition to the impressive demand for wavelength and fibre-optic services, the continuing growth of Ethernet is acting as a foundation for next-gen dedicated internet/cloud access (DIA) and SD-WAN services. Rick Malone, principal of the Vertical Systems Group, wrote in the companys half-annual US Carrier Ethernet Services Leaderboard report that Ethernet port demand is being driven by the increasing use of DIA and SD-WAN services.
Intel is to invest $1.2bn in its production facilities in Costa Rica over the next two years to ensure its product assembly, research and development (R&D) and global services operations are ready to manage the companys latest technical innovations, the chip giant announced in a press release (published in Spanish).
Fascinating news from down under, where research scientists of the School of Physics and the School of Chemistry at the University of Sydney have used a quantum computer to slow down a simulated chemical reaction by an order of 100 billion! The research team at the Sydney Nanoscience Hub were able, for the first time in history, to directly observe the entire critical process in chemical reactions. The successful experiment was achieved by using a trapped-ion quantum computer in a way never attempted before. A trapped-ion quantum computer is one of several possible practical approaches to the construction of a universal large-scale quantum device. In such a device, ions (charged atomic particles) can be confined and suspended in free space using electromagnetic fields. Trapped ions have relatively long coherence times, which means that the qubits last a long time too. In the experiment, researchers were able to observe the interference pattern of a single atom caused by a common geometric structure in chemistry called a conical intersection. These conical intersections are known and commonplace throughout chemistry and are critical to rapid photo-chemical processes, such as light harvesting in human vision or photosynthesis on plants. Since as far back as the 1950s, many attempts have been made to directly observe geometric processes in chemical dynamics but the sheer speed of the reactions made it impossible. Now, however, it is possible to map the process onto a quantum device and then slow down the process by a factor of 100 billion. One of two lead authors of the project, Dr Christophe Valahu of the School of Physics, said, Until now, we have been unable to directly observe the dynamics of [the] geometric phase; it happens too fast to probe experimentally. [However] using quantum technologies, we have addressed this problem. Our experiment wasnt a digital approximation of the process this was a direct analogue observation of the quantum dynamics unfolding at a speed we could observe. Lead researcher, Vanessa Olaya-Agudelo of the School of Chemistry added, In nature, the whole process is over within femtoseconds. Thats a billionth of a millionth or one quadrillionth of a second. Using our quantum computer, we built a system that allowed us to slow down the chemical dynamics from femtoseconds to milliseconds. This allowed us to make meaningful observations and measurements. This has never been done before. She added, By understanding these basic processes inside and between molecules, we can open up a new world of possibilities in materials science, drug design, or solar energy harvesting. It could also help improve other processes that rely on molecules interacting with light, such as how smog is created or how the ozone layer is damaged. The research findings are published in the latest edition of Nature Chemistry.
- The staff, TelecomTV
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Whats up with Deutsche Telekom, BT and Infovista, Broadcom and VMware - TelecomTV
VTT is developing a purely electrical cooling method that will enable … – InvestorsObserver
ESPOO, Finland , Aug. 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- VTT is developing a cooling technology based on microelectronics and electric current, which can be utilised by low-temperature electronic and photonic components. The new technology reduces the size, power consumption and price of cooling systems. The method has a wide range of application fields: one topical example is quantum technology.
Many electronic, photonic and quantum technology components require cryogenics, as they only operate at very low temperatures. For example, a quantum computer built from superconducting circuits has to be cooled near to the absolute zero (-273.15C). Currently, such temperatures are achieved by complex and large dilution coolers. VTT's electronic method can replace and complement existing solutions and thus reduce the size of the refrigerators. Accordingly, this makes it possible to significantly reduce the size of quantum computers.
Electronic method as a part of the cooling system
Current dilution refrigerators are based on multistage pumping of cryogenic liquids. Although these coolers are commercial technology today, they are still very expensive and large. What makes the cooler technology complicated is especially its coldest stage, where refrigerant is a mixture of helium isotopes. New electric cooling technology could replace this part. This would make the system much simpler, smaller, more efficient and more cost effective. A cooler the size of a car, which cools a silicon chip of about a square centimeter in size, could be shrunk by orders of magnitudes down to a size of a suitcase, for example.
"We believe that this purely electric cooling method can be utilised in numerous applications requiring cryogenics, from quantum computing to sensitive radiation detectors and space technology," says VTT Research Professor Mika Prunnila , who is leading the cooler development.
New business opportunities
VTT researchers have already experimentally confirmed the functionality of the cooling method. The method is now being refined into a commercial demonstrator in SoCool-project which was granted to VTT in the highly competitive EIC-Transition program of the European Commission. VTT will also continue the highly important fundamental research of electronic coolers in the CoRE-Cryo-project, funded by the Technology Industries of Finland Centennial Foundation.
Electric cooling can be used to actively cool components directly on a silicon chip or in large-scale general purpose refrigerators. It is a platform technology that is suitable for numerous applications and creates opportunities for new business. The active part of the cooler is manufactured using microelectronics manufacturing methods on silicon wafers, which makes the manufacturing very cost-effective.
"Making the refrigeration systems more user friendly, smaller and cheaper can significantly boost the application of cryo-enabled technologies to new areas. We see that our electronic cooling technology can play an important role in this development," Mika Prunnila says.
Cryogenics has become an area of increasing interest thanks to quantum technology. Systems developed for the extreme demands of the quantum technology can be also used in various sensors, space technology and possibly also in classical computing. Compact and easy-to-use cooling methods contribute to the large-scale adoption of these technologies. Quantum technology is expected to be only the tip of the iceberg for cryogenic, cryo-electronic and cryo-photonic applications.
For additional information:
SoCool-project
More information about the electric cooling method
A scientific article on the cooling method published by Science Advances
Media material:
Figure 1: Silicon wafer with VTT's electronic refrigerators. The wafer is under visual investigation under a microscope.
Figure 2: Schematic illustration of VTT's electronic refrigerator technology. Refrigerator chips are joined by tunnel junctions, through which the passing electrical current leads to cooling, and the lowest temperature is reached on the topmost chip.
Figure 3: VTT's electronic refrigerator prototypes going to cryogenic testing.
Further information on VTT:
Kirsi Jaatinen Specialist, Communications +358 20 722 6757, kirsi.jaatinen@vtt.fi http://www.vtt.fi
Mika Prunnila, Research Professor, VTT tel. +358 40 537 8910, mika.prunnila@vtt.fi
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VTT is developing a purely electrical cooling method that will enable ... - InvestorsObserver