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Category: computing – Page 157

Singapore’s AQSolotl Introduces CHRONOS-Q: A Quantum Controller for Use in Integrating Classical and Quantum Computers

In a pioneering move for quantum technology, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) have launched AQSolotl, a deep-tech startup presenting CHRONOS-Q —a state-of-the-art quantum controller designed to integrate classical computing systems with quantum computers. This innovation positions Singapore at the forefront of the global quantum ecosystem, with wide-ranging applications across industries.

CHRONOS-Q tackles the complexity of controlling quantum computers by acting as a translator between classical and quantum systems. It enables efficient control via standard computing devices, features an intuitive interface, and significantly reduces operational barriers, paving the way for broader adoption. Its modular, compact design ensures scalability and suitability for diverse environments, from research labs to mobile quantum setups.

With groundbreaking speed—determining qubit states in under 14 nanoseconds—and customizable firmware, CHRONOS-Q promises cost-effective, future-proof solutions for academia and industry. The startup’s founders, including Professor Rainer Dumke from NTU and CEO Patrick Bore, emphasize the transformative potential of accessible quantum computing for solving global challenges.

This Cryptographer Helps Quantum-Proof the Internet

Users of Google’s Chrome browser can rest easy knowing that their surfing is secure, thanks in part to cryptographer Joppe Bos. He’s coauthor of a quantum-secure encryption algorithm that was adopted as a standard by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in August and is already being implemented in a wide range of technology products, including Chrome.

Rapid advances in quantum computing have stoked fears that future devices may be able to break the encryption used by most modern technology. These approaches to encryption typically rely on mathematical puzzles that are too complex for classical computers to crack. But quantum computers can exploit quantum phenomena like superposition and entanglement to compute these problems much faster, and a powerful enough machine should be able to break current encryption.

Spintronics memory innovation: A new perpendicular magnetized film

Long gone are the days where all our data could fit on a two-megabyte floppy disk. In today’s information-based society, the increasing volume of information being handled demands that we switch to memory options with the lowest power consumption and highest capacity possible.

Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM) is part of the next generation of storage devices expected to meet these needs. Researchers at the Advanced Institute for Materials Research (WPI-AIMR) investigated a cobalt-manganese-iron alloy thin film that demonstrates a high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA)—key aspects for fabricating MRAM devices using spintronics.

The findings were published in Science and Technology of Advanced Materials on November 13, 2024.

Advancing unidirectional heat flow: The next era of quantum thermal diodes

Heat management at the nanoscale has long been a cornerstone of advanced technological applications, ranging from high-performance electronics to quantum computing. Addressing this critical challenge, we have been deeply intrigued by the emerging field of thermotronics, which focuses on manipulating heat flux in ways analogous to how electronics control electric energy. Among its most promising advancements are quantum thermal diodes, which enable directional heat control, and quantum thermal transistors, which regulate heat flow with precision.

Thermal diodes, much like their electrical counterparts, provide unidirectional heat transfer, allowing heat to flow in one direction while blocking it in the reverse. We find this capability revolutionary for heat management, as it has the potential to transform numerous fields.

For instance, thermal diodes can significantly improve the cooling of high-performance electronics, where is a major bottleneck. They could also enable more efficient energy harvesting by converting into usable energy, contributing to sustainability efforts.

Scientists Unveil Shape of a Single Photon for the First Time!

A team of researchers at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom has made a significant breakthrough in physics by visualizing the shape of a single photon for the first time. This achievement was facilitated by an innovative computer model that simplifies the complex interaction between light and matter, a major challenge in the fields of physics and quantum mechanics.

Photons, the particles of light, have long captivated scientists. Since their discovery, it has been proven that light behaves both as a wave and a particle, a phenomenon known as wave-particle duality. This concept, which took centuries to be accepted, has been pivotal for the advancement of quantum mechanics, the branch of physics that studies subatomic interactions.

Photons are central to many phenomena, including lighting, telecommunications, and even touchscreen technology. However, despite their significance, the precise nature of their shape remained unknown until this team of researchers discovered a new way to visualize them.

Startup’s Universal Processor combines CPU, GPU, DSP, and FPGA into a single chip

Ubitium doesn’t just envision a single Universal Processor; they’re aiming to build an entire lineup, ranging from tiny embedded devices to high-performance computing systems that could potentially compete with the largest chips from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel.

The potential upsides are tantalizing. For one, Ubitium claims its Universal Processor can deliver 10 to 100 times better performance per cost compared to today’s dedicated chips.

Northwestern Engineers Achieve Quantum Teleportation Over Existing Internet Cable

Northwestern University engineers have achieved quantum teleportation over fiber optic cables already carrying Internet traffic, an advance that could simplify the infrastructure needed for quantum computing and advanced sensing technologies, the university is reporting.

The study, published in Optica, demonstrates that quantum communication can coexist with classical Internet signals in the same cable.

“This is incredibly exciting because nobody thought it was possible,” said Prem Kumar, an electrical engineering professor at Northwestern and the study’s lead researcher. “Our work shows a path towards next-generation quantum and classical networks sharing a unified fiber optic infrastructure. Basically, it opens the door to pushing quantum communications to the next level.”

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