By Kenna Hughes-Castleberry posted 02 Mar 2024
Quantum News Briefs: March 2, 2024:
Argonne’s Q-NEXT Initiative Paves the Way for Superior Quantum Technologies Using Niobium
Niobium, a material once sidelined in the field of quantum technology, has been brought back into the spotlight by a team led by David Schuster of Stanford University, showcasing its potential as a superior core qubit material in quantum computing. The advancement, supported by Q-NEXT, a U.S. Department of Energy National Quantum Information Science Research Center, led by DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory, comes from the team developing a new niobium-based Josephson junction design. This innovation significantly extends the coherence time of niobium qubits, making them competitive with their aluminum counterparts and revitalizing niobium’s role in advancing quantum computing, networks, and sensors. By overcoming previous limitations related to niobium’s engineering challenges, the team has expanded the operational capabilities of superconducting qubits, promising enhancements in various fields, including medicine, finance, and communication, thanks to niobium’s ability to operate at higher temperatures and across a wider range of frequencies and magnetic fields.
U.S. Quantum Director Charles Tahan Calls for NQIA Reauthorization Now
In a recent Director’s Letter from Charles Tahan, the Director of the National Quantum Coordination Office (NQCO) and Assistant Director for Quantum Information Science at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, optimism is expressed for the renewal of the U.S. National Quantum Initiative Act (NQIA) of 2018, despite last year’s congressional gridlock. Tahan underscores the urgency of reauthorizing the NQIA to advance quantum information science (QIS) in the United States. Highlighting the achievements and initiatives of the NQCO, the letter outlines recommendations for a reauthorized NQIA, emphasizing the importance of expanding and supporting quantum information science research, education, and international cooperation. Tahan also focuses on the pivotal role of early education in fostering a future quantum workforce, showcasing the National Q-12 Education program and sharing his personal journey into QIS to illustrate the transformative potential of early exposure and education in quantum sciences.
LSU Quantum Researchers uncover important implications for quantum technology
The LSU Quantum Photonics Group, led by Associate Professor Omar Magaña-Loaiza, has published research in Nature Physics that challenges the conventional understanding of surface plasmons, representing a significant leap in the field of quantum plasmonics. By dissecting the collective behaviors of plasmonic systems into multiparticle subsystems, the team discovered new behaviors of surface plasmons, such as inverse patterns and opposite interference, deviating from classical expectations. These findings, achieved through experimental and theoretical approaches, suggest that plasmons can exhibit characteristics of both bosons and fermions under certain conditions, hinting at the potential for developing more sensitive and robust quantum technologies. This research, highlighting the largest-ever quantum plasmonic system studied, is expected to enhance the sensitivity and precision of sensors in various applications, from medical diagnostics to environmental monitoring, and propel further advancements in quantum simulations and information science.
In Other News: Yahoo Finance article: “Quantum Computing Research Report 2024: Private Companies Lead the Way in the US, While in China, Expertise is Increasingly Concentrated Within State Institutions”
A recent report, published in Yahoo Finance, highlights that, despite these hurdles, significant progress is being made, with China and the US leading the charge in quantum computing development through divergent strategies; the US relies on private enterprises, while China focuses on state institutions, with major players like Alibaba and Baidu pivoting to support national efforts. The near term will see the emergence of noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices and the development of modular systems, offering optimization solutions in fields ranging from logistics to drug discovery. Meanwhile, classical supercomputing continues to advance, achieving milestones once thought to be the exclusive domain of quantum computing. This report outlines the current landscape and future trajectory of quantum computing, detailing the technology, key trends, and industry players poised to achieve quantum supremacy, signaling a quantum leap in computational capabilities across various sectors.
In Other News: “The Quantum Leap: 3 Stocks Pioneering the Computing Revolution”
In the rapidly evolving quantum computing sector, three stocks stand out for effectively balancing risk and innovation: IonQ, Alphabet, and Microsoft, according to a recent Investor Place article. IonQ, the only pure-play quantum computing company, has shown remarkable market performance and technological advancements, particularly with its IonQ Forte system achieving 35 algorithmic qubits. Alphabet has made significant strides in quantum supremacy since 2019, advancing its Sycamore processor and breakthrough error-correction technology, which has led to a significant stock price increase. Microsoft merges financial strength with quantum innovation through topological qubits and the development of the Q# programming language, positioning itself as a leader in the quantum computing space. These companies are poised for explosive growth in a market expected to expand significantly by 2030, offering promising investment opportunities in a technology set to redefine digital boundaries.
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry is the Managing Editor at Inside Quantum Technology and the Science Communicator at JILA (a partnership between the University of Colorado Boulder and NIST). Her writing beats include deep tech, quantum computing, and AI. Her work has been featured in National Geographic, Scientific American, Discover Magazine, New Scientist, Ars Technica, and more.
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- Source: https://www.insidequantumtechnology.com/news-archive/quantum-news-briefs-march-2-2024-argonnes-q-next-initiative-paves-the-way-for-superior-quantum-technologies-using-niobium-u-s-quantum-director-charles-tahan-calls-for-nqia-reauthorizatio/
