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LONDON Quantum computing is more than just a dream for scientists and engineers: it is a reality that awaits us. When we arrive at this reality that was once sci-fi fodder remains the question. Now, for the first time, researchers have successfully created an interface that allows for two machines to connect and share stored quantum information, essentially the first tangible steps towards a quantum internet. The feat was also achieved at a wavelength compatible with the optical fiber system we use today for telecommunications.

The breakthrough takes us closer to a world where information can be transmitted with absolute security, and complex computations can be performed at lightning speed. This is the promise of quantum technologies, which harness the bizarre properties of quantum mechanics, such as superposition and entanglement. However, realizing this potential requires the ability to transfer and store quantum information, which is typically carried by single particles of light called photons.

One of the most promising platforms for generating these photons is semiconductor quantum dots tiny islands of material that can emit light with unique quantum properties. These quantum dots are like artificial atoms, and can be engineered to produce photons on demand, making them ideal candidates for quantum communication protocols. However, to build a functional quantum network, these photons need to be stored and processed, which is where atomic quantum memories come in. These memories use ensembles of atoms to absorb and store the quantum state of light, allowing it to be retrieved at a later time. The challenge lies in getting these two systems to talk to each other effectively.

The key to bridging this divide is to match the properties of the light emitted by the quantum dot with the requirements of the atomic memory. This is no easy task, as quantum dots typically emit light with a slightly different color and character than what atoms prefer to absorb.

To overcome this hurdle, the researchers, led by Dr. Sarah Thomas from Imperial College London and Lukas Wagner from the University of Stuttgart, used a range of cutting-edge techniques. First, they carefully engineered the quantum dot to emit light at a wavelength of 1529.3 nm, which falls within the low-loss telecommunication band the same band used by our internet infrastructure. This is crucial for integrating quantum technologies with existing communication networks.

Next, they fine-tuned the properties of the light, using a series of filters and modulators to match its spectral and temporal profile to the requirements of the atomic memory. The memory itself is based on a protocol called ORCA (Off-Resonant Cascaded Absorption), which uses a cloud of rubidium atoms. When a strong control pulse of light is applied, it dynamically changes the absorption properties of the atoms, allowing them to store the quantum state of the incident photon.

The team demonstrated that they could store single photons from the quantum dot in the rubidium memory with an efficiency of 12.9%, and retrieve them at a later time of their choosing. Importantly, the retrieved photons retained their quantum character, with a signal-to-noise ratio of 18.2. This means that the memory can store and release the fragile quantum information carried by the photons without significant degradation.

This research, published in the journal Science Advances,represents a significant step towards the realization of hybrid quantum networks, where different quantum systems are interconnected to perform complex tasks. By interfacing solid-state photon emitters with atomic memories, we can envision a future where quantum information is generated, transmitted, stored, and processed across a distributed network, much like classical information is today across the internet.

Interfacing two key devices together is a crucial step forward in allowing quantum networking, and we are really excited to be the first team to have been able to demonstrate this, Thomas says in a media release.

However, there are still challenges to overcome. The efficiency of the storage and retrieval process needs to be improved, and the storage time of the memory needs to be extended. The researchers are already working on techniques to enhance these parameters, such as using dynamic control fields to compensate for the motion of the atoms, which currently limits the memory lifetime.

Furthermore, to truly scale up these systems, it will be necessary to integrate them on chip-based platforms, where multiple quantum dots and memories can be connected via waveguides and switches. This will require advances in nanofabrication and materials science, as well as the development of new interface protocols.

Despite these challenges, the potential payoff is immense. Quantum networks could enable applications such as unhackable communication, distributed quantum computing, enhanced sensing and metrology, and fundamental tests of quantum mechanics over large scales. By bringing together the best of solid-state and atomic physics, this work opens the door to a new era of quantum technologies.

Members of the quantum community have been actively attempting this link for some time. This includes us, having tried this experiment twice before with different memory and quantum dot devices, going back more than five years, which just shows how hard it is to do, says co-author Dr. Patrick Ledingham from the University of Southampton. The breakthrough this time was convening experts to develop and run each part of the experiment with specialist equipment and working together to synchronize the devices.

The exciting experiment demonstrates the feasibility of storing and retrieving single photons from a quantum dot in an atomic quantum memory. It showcases the power of hybrid quantum systems, and the potential for telecommunications band operation a key requirement for real-world applications. As we continue to push the boundaries of quantum science and engineering, such hybrid interfaces will play a crucial role in realizing the full potential of quantum technologies. The future of quantum networking is bright, and its getting brighter one photon at a time.

Article reviewed by StudyFinds Editor-in-Chief Steve Fink.

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'Quantum internet' connection finally achieved in historic breakthrough - - Study Finds

PALO ALTO, Calif., April 18, 2024 D-Wave Quantum Inc., a leader in quantum computing systems, software, and services and the worlds first commercial supplier of quantum computers, today launched the fast-anneal feature, available on all of D-Waves quantum processing units (QPUs) in the Leap real-time quantum cloud service.

The fast-anneal feature has been a key part of D-Waves research milestones, including work published in Nature Physics (2022) and Nature (2023), demonstrating the advantages of annealing quantum computing over classical algorithms for solving complex optimization problems. With this feature now widely accessible, users can perform quantum computations at unprecedented speeds, greatly reducing the impact of external disturbances such as thermal fluctuations and noise that often hinder quantum calculations.

By offering extended control for notably faster annealing times than previously available, the feature paves the way for customers to reproduce and build on D-Waves landmark optimization results using full-scale coherent annealing quantum computing available through D-Waves Advantage systems and the Advantage2 prototype, the companys most performant system to date.

Providing direct access to Fast Anneal, which has been at the heart of D-Waves recent advancements, represents a significant step forward in our mission to provide customers with the resources they need to drive innovation and achieve extraordinary results, said Dr. Alan Baratz, CEO of D-Wave. We believe it will further empower them to build industry-shaping applications with the most powerful quantum computing environment available today.

Growing customer demand for D-Waves latest annealing quantum computing technology is clear from the usage of the two next-generation Advantage2 experimental prototypes, which together have solved nearly eight million customer problems since they were made available in 2022 and 2024.

The fast-anneal feature is anticipated to draw attention from commercial and academic researchers eager to build world-class applications, expand benchmarking studies, and connect increased coherence to better performance.

The ability to use the fast-anneal feature to directly interact with D-Waves Advantage2 prototype is particularly exciting for our work building quantum-enhanced generative AI models trained on molecular data to accelerate drug discovery and design new materials, said Christopher Savoie, co-founder and CEO of Zapata AI. The fast-anneal feature can produce coherent distributions that have the potential to allow more efficient encoding of complex data patterns in a way that is classically impractical. In addition to molecular discovery applications, this feature could also be valuable in other industrial applications involving complex data patterns, particularly in combinatorial optimization problems found across industries.

By providing direct access to quantum computings central nervous system, D-Wave is single-handedly opening new horizons for our research on quantum computing and AI, said Ed Heinbockel, president and CEO of SavantX. We believe the new capability will help us realize significant benefits of coherence on application development that wed otherwise be unable to achieve.

Fast Anneal will assist researchers in observing the distinctive physical processes inherent in the quantum world. Heightened coherence and reduced environmental interference will open avenues in quantum sciences, said Alejandro Lopez-Bezanilla with Los Alamos National Laboratory. By equipping scientists with technology capable of exploring the interactions of quantum objects with control and minimal disturbances, we anticipate a new era of experimentation free from the limitations that have hindered traditional experimental approaches. With increased quantum coherence, we can finally achieve precise observations of quantum phenomena, previously only accessible in theory but now within reach of experimental validation.

About Zapata AI

Zapata AI (Nasdaq: ZPTA) is an Industrial Generative AI company, revolutionizing how enterprises solve complex operational challenges with its powerful suite of generative AI software. By combining numerical and text-based generative AI models and custom software applications to power industrial-scale solutions, Zapata AI enables enterprises and government entities to drive growth, cost savings, and critical operational insights. With its proprietary data science and engineering techniques, and the Orquestra platform, Zapata AI is accelerating Generative AIs impact across industries by delivering higher performing, less costly, and more accurate solutions than current systems. The Company was founded in 2017, spun out of Harvard University, and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

About SavantX

SavantX is one of the first organizations in the world to leverage the enormous power of quantum computing to solve large-scale data challenges that unlock transformational growth in productivity and innovation. With a focus on solving real-world problems, SavantX offers a suite of powerful products through SEEKER and HONE that help organizations unlock their full potential. SEEKER revolutionizes the way organizations access and understand their data. With seamless integration of Generative AI, SEEKER enables frictionless access to vast knowledge repositories, providing actionable insights and uncovering hidden relationships and patterns. Powered by Quantum Computing technology from industry leader D-Wave, HONE (Hyper Optimized Nodal Efficiency) leverages the immense power of our quantum algorithms to tackle large-scale optimization problems in the supply chain space.

About Los Alamos National Laboratory

Los Alamos National Laboratory is one of the worlds most innovative multidisciplinary research institutions. Were engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security to ensure the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile. Our workforce specializes in a wide range of progressive science, technology and engineering across many exciting fields, including space exploration, geophysics, renewable energy, supercomputing, medicine and nanotechnology.

About D-Wave Quantum Inc.

D-Wave is a leader in the development and delivery of quantum computing systems, software, and services, and is the worlds first commercial supplier of quantum computersand the only company building both annealing quantum computers and gate-model quantum computers. Our mission is to unlock the power of quantum computing today to benefit business and society. We do this by delivering customer value with practical quantum applications for problems as diverse as logistics, artificial intelligence, materials sciences, drug discovery, scheduling, cybersecurity, fault detection, and financial modeling. D-Waves technology has been used by some of the worlds most advanced organizations including Mastercard, Deloitte, Davidson Technologies, ArcelorMittal, Siemens Healthineers, Unisys, NEC Corporation, Pattison Food Group Ltd., DENSO, Lockheed Martin, Forschungszentrum Jlich, University of Southern California, and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Source: D-Wave

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D-Wave Introduces New Fast Anneal Feature, Extending Quantum Computing Performance Gains - HPCwire