Daily Archives: February 13, 2024

In an era where the digital landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace, physicists have taken a huge step towards the development of a quantum internet.

Spearheaded by a team of physicists from Stony Brook University, in collaboration with their peers, this new research revolves around a critical quantum network measurement using quantum memories that function at room temperature.

This achievement marks a significant leap towards establishing a quantum internet testbed.

The concept of a quantum internet represents a revolutionary shift from traditional internet systems. It envisions a network that integrates quantum computers, sensors, and communication devices to manage, process, and transmit quantum states and entanglement.

The quantum internet promises to offer unmatched services and security features, setting a new standard for digital communication and computation.

Quantum information science merges elements of physics, mathematics, and classical computing, leveraging quantum mechanics to address complex problems more efficiently than classical computing methods. It also aims to facilitate secure information transmission.

Despite the growing interest and investment in this field, the realization of a functional quantum internet remains in the conceptual stage.

A primary challenge identified by the Stony Brook research team is the development of quantum repeaters.

These devices are crucial for enhancing communication network security, improving measurement systems accuracy, and boosting the computational power of algorithms for scientific analyses.

Quantum repeaters are designed to maintain quantum information and entanglement across extensive networks, a task that poses one of the most intricate challenges in current physics research.

The researchers have made substantial progress in enhancing quantum repeater technology. They have successfully developed and tested quantum memories that operate efficiently at room temperature, a crucial requirement for constructing large-scale quantum networks.

These quantum memories have been shown to perform identically, a vital characteristic for network scalability.

The team conducted experiments to assess the performance of these memories by employing a standard test known as Hong-Ou-Mandel Interference.

This test verified that the quantum memories could store and retrieve optical qubits without significantly affecting the joint interference process.

This capability is essential for achieving memory-assisted entanglement swapping, a critical protocol for distributing entanglement over long distances and a cornerstone for operational quantum repeaters.

Eden Figueroa, the lead author and a prominent figure in quantum processing research, expressed his enthusiasm about this development.

He stated, We believe this is an extraordinary step toward the development of viable quantum repeaters and the quantum internet.

Figueroa highlighted the significance of their achievement in operating quantum hardware at room temperature, which reduces operational costs and enhances system speed, marking a departure from the traditional, more expensive, and slower methods that require near-absolute zero temperatures.

The innovation extends beyond theoretical implications, as the team has secured U.S. patents for their quantum storage and high-repetition-rate quantum repeater technologies.

This patented technology lays the groundwork for further exploration and testing of quantum networks, setting a precedent for future advancements in the field.

Collaborators Sonali Gera and Chase Wallace, both from Stony Brooks Department of Physics and Astronomy, played key roles in the experimentation process.

Their work demonstrated the quantum memories ability to store photons for a user-defined duration and synchronize the retrieval of these photons, despite their random arrival times. This feature is another critical component for the operational success of quantum repeaters.

Looking ahead, the team is focused on developing sources of entanglement that are compatible with their quantum memories and designing mechanisms to signal the presence of stored photons across multiple quantum memories.

These steps are vital for advancing the quantum internet from a visionary concept to a practical reality, paving the way for a new era of digital communication and computation.

In summary, this mind-bending research represents a monumental stride towards the realization of a quantum internet, setting the stage for a revolution in digital communication and computation.

By successfully developing quantum memories that function at room temperature, the researchers have overcome a significant hurdle in quantum networking and demonstrated the practical deployment of quantum repeaters.

This advancement promises to enhance internet security, increase computational power, and open new frontiers in scientific research, underscoring the teams pivotal role in shaping the future of quantum technology.

As we stand on the brink of this new digital era, the implications of their work extend far beyond the academic sphere, heralding a future where quantum internet could become a reality, transforming our digital landscape in unimaginable ways.

The full study was published in Nature journalQuantum Information

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Functioning quantum internet makes giant stride closer to reality - Earth.com

February 8, 2024, Mountain View, CA The SETI Institute, leading humanity's quest to understand the origins and prevalence of life and intelligence in the universe and share that knowledge with the world, is pioneering innovative approaches to understanding our place in the cosmos. The SETI Institute is proud to support a groundbreaking project from London-based filmmaker and SETI Institute Designer of Experiences Dr. Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stpanian that combines insights from intergenerational trauma, neuroscience, quantum physics, and space exploration.

Premiering at SXSW 2024, Doppelgngers3 is a feature film and research project that challenges conventional narratives of space colonization by integrating diverse perspectives. Ben Hayoun-Stpanian will present this multidisciplinary endeavor at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2024, highlighting its unique blend of science, culture, and storytelling within the decolonial space and space culture sessions.

The project spotlights the importance of acknowledging collective trauma and its impacts a burgeoning field in neuropsychology research. By weaving together the stories of three individuals across different geographies, Doppelgngers3 imagines a utopian community on the moon that learns from the past and aspires to a future where diversity and plurality are celebrated.

Doppelgngers3 poses critical questions about these visions, urging a reconsideration of space exploration through a lens that values inclusivity, ethical considerations, and transnational thinking.

Dr. Franck Marchis, Senior Astronomer and Director of Unistellar Citizen Science at the SETI Institute, and a scientific advisor to Doppelgngers3, emphasized the project's approach. " It transcends traditional documentaries by blending neuroscience, quantum physics, and space science with a human touch, fostering new dialogues and collaborationswhile adding a sprinkle of fun and humor."

The initiative aims to spark conversations in the space science community and contribute to a joint paper for the International Astronautical Congress (IAC).

The filmmakers hope that Doppelgngers3 will not be just a film but a movement to decolonize the space sector and imagine new futures that honor our shared humanity and diversity. The project, with its world premiere at SXSW 2024 in the Feature Documentary, Vision Category, invites audiences to engage with bold ideas and creative visions that challenge the status quo.

For more information and updates on Doppelgngers3, visit http://www.doppelgangers.space.

Screening dates at SXSW are:

The SETI Institute will be presenting a panel discussion at SXSW on Friday, March 8 at 11:30 am (JW Marriott, Salon ABC):

Finding E.T. Then What? The quest for E.T. accelerates as humanitys technology advances. Powerful tools and global collaboration aim to detect signals from alien civilizations. If we find them, understanding and responding will pose unprecedented challenges. Two ground-breaking scientists will join with an artist who staged a revolutionary piece of global theater called A Sign in Space: creating and transmitting an extraterrestrial message to be decoded and interpreted by SETI professionals and the public. Can we unite the people of Earth to be prepare for a message from the real E.T.?

The conversation will be moderated byDr. Franck Marchisand include SETI AIR artistDaniela DePaulisalong withDr. Shelley WrightandDr. Wael Farah.

Ben Hayoun-Stpanian will also participate in a panel discussion on Friday, March 8 at 4 pm (Austin Convention Center, Room 9C):

Space Feminisms: Reimagining People, Planets, & Power As informed by the upcoming edited volume "Space Feminisms" (Bloomsbury Press), this panel leverages feminism as a powerful mode of analysis to launch alternate narratives and materialities proposing novel historical interpretations and contemporary configurations of outer spaceas informed by the humanities, the social sciences, the arts, and design. Through a dynamic conversation between the book's editors and contributors, we will explore innovative tactics and disruptive participations to envision generative, alternative, and equitable futures in outer space.

About the SETI Institute Founded in 1984, the SETI Institute is a non-profit, multi-disciplinary research and education organization whose mission is to lead humanitys quest to understand the origins and prevalence of life and intelligence in the Universe and to share that knowledge with the world. Our research encompasses the physical and biological sciences and leverages expertise in data analytics, machine learning and advanced signal detection technologies. The SETI Institute is a distinguished research partner for industry, academia and government agencies, including NASA and NSF.

Contact information Rebecca McDonald Director of Communications SETI Institute rmcdonald@seti.org

Doppelgngers3 was made with the support of the BFI Doc Society Fund, awarding National Lottery fundingA Grant for This Film Was Generously Provided by the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program with support from Sandbox FilmsDoppelgngers3 has been presented at CPH:FORUM of CPH:DOX Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival 2020Red Moon Mission in Astroland was supported via a Karman Project Foundation Grant in support of Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stpanian's Karman Fellowship Scientific support was provided by the SETI Institute (The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute), NASA SSERVI (Solar System Exploration Research Institute), Astroland Interplanetary Agency, and The Committee for the Cultural Utilisation of Space (ITACCUS) at the International Astronautical Federation.

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Exploring New Futures in Space: A Revolutionary Integration of Neuroscience, Quantum Physics, and Space Exploration - SETI Institute

Uncovering the Quantum Plateau

In the realm of quantum magnetism, there has recently been a significant breakthrough. An experimental observation has confirmed the long-predicted quantum plateau in spin-1/2 antiferromagnets on the kagome lattice. This discovery, published in Nature Physics, not only validates theoretical predictions of quantum spin liquid phases and magnetization plateaus in kagome lattice materials but also contributes to the understanding of the lowest magnetic field plateau. Moreover, it provides experimental evidence for a quantum origin of this phenomenon.

The term kagome is derived from a Japanese word depicting a pattern of interlaced triangles. In physics, a kagome lattice refers to a particular geometric arrangement of atoms in some crystal structures, which can result in intriguing magnetic properties. The properties of the kagome lattice have been a subject for theoretical exploration for many years. Now, the experimental observation of the quantum plateau in spin-1/2 antiferromagnets on this lattice validates these theories.

The experimental observation of the quantum plateau is a significant stride in quantum magnetism. This plateau indicates a state where the magnetization remains constant despite changes in the applied magnetic field. The study conducted by the Department of Physics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA, has shed light on the behavior of electron spins on the kagome lattice, opening up new horizons in the study of quantum magnetism.

The phenomenon of the quantum plateau has wide-ranging implications for the field of quantum magnetism. It provides scientists with experimental evidence for a quantum origin of magnetization plateaus, a concept that has long been predicted in the realm of quantum physics. This understanding can provide insights into the behavior of antiferromagnets and offer opportunities for advancements in quantum computing and other technologies that rely on understanding and controlling quantum states.

With the experimental observation of the quantum plateau in spin-1/2 antiferromagnets on the kagome lattice, quantum magnetism has reached an exciting juncture. This discovery provides a deeper understanding of the intriguing properties of kagome lattice materials and reaffirms the predictions of quantum spin liquid phases. As research in this area progresses, it will be fascinating to see how these insights will be leveraged in advanced technologies, potentially revolutionizing various scientific and industrial fields.

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Uncovering the Quantum Plateau: Significance and Implications | Nature Physics - Medriva

Where we are currently, and where we are headed

Quantum computing is a technology that exploits the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems too complex for classical computers. The first significant contribution to the development of quantum computing occurred in 1982, when Richard Feynman postulated that to simulate the evolution of quantum systems in an efficient way, we would need to build quantum computers (computational machines that use quantum effects). Nevertheless, it was not until 1994 that the view on quantum computing changed. Peter Shor developed a polynomial time quantum algorithm allowing quantum computers to efficiently factorize large integers exponentially quicker than the best classical algorithm on traditional machines, turning a problem which is computationally intractable into one that can be solved in just a few hours by a large enough quantum computer. So, once practical quantum computers are a reality, it will be possible to crack cryptographic algorithms based on integer factorization, such as RSA, which are fundamental for the operation of internet protocols.

But what do we mean by a large enough quantum computer? How far are we from building it?

Large technology companies have been working for years with the objective of building a large-scale quantum device. As published by the Quantum Insider, the leading players in this field are Google, IBM, Microsoft and AWS (Amazon), although IBM has the longest computing history.

Apart from them, there are other promising companies which are also invested in fabricating quantum hardware and developing software. Some examples are D-Wave, Rigetti Computing, IonQ, PsiQuantum, Quantiuum or Oxford Ionics. It is worth noting that not all of them are working on the same type of quantum computers. Differences among these computers depend on the nature of qubits and how they can be controlled and manipulated. The main types of quantum computers are superconducting, photonic, neutral atoms-based, trapped ions, quantum dots and gate-based quantum computers, the first being the most mature and popular type.

In 2016, IBM put the first quantum computer on the cloud for anyone to run experiments (the IBM Quantum Experience). One year later, they introduced Qiskit, the open-source python-based toolkit for programming these quantum computers (the version 1.0 will be released this year). Then, in subsequent years, the company developed Falcon, a 27-qubit quantum computer (2018) and the 65-qubit Hummingbird (2020). Also, in 2020, IBM released their development roadmap, which had a major update in 2022 and provides a detailed plan to build an error-corrected quantum computer before the end of the decade. According to this roadmap, IBM was planning to build in 2021 the first quantum processor with more than 100 qubits, the 127 qubit Eagle; in 2022, the 433-qubit Osprey; and finally, in 2023, the 1121-qubit Condor processor. All objectives were successfully achieved. Nevertheless, as Jay Gambetta, VP of IBM Quantum, mentioned in his article, we must figure out how to scale up quantum processors since a quantum computer capable of reaching its full potential could require hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of high-quality qubits. For this reason, in the following years and with the ambition of solving the scaling problem, the company is proposing three different approaches for developing ways to link processors together into a modular system capable of scaling without physics limitations.

Scalability refers to the ability to increase the number of qubits in a quantum system, allowing to solve more complex problems.

Another tech giant working on quantum computing is Google, which has the Quantum AI Campus. This company announced in 2018 a 72-qubit quantum processor called Bristlecone and in 2019 presented a 53-qubit quantum computer, Sycamore, and claimed quantum supremacy for the first time, which generated a lot of debate in the community. Lastly, the Quantum AI researchers announced significant advances in quantum error correction by achieving for the first time the experimental milestone of scaling a logical qubit. Quantum error correction is essential for scaling up quantum computers and achieving error rates low enough for useful calculations.

Quantum supremacy describes the ability of a quantum computer for solving a problem that the most powerful conventional computer cannot process in a practical amount of time.

Microsoft decided to focus on quantum computing in the late 1990s and currently is offering Azure Quantum, a cloud quantum computing service which provides an environment to develop quantum algorithms which can be run in simulators of quantum computers. Due to the companys approach of working with partners and academic institutions, Azure Quantum allows us to choose from different quantum hardware solutions created by industry leaders such as Quantinuum, Ionq, Quantum Circuits, Inc., Rigetti or Pasqal.

Microsoft is taking a different approach on the design of quantum computers they are relying on a new type of qubit, a topological qubit. As they explicitly say, Our approach to building a scaled quantum machine is the more challenging path in the near term, but its the most promising one long term. In this regard, in 2022, Microsoft reported an important achievement on the development topological qubit hardware, and later that year they share more data from their experiments.

Although Amazon has not announced that it is developing quantum hardware and/or software, they launched in 2019 Amazon Braket, a quantum computing service which makes it possible to build quantum algorithms, test them in a simulator, run them on different quantum computers and analyze the results. Customers can access hardware from leaders such as Rigetti, Ion-Q and D-Wave Systems, which means that they can experiment with systems based on three different qubit technologies.

In addition, Amazon also launched the Amazon Quantum Solutions Lab which helps companies to be ready for quantum computing by offering them the possibility to work with leading experts in quantum computing, machine learning, optimization, and high-performance computing.

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The State of the Art in Quantum Computing - Medium

Nuclear physicists have discovered gravitys profound influence on the quantum scale, revealing the strong forces distribution within protons for the first time. This groundbreaking research, combining historical theoretical insights with modern experimental data, offers unprecedented understanding of the protons internal dynamics and sets the stage for future discoveries in nuclear science.

Gravitys influence is unmistakably evident throughout the observable universe. Its effects are observed in the synchronized orbits of moons around planets, in comets that deviate from their paths due to the gravitational pull of large stars, and in the majestic spirals of enormous galaxies. These magnificent phenomena highlight the role of gravity on the grandest scales of matter. Meanwhile, nuclear physicists are uncovering the significant contributions of gravity at the very smallest scales of matter.

New research conducted by nuclear physicists at the U.S. Department of Energys Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility is using a method that connects theories of gravitation to interactions among the smallest particles of matter to reveal new details at this smaller scale. The research has now revealed, for the first time, a snapshot of the distribution of the strong force inside the proton. This snapshot details the shear stress the force may exert on the quark particles that make up the proton. The result was recently published in Reviews of Modern Physics.

According to the lead author on the study, Jefferson Lab Principal Staff Scientist Volker Burkert, the measurement reveals insight into the environment experienced by the protons building blocks. Protons are built of three quarks that are bound together by the strong force.

At its peak, this is more than a four-ton force that one would have to apply to a quark to pull it out of the proton, Burkert explained. Nature, of course, does not allow us to separate just one quark from the proton because of a property of quarks called color. There are three colors that mix quarks in the proton to make it appear colorless from the outside, a requirement for its existence in space. Trying to pull a colored quark out of the proton will produce a colorless quark/anti-quark pair, a meson, using the energy you put in to attempt to separate the quark, leaving a colorless proton (or neutron) behind. So, the 4-tons is an illustration of the strength of the force that is intrinsic in the proton.

The result is only the second of the protons mechanical properties to be measured. The protons mechanical properties include its internal pressure (measured in 2018), its mass distribution (physical size), its angular momentum, and its shear stress (shown here). The result was made possible by a half-century-old prediction and two-decade-old data.

In the mid-1960s, it was theorized that if nuclear physicists could see how gravity interacts with subatomic particles, such as the proton, such experiments could reveal the protons mechanical properties directly.

But at that time, there was no way. If you compare gravity with the electromagnetic force, for instance, there is 39 orders of magnitude of difference So its completely hopeless, right? explained Latifa Elouadhriri, a Jefferson Lab staff scientist and co-author on the study.

The decades-old data came from experiments conducted with Jefferson Labs Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF), a DOE Office of Science user facility. A typical CEBAF experiment would entail an energetic electron interacting with another particle by exchanging a packet of energy and a unit of angular momentum called a virtual photon with the particle. The energy of the electron dictates which particles it interacts with in this way and how they respond.

In the experiment, a force even much greater than the four tons needed to pull out a quark/antiquark pair was applied to the proton by the highly energetic electron beam interacting with the proton in a target of liquified hydrogen gas.

We developed the program to study deeply virtual Compton scattering. This is where you have an electron exchanging a virtual photon with the proton. And at the final state, the proton remained the same but recoiled, and you have one real very highly energetic photon produced, plus the scattered electron, said Elouadhriri. At the time we took the data, we were not aware that beyond the 3-dimensional imaging we intended with this data, we were also collecting the data needed for accessing the mechanical properties of the proton.

It turns out that this specific process deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) could be connected to how gravity interacts with matter. The general version of this connection was stated in the 1973 textbook on Einsteins general theory of relativity titled Gravitation by Charles W. Misner, Kip S. Thorne, and John Archibald Wheeler.

In it, they wrote, Any mass-less spin-2 field would give rise to a force indistinguishable from gravitation, because a mass-less spin-2 field would couple to the stressenergy tensor in the same way that gravitational interactions do.

Three decades later, theorist Maxim Polyakov followed up on this idea by establishing the theoretical foundation that connects the DVCS process and gravitational interaction.

This breakthrough in theory established the relationship between the measurement of deeply virtual Compton scattering to the gravitational form factor. And we were able to use that for the first time and extract the pressure that we did in the Nature paper in 2018, and now the normal force and the shear force, Burkert explained.

A more detailed description of the connections between the DVCS process and the gravitational interaction can be found in this article describing the first result obtained from this research.

The researchers say their next step is to work on extracting the information they need from the existing DVCS data to enable the first determination of the protons mechanical size. They also hope to take advantage of newer, higher-statistics, and higher-energy experiments that are continuing the DVCS research in the proton.

In the meantime, the study co-authors have been amazed at the plethora of new theoretical efforts, detailed in hundreds of theoretical publications, that have begun to exploit this newly discovered avenue for exploring the mechanical properties of the proton.

And also, now that we are in this new era of discovery with the 2023 Long Range Plan of Nuclear Science released recently. This will be a major pillar of the direction of science with new facilities and new detector developments. Were looking forward to seeing more of what can be done, Burkert said.

Elouadhriri agrees.

And in my view, this is just the beginning of something much bigger to come. It has already changed the way we think about the structure of the proton, she said.

Now, we can express the structure of subnuclear particles in terms of forces, pressure, and physical sizes that also non-physicists can relate to, added Burkert.

Reference: Colloquium: Gravitational form factors of the proton by V. D. Burkert, L. Elouadrhiri, F. X. Girod, C. Lorc, P. Schweitzer and P. E. Shanahan, 22 December 2023, Reviews of Modern Physics. DOI: 10.1103/RevModPhys.95.041002

The study was funded by the US Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, Carl G. and Shirley Sontheimer Research Fund.

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Beyond the Visible Universe: New Research Reveals How Gravity Influences the Quantum Realm - SciTechDaily