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PRESS RELEASEUniversity of Waterloo/December 15, 2023Practical and scalable quantum computers are still in the early stages of development, and many technical challenges need to be overcome before they can be widely used for various applications. Researchers and companies globally, as well as right here at the University of Waterloo, are diligently pushing the boundaries of quantum computing technology, driving forward innovations in this emerging field.

The Transformative Quantum Technologies (TQT) program hosted its annual Quantum Opportunities and Showcase on December 14, at the Research Advancement Centre 2 (RAC2).

TQT is a collaborative research initiative supported by the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) at Waterloo. It aims to accelerate the development and use of impactful quantum devices. The University is not only dedicated to ground-breaking research but has spun out more than 15 quantum startups. This combination of world leading facilities, researchers and innovations is why Waterloo is referred to as Canadas quantum valley.

The showcase delivered a deep dive into the world of quantum technologies and their potential applications in the fields of environmental and health sciences. The event allowed for researchers, students and industry to come together and discuss ways to advance the field and provide examples of the capabilities of quantum computing. The day included insightful panels, presentations and a tour of the state-of-the-art research labs at the IQC and TQT.

Left to right: Tracey Forrest, program director, TQT, Shirley Tang, associate dean, research, Faculty of Science, Alexandre Cooper-Roy, research associate and senior technical lead, Quantum Simulation and Transformative Quantum Technologies, Weinan Zhao, postdoctoral fellow, Neil Rowlands, engineering fellow, Honeywell Aerospace

Kicking things off in a panel discussion on quantum in the environment, experts discussed where quantum could help in the future when it comes to measuring, monitoring and mitigating the environmental impacts of human activity on the atmosphere, our oceans and in our terrestrial ecosystems.

All this environmental monitoring, data collection and processing takes immense computing power. Quantum computers have the potential to solve certain problems much faster than traditional computers. They are particularly well-suited for tasks such as factoring large numbers, searching large databases and simulating systems, which are challenging for traditional computers to handle efficiently.

In addressing the vast challenges of monitoring water, air and soil impacted, the current system of sequential sampling is economically impractical due to the extensiveness and remoteness of areas involved, said Dr. Shirley Tang, associate dean of research in the Faculty of Science. To overcome this, quantum technology may offer a promising solution by enabling simultaneous monitoring of multiple sites using remote sensor technology, revolutionizing our approach to understanding environmental changes.

The panel also discussed how using quantum computing for environmental assessment raises challenges as quantum sensors may work well in a lab environment, but do not fare well in rugged terrain.

I encourage reaching out to potential beneficiaries of quantum technology, understanding their specific needs and adoption criteria, Alexandre Cooper-Roy said, a research associate and senior technical lead for Quantum Simulation and Transformative Quantum Technologies. Mining companies, operating in noisy and dirty environments, they have a very different operation criteria than what happens in the lab. So, its very important to engage at the earlier stage.

Left to right: Dmitry Pushin, professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michael Reimer, professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Troy Borneman, senior scientist, High Q Technologies, Michal Bajcsy, professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Subha Kalyaanamoorthy, professor, Department of Chemistry

The health panel explored ways that quantum technologies could be used in a range of applications from medical imaging to drug discovery and the development of personalized medicine.

A recurring theme was how quantum scientists need to regularly consult with end users of quantum devices from technicians to clinicians.

Our quantum device, designed for high sensitivity, became more impactful when we identified real-world problems through conversations with those who could guide us in integrating it into their workflows, Troy Borneman said, a senior scientist at a quantum startup called High Q Technologies. This approach proved effective in making a meaningful impact, especially in addressing economic and time efficiency concerns in large biological or health problems.

In our case at High Q Technologies, we recognized a significant challenge in biology related to understanding protein folding and structural biology. This led us to design a system with high sensitivity for electron paramagnetic resonance, a crucial aspect for pharmaceutical companies and their drug development techniques, Borneman said.

After the panel discussions, the potential of quantum applications came to life through insightful posters and guided tours of the quantum labs at the Research and Advancement Centre (RAC2). Waterloos students and researchers presented how they use the cutting-edge equipment to develop their innovative projects and discussed possible commercialization avenues, establishing foundations for tangible impact.

Right: Graduate student Connor Kapahi demonstrates quantum opportunities in optometry

This showcase highlights Waterloos leadership in advancing quantum computing, a developing scientific field, to generate new technologies for positive human progress in the realms of environmental and health sciences.

The TQT program has demonstrated agility in addressing needs and providing ongoing support for ambitious research-to-application activities, as discussed today, said Tracey Forrest, program director, Transformative Quantum Technologies. Since its launch in 2016, TQT has assisted more than 600 researchers, including students, postdocs and nearly 50 faculty members at the University of Waterloo.

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The Future of Quantum Computing in Environmental and Health Sciences - The Quantum Insider

Over the past two decades, numerous businesses such as Google, Microsoft, and IBM have joined the race to develop quantum computing. Investors have contributed well over $5 billion towards the ultimate goal of creating the next major innovation. Quantum computers utilize the unusual rules of atomic and subatomic matter to process data in ways unattainable by traditional or classical computers. This technology could revolutionize industries like drug development, cryptography, finance, and supply chain management.

However, the primary challenge hampering the progress of quantum computing is the issue of noise and decoherence, which lead to errors in computations. Qubits, the fundamental unit of quantum computing, are highly sensitive to their environment, and any disturbance or fluctuations in temperature can cause them to lose their quantum state, affecting the accuracy and reliability of calculations.

Despite the potential of quantum computing, it remains fragile and susceptible to even the slightest disturbance, such as a stray photon produced by heat, an accidental signal from nearby electronics, or a physical vibration. This noise causes chaos, leading to errors or even bringing quantum computation to a halt. Scientists and researchers are diligently working on ways to mitigate this issue, utilizing strategies like error correction algorithms, better materials, and improved isolation techniques. The race towards a truly functional and efficient quantum computer hinges on finding the perfect balance between inherent fragility and maintaining performance capabilities.

Researchers believed they might have to work with noisy components. Many sought applications that would still be practical with limited capacity. Although this search has not been particularly successful, recent theoretical and experimental advancements have given researchers hope that noise issues might finally be tackled. These advancements include developing innovative error-correcting techniques and refining hardware designs to minimize interference, driving renewed optimism within the scientific community.

Sabrina Maniscalco, a professor at the University of Helsinki studying the impact of noise on computations, admitted that a decade ago, she dismissed quantum computing due to fundamental issues. However, technological advancements and innovative research around quantum computing began addressing these challenges, changing her perspective and revealing its immense potential to transform industries and solve complex problems.

A mix of hardware and software techniques shows potential in reducing, managing, and correcting quantum errors, aiming to enhance stability and improve overall performance. Researchers are making significant strides toward achieving fault-tolerant quantum computing by combining advanced algorithms with robust hardware designs.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Markus Winkler; Pexels

Deanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.

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Quantum computing progress hindered by noise - ReadWrite

A team of Harvard scientists working on a project funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has announced a significant breakthrough in the field of quantum computing.

Researchers working with the Optimization with Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (ONISQ) program say they have created the worlds first quantum circuit using logical quantum bits (qubits). The innovation marks a significant stride towards fault-tolerant quantum computing, promising to revolutionize the design of quantum computer processors.

Established in 2020, DARPA says the ONISQ program aims to develop ways to surpass the capabilities of classical supercomputers in solving combinatorial optimization problems, a challenging class of problems relevant to defense and commercial sectors.

The Optimization with Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum devices (ONISQ) program aims to exploit quantum information processing before fully fault-tolerant quantum computers are realized, DARPA wrote indocumentsprovided during a 2019 Proposers Day event. This effort will pursue a hybrid concept that combines intermediate-sized quantum devices with classical systems to solve a particularly challenging set of problems known as combinatorial optimization.

In early 2020, DARPA awarded a $6.3 million contract to ColdQuanta, a quantum computing company based in Colorado, to lead the ONISQ project. In November 2023, ColdQuanta underwent a rebranding to Infleqtion, shifting its focus to commercial quantum computing products.

DARPA credited this recent quantum computing breakthrough to the collaborative efforts of researchers from Harvard, MIT, QuEra Computing, Caltech, and Princeton. The research team was led by the co-director of the Harvard Quantum Initiative and professor of physics, Dr. Mikhail Lukin.

In their research, the ONISQ team focused on Rydberg qubits a type of physical, non-logical qubits. Through this effort, they successfully developed techniques to create error-correcting logical qubits from these noisy Rydberg qubits.

Logical qubits are essential for realizing fault-tolerant quantum computing, as they maintain their quantum state despite errors, making them reliable for solving complex problems.

The Harvard laboratory successfully built quantum circuits comprising around 48 Rydberg logical qubits the largest assembly of logical qubits to date.

The homogeneous nature of Rydberg qubits, where each qubit behaves identically, offers a significant advantage over other qubit types like superconducting qubits, which are unique and non-interchangeable. This homogeneity enables rapid scaling and easy manipulation using lasers on a quantum circuit.

Dr. Mukund Vengalattore, ONISQ program manager at DARPAs Defense Sciences Office, highlighted the transformative potential of the discovery.

Rydberg qubits have the beneficial characteristic of being homogenous in their properties meaning each qubit is indistinguishable from the next in how they behave, Dr. Vengalattore said in astatementissued by DARPA. Thats not the case for other platforms such as superconducting qubits where each qubit is unique and therefore not interchangeable.

According to Dr. Vengalattore, Rydberg qubits can be dynamically reconfigured and transported across the quantum circuit using laser tweezers, allowing for operations not limited to sequential processes. This capability opens up new paradigms in designing scalable quantum computing processors.

Dr. Guido Zuccarello, a technical adviser for the ONISQ program, praised DARPAs exploratory approach as playing a crucial role in unlocking the potential of Rydberg qubits in quantum computing.

If anyone had predicted three years ago when the ONISQ program began that Rydberg neutral atoms could function as logical qubits, no one would have believed it, Dr. Zuccarello said. Its the DARPA way to bet on the potential of these less-studied qubits along with the more well-studied ions and superconducting circuits. As an exploratory program, ONISQ gave researchers the leeway to explore unique and new applications beyond just the optimization focus.

As a result, the Harvard-led team was able to leverage much more of the potential of these Rydberg qubits and turn them into logical qubits, which is a very significant discovery.

While significantly more than 48 logical qubits are required to tackle the problems envisioned for quantum computers, researchers say the revolutionary advent of early error-corrected quantum charts a path toward large-scale logical processors.

The breakthrough also challenges the traditional belief that millions of physical qubits are necessary for fault-tolerant quantum computing. Thanks to dynamically reconfigurable quantum circuits, the number of logical qubits needed to solve specific problems could be far fewer than previously thought.

DARPA attributed the accelerated application of Rydberg quantum sensing techniques to the agencys nearly twenty-year commitment to quantum research and bridging the gaps between quantum sensing and quantum information science.

According to Dr. Vengalattore, the ONISQ researchers could draw upon a rich toolbox of quantum knowledge developed through multiple DARPA programs.

This toolbox included deep fundamental and technical insights from many DARPA programs, including OLE [Optical Lattice Emulator], QuASAR [Quantum-Assisted Sensing and Readout], ATN [All Together Now], and DRINQS [Driven and Nonequilibrium Quantum Systems], Dr. Vengalattore elaborated.

The technical details of the Harvard teams breakthrough are detailed in a paper published inNature, offering a glimpse into the future of quantum computing.

Ultimately, the advent of quantum computing stands to revolutionize the world in profound ways akin to the transformative impact of the internet.

The technological leap promises a paradigm shift in processing power and efficiency by taking advantage of quantum mechanical phenomena, redefining our approach to problem-solving across various fields, from cryptography to materials science and beyond.

Experts believe the ripple effects from quantum computing will likely permeate every aspect of society, potentially reshaping industries, economies, and day-to-day life, marking a new era in human technological progress.

As Dr. Vengalattore notes, this recent discovery is not just an end but another step toward making quantum computing a reality.

As exciting and transformative as these results are, we see this as a stepping stone towards a longer-term vision of actualizing disruptive pathways to error-corrected quantum computing and other areas of quantum technology.

Tim McMillan is a retired law enforcement executive, investigative reporter and co-founder of The Debrief. His writing typically focuses on defense, national security, the Intelligence Community and topics related to psychology. You can follow Tim on Twitter:@LtTimMcMillan. Tim can be reached by email:tim@thedebrief.orgor through encrypted email:LtTimMcMillan@protonmail.com

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DARPA Research Leads to Groundbreaking Discovery in Quantum Computing, Developing the World's First Logical ... - The Debrief