Quantum News Briefs September 29 begins in the UK with “Oxford Quantum Circuits Partnering with Cyxtera to provide access to quantum computer in a colocation data center”; followed by news that QuTech in the Netherlands has achieved “Full control of a six-qubit quantum processor in silicon”. Third spans the globe with Singapore’s SpeQtral and France’s Thales announcing “SpeQtral and Thales Alenia Space to jointly demonstrate satellite quantum communications.” And even MORE below.
Oxford Quantum Circuits Partners with Cyxtera to provide access to a quantum computer in a colocation data center
This partnership will mark the world’s first integration of a quantum computer in a colocation data center. Customers throughout Cyxtera’s U.K. data centers will be able to access OQC’s quantum computer via the Cyxtera Digital Exchange, dramatically reducing latency times for quantum algorithms and use cases.
Today, the vast majority of quantum computers are accessible “as a service” via the public cloud, or via a private cloud, like OQC’s own cloud. By providing access directly within a Cyxtera data center, OQC will make quantum computing even more accessible and reduce the locality and proximity challenges typically associated with the distance between classical applications and the quantum computer.
Cyxtera is a global leader in colocation and interconnection services, with a footprint of more than 60 data centers in over 30 markets. With IT infrastructure becoming increasingly hybrid, complex, and distributed, Cyxtera continues to expand its portfolio beyond space and power to deliver more cloud-like and flexible infrastructure solutions across its global data center platform and robust partner ecosystem. Today, Cyxtera provides more than 2,300 enterprise and government customers with the technology solutions they need to scale faster, achieve financial goals, and gain a competitive advantage. For more information, please visit www.cyxtera.com.
*****
Full control of a six-qubit quantum processor in silicon
To make the qubits, individual electrons are placed in a linear array of six “quantum dots” spaced 90 nanometers apart. The array of quantum dots is made in a silicon chip with structures that closely resemble the transistor—a common component in every computer chip.
“This paper shows that with careful engineering, it is possible to increase the silicon spin qubit count while keeping the same precision as for single qubits. The key building block developed in this research could be used to add even more qubits in the next iterations of study,” said co-author Dr. Mateusz Madzik.
“In this research we push the envelope of the number of qubits in silicon, and achieve high initialization fidelities, high readout fidelities, high single-qubit gate fidelities, and high two-qubit state fidelities,” said Prof. Vandersypen. “What really stands out though is that we demonstrate all these characteristics together in one single experiment on a record number of qubits.”
*****
SpeQtral and Thales Alenia Space to jointly demonstrate satellite quantum communications
According to the agreement, the companies will carry out joint experiments, which are to be completed by 2025. These will include the SpeQtral-1 quantum satellite and Thales’ quantum ground receiver, both current under development.
SpeQtral-1 will aim to demonstrate the feasibility of long-distance transfer of quantum information, as well as metropolitan quantum network interconnections.
Thales Alenia Space has been working on end-to-end quantum communications since 2018. In addition, the company is considering ground stations and overall mission segments, Thales said.
The collaboration is expected to include a consortium of other French technology partners as well.
*****
New NSF Grant To Advance Quantum Research, Education at UT Dallas
In addition to basic research aimed at transitioning reliable quantum information technologies from theory to practice, the grant supports the development of a new undergraduate minor and a master’s degree in quantum information science and engineering (QISE), which would be the first such graduate degree offered in Texas. New degrees would need approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Cold atoms have become one of the major platforms for quantum computing in the past few years. Their advantage is that they can be isolated from the surrounding environment and do not interact with it, conditions that are needed for a quantum computer to operate reliably.
In his laboratory, Du uses lasers and magnetic fields to trap and cool atoms to extreme temperatures near absolute zero, a temperature colder than the coldest reaches of outer space and colder than liquid helium on Earth. Because atoms at these temperatures barely move, they can be manipulated and controlled precisely.