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Category: computing – Page 24

Scientists Turned Our Cells Into Quantum Computers—Sort Of

For the protein qubit to “encode” more information about what is going on inside a cell, the fluorescent protein needs to be genetically engineered to match the protein scientists want to observe in a given cell. The glowing protein is then attached to the target protein and zapped with a laser so it reaches a state of superposition, turning it into a nano-probe that picks up what is happening in the cell. From there, scientists can infer how a certain biological process happens, what the beginnings of a genetic disease look like, or how cells respond to certain treatments.

And eventually, this kind of sensing could be used in non-biological applications as well.

“Directed evolution on our EYFP qubit could be used to optimize its optical and spin properties and even reveal unexpected insights into qubit physics,” the researchers said. “Protein-based qubits are positioned to take advantage of techniques from both quantum information sciences and bioengineering, with potentially transformative possibilities in both fields.”

Superradiance Discovery Extends Quantum Entanglement Range 17-Fold

When the light field becomes more uniform, all the atoms find themselves optically close to each other, even if they are spatially distant. In other words, the “ambient” near-zero refractive index relaxes the strict distance between the atoms’ positions, an essential condition for the entanglement of quantum particles. Quantum entanglement corresponds to correlations between particles, essential for the development of information and quantum computers.

From electrodynamics to quantum computing

This is where the promising contribution of a team of researchers from UNamur, Harvard and Michigan Technological University (MTU) comes in, supported by Dr. Larissa Vertchenko, from Danish quantum technology company Sparrow Quantum. Adrien Debacq, FNRS aspirant researcher at the Namur Institute of Structured Matter (NISM) and co-author of the paper, assisted by Harvard PhD student Olivia Mello and Dr Larissa Vertchenko, have together theoretically developed a photonic chip capable of radically improving the range of entanglement between transmitters, up to 17 times greater than in a vacuum.

The universe’s first magnetic fields were ‘comparable’ to the human brain — and still linger within the ‘cosmic web’

New computer simulations suggest the first magnetic fields that emerged after the Big Bang were much weaker than expected — containing the equivalent magnetic energy of a human brain.

Quantum Computing Meets Finance

Eric Ghysels made a name for himself in financial econometrics and time-series analysis. Now he translates financial models into quantum algorithms.

Economist Eric Ghysels has spent most of his career fascinated by a fundamental problem in the financial industry: figuring out how to put a price on any financial asset whose future value depends on market conditions. Ghysels, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has now set himself a new problem: studying the impact that quantum computing could have on solving asset pricing, portfolio optimization, and other computationally intensive financial problems.

He admits that nobody knows when quantum computers will have commercially viable applications, but, he says, it’s important to invest now. Physics Magazine spoke with Ghysels to learn why.

Scientist returns to microbial roots and discovers potential quantum computing advancement

During his Ph.D. at UMass, Nikhil Malvankar was laser-focused on quantum mechanics and the movement of electrons in superconductors. Now a professor at Yale, the native of Mumbai, India, has pivoted toward biology to explain how bacteria breathe deep underground without the aid of oxygen.

System guides light through a tiny crystal, undeterred by bumps, bends and back-reflections

Relaying a message from point A to B can be as simple as flashing a thumbs-up at a stranger in an intersection, signaling them to proceed—nonverbal, clear, and universally understood. But light-based communication is rarely that straightforward.

Photons, tiny particles of light, are fragile and unpredictable. Unlike electrons, which must be conserved in circuits, photons can scatter, split, merge into different colors, or be absorbed, meaning that the number of photons in a system isn’t fixed, even while the energy they carry remains the same. This makes guiding them through or —optical mazes—far trickier than steering electrons through copper wires, because can scatter into dead ends or vanish before reaching their destination.

Engineers often respond by obsessively refining every imperfection, polishing the maze to perfection. However, this approach can be exhausting and never fully addresses these limitations.

Butterfly wings inspire solution to impossible optics problem

The iridescent blue of butterfly wings has inspired researchers to find a solution to a challenge previously considered insurmountable—dynamically tuning advanced optical processes at visible wavelengths.

The result is a patterned layer of material a fraction of the thickness of a hair, that could underpin radical new optical technology: applications of the technology are diverse, ranging from adaptive camouflage, through biosensing to quantum light engines for on-chip computing and secure communications.

The research is published in Science Advances. The first author is Dr. Mudassar Nauman, from the ARC Center of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems (TMOS) and BluGlass Ltd.

Non-gaussian States Of Light Unlock Universal Computation With Enhanced Success Probabilities And Optimised Photon Requirements

Non-Gaussian states of light represent a crucial component for advancements in quantum technologies, holding immense potential for universal computation, robust error correction, and highly sensitive sensing, yet creating these states remains a significant challenge. Fumiya Hanamura, Kan Takase, and Hironari Nagayoshi, along with their colleagues, now present a new approach to overcome these hurdles, introducing ‘non-Gaussian control parameters’ that offer a more effective way to measure and optimise the generation of these complex states. This method moves beyond traditional benchmarks, such as stellar rank, by providing a continuous and practical measure of non-Gaussianity, and importantly, dramatically reduces the resources needed for successful state creation. Demonstrations across a range of states, including cat states and GKP states, reveal that this technique cuts required photon detections by a factor of three and boosts preparation probability, paving the way for more feasible and scalable quantum technologies and fault-tolerant computation.

Researchers have developed a new method for generating complex states of light that significantly reduces the resources needed for advanced technologies like quantum computing and sensing, achieving a threefold reduction in required measurements and a substantial increase in success rates across various light states.

Michio Kaku: This could finally solve Einstein’s unfinished equation | Full Interview

“An equation, perhaps no more than one inch long, that would allow us to, quote, ‘Read the mind of God.’”

Up next, Michio Kaku: The Universe in a Nutshell (Full Presentation) ► • Michio Kaku: The Universe in a Nutshell (F…

What if everything we know about computing is on the verge of collapsing? Physicist Michio Kaku explores the next wave that could render traditional tech obsolete: Quantum computing.

Quantum computers, Kaku argues, could unlock the secrets of life itself: and could allow us to finally advance Albert Einstein’s quest for a theory of everything.

00:00:00 Quantum computing and Michio’s book Quantum Supremacy00:01:19 Einstein’s unfinished theory.
00:03:45 String theory as the \.

Rotational Motion in Bispidines: A Conformational StudyClick to copy article linkArticle link copied!

A detailed conformational analysis of N-substituted bispidines has been performed to determine the factors governing the restricted rotational motion induced by the substituents. This investigation combines computational studies of the transition state involved in the rotation with experimental characterization of the rotamers arising from the restricted rotation.

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