Category Archives: Quantum Physics

An Overview of Quantum Many-Body Systems and Quantum Simulators

Quantum many-body systems are complex structures that are notoriously difficult to study due to their intricate dynamics. They are often far from equilibrium, meaning they exist in a state where there are continuous fluctuations and changes. However, quantum simulators have emerged as a promising tool to provide new insights into such systems. These simulators can simulate complex quantum systems and understand their behavior at different scales. Recent advances in quantum simulators have significantly enhanced their ability to study universal scaling dynamics in quantum many-body systems.

A recent experiment published in Nature Physics has shed light on the nature of universal scaling dynamics in quantum many-body systems. The study reveals that the universal dynamics of these systems, far from equilibrium, depend on the underlying symmetry of the systems ground state. This research is critical as it unravels the macroscopically similar behavior of systems with different microscopic details, providing valuable insights into the nature of quantum many-body systems.

Quantum simulators play a pivotal role in studying these systems and their universal scaling dynamics. They allow us to simulate and explore complex quantum systems, thereby providing us with a better understanding of their behavior at different scales. The research on quantum simulators is constantly evolving, with recent studies addressing a wide range of topics such as quantum interference on frustrated lattices, competition in exotic metals, and the impact of quantum technologies on measurement, among others.

Recent experiments and studies have highlighted several breakthroughs in the field. From controlling chaotic photonic cavities and observing physicality impacts on networks to exploring the evolution of 2D materials, multidisciplinary collaboration in biological physics, and much more, the scope of research is vast and varied. Some of the latest research articles cover topics like Bragg glasses in charge density waves, photoinduced phase transition in Mott insulators, inertial confinement fusion experiments, and magnons in spin waves.

As our understanding of quantum many-body systems improves, so does the potential for new discoveries and applications. Quantum simulators and the study of universal scaling dynamics are already having a significant impact on various fields, including condensed matter physics, quantum mechanics, and even machine learning. Future directions of research could include extending the theory of multigap topology from static to non-equilibrium systems, understanding the structure of the Kondo cloud formed by conduction electrons, and many more.

In conclusion, the field of quantum many-body systems is complex but fascinating. Advances in quantum simulators are unlocking new ways to understand these systems, shedding light on universal scaling dynamics and the underlying symmetries that govern them. As research progresses, we can expect to see even more exciting developments in this area, with significant implications for both theoretical physics and practical applications.

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Unlocking the Mysteries of Quantum Many-Body Systems: A Look at Quantum Simulators and Universal Scaling ... - Medriva

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

KINGSTON, R.I. Sept. 21, 2023 As part of its quantum computing initiative, the University of Rhode Island will welcome Charles Robinson, worldwide lead of IBMs Quantum Safe Team, to campus for a public lecture. Robinson will give a talk titled From North Philly to Quantum Computing: Lessons Learned Along the Way on Monday, Sept. 25, at 4 p.m. in Edwards Hall.

The path from North Philly to being IBMs worldwide leader of the Quantum Safe Team has not been a straight line, Robinson said. In my presentation, I want to highlight the types of obstacles that I overcame and that many of you will likely experience. More important are the strategies and attitudes that you can employ to overcome hurdles, survive, and excel. No one size fits all but, at the end of the day, there is always a path forward.

As leader of IBMs Quantum Safe Team, Robinson works to develop and implement technologies that will protect data in a post-quantum world. Quantum computerscomputer systems that harness the behavior of matter at the tiniest scalesare expected to be able to perform calculations in seconds that would take years on even the most powerful computers operating today. While that dramatic increase in computing power promises to be an enormous boon for science and industry, it comes with a problem: Most of the encryption schemes currently used to secure data will be rendered obsolete as soon as large-scale quantum systems come online.

The Quantum Safe Team develops new encryption algorithms that will remain robust in the face of quantum computing power. The team also works with governments and companies all over the world to help them prepare for the coming quantum revolution. Doing so is critical to protecting credit card numbers, bank account information, medical records, and all other sensitive information that can be accessed via the internet.

Len Kahn, chair of the URI Department of Physics, says that quantum security represents an immediate area of focus in the coming quantum computing revolution.

All of the data thats on the internet now needs to be secured before quantum computers come online, Kahn said. We need to think about training people now to work on this and other critical problems, which is part of what were hoping to do with the quantum computing initiative at URI.

Kahn says that having Robinson speak at URI is important in part because of his unconventional path to worldwide leadership in the quantum field, as well as his efforts to make sure quantum information science is a career path available to anyone.

Robinson trained as a corpsman in the Navy before transitioning to engineering in community college. He went on to graduate from Howard University and receiving a graduate degree from Johns Hopkins. After working as an engineer and software developer for several large firms, Robinson began working extensively with the defense and intelligence community on issues related to communications and computing. He became the worldwide leader of the Quantum Safe Team in 2020.

Robinson has also worked extensively with Howard Universitys IBM-HBCU QuantumCenter, which aims to prepare and developtalent from historically Black colleges and universities for the quantum future.

The quantum revolution represents both tremendous challenges and opportunities, Kahn said. If were going to meet these challenges and create the workforce of tomorrow, well need to engage communities that have been traditionally underrepresented in scientific fields. Charles is a knowledgeable resource, and we continue to benefit from his experience.

The event is sponsored by the Office of the Provost, the Academic Enhancement Center, and the Department of Physics.

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Leader of IBM's Quantum Safe Team to speak at URI - University of Rhode Island

51 Faculty of Physics Startdate:01.11.2023|Working hours:30|Collective bargaining agreement:48 VwGr. B1 Grundstufe (praedoc) Limited until:30.04.2027 Reference no.:1347

How does a quantum object gravitate?, How far can we push massive objects into the quantum regime?, How well can we measure gravity of microscopic systems?. Such questions and their implications for the foundations of physics are the driving force behind our research. You will be part of our team and develop new ideas, technologies and experiments to provide new insights on macroscopic quantum physics, on gravity at small scales and, in the long run, on the phenomenology of the gravity-quantum interface in table-top experiments.

Your personal sphere of influence:

As a university assistant (praedoc) on this 3.5-year position, you will be part of the Aspelmeyer group, and you will be exploring fundamentals and applications of quantum entanglement in levitated solid-state platforms.

The main research activities of our group include quantum optical control of levitated solid-state objects, the exploration of their quantum properties for fundamental questions and novel quantum technology platforms, as well as precision measurements of ultra-weak gravitational forces. Our main motivation is to explore the interface between quantum physics and gravity with new experimental platforms.

Our Team is part of the Quantum Optics, Quantum Nanophysics and Quantum Information group of the Faculty of Physics.

We are member of the Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology (VCQ), one of the largest quantum hubs in Europe, and of the Austrian Cluster of Excellence (quantA), advancing basic research in quantum sciences, aiming to expand the frontiers of knowledge and thus being the engine for future innovations.

You will also benefit from being fellow of the Vienna Doctoral School in Physics (VDSP), being part of a thriving community with more than 100 quantum scientists on premise, about 300 quantum researchers in Vienna.

The Aspelmeyer group explores the interface between quantum physics and gravity in experiments, in particular involving quantum objects as sources of gravity. On the quantum side, we explore the extreme regime of motional quantum states of solids and their interactions to understand how to maximize mass, delocalization, and coherence time in quantum experiments. On the gravity side, we explore the extreme regime of gravitational phenomena of miniature source masses to understand how to isolate gravity from all other interactions on a microscopic scale. Together with colleagues from theory we try to formulate meaningful questions that help to establish decisive experimental tests of the quantum nature of gravity.

Your future tasks:

You will actively participate in research, teaching & administration. This means:

This is part of your personality:

What we offer:

Inspiring working atmosphere:You are a part of an international academic team in a healthy and fair working environment.

Good public transport connections:Your workplace in the center of beautiful Vienna is easily accessible by public transport.

Potential for development:Success in life depends on what you make of it, but if you are ambitious and successful, there are plenty of opportunities to connect you to all relevant top research groups in the world.

Internal further training & Coaching:The Vienna Doctoral School as well as the department of human resources offer plenty of opportunities to grow your skills in over 600 courses to choose from free of charge.

Fair salary:The basic salary of EUR 2,457.00 (30h, 14x p.a.) increases if we can credit professional experience. The employment duration is 4 years. Initially limited to 1.5 years, the employment relationship is automatically extended to3.5 yearsif the employer does not terminate it within the first 12 months by submitting a non-extension declaration.

Equal opportunities for everyone:We look forward to diverse personalities in the team!

It is that easy to apply:

If you have any questions, please contact:

Markus Aspelmeyer

markus.aspelmeyer@univie.ac.at

We look forward to new personalities in our team! We lay special emphasis on increasing the number of women in senior and in academic positions among the academic and general university staff and therefore expressly encourage qualified women to apply. In order to increase the percentage of women in Physics, the announced position is open to qualified female candidates only.

University of Vienna. Space for personalities. Since 1365.

Data protection

Application deadline:08/10/2023

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University Assistant Predoctoral, Physics job with UNIVERSITY OF ... - Times Higher Education

A snapshot of the ab initio molecule dynamics simulations at 753 degrees Kelvin, showing the polarized titanium oxide bonding with local tetragonal structures in various orientations, which depict the local 90 and 180 degree domain walls. Credit: Courtesy Zi-Kui Liu

The universe naturally gravitates towards disorder, and only through the input of energy can we combat this inevitable chaos. This idea is encapsulated in the concept of entropy, evident in everyday phenomena like ice melting, fires burning, and water boiling. However, zentropy theory introduces an additional layer to this understanding.

This theory was developed by a team led by Zi-Kui Liu, the distinguished Dorothy Pate Enright Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Penn State. The Z in zentropy is derived from the German term Zustandssumm, which translates to the sum over states of entropy.

Alternatively, Liu said, zentropy may be considered as a play on the term zen from Buddhism and entropy to gain insight on the nature of a system. The idea, Liu said, is to consider how entropy can occur over multiple scales within a system to help predict potential outcomes of the system when influenced by its surroundings.

Liu and his research team have published their latest paper on the concept, providing evidence that the approach may offer a way to predict the outcome of experiments and enable more efficient discovery and design of new ferroelectric materials. The work, which incorporates some intuition and a lot of physics to provide a parameter-free pathway to predicting how advanced materials behave, was published inScripta Materialia.

Ferroelectrics have unique properties, making them valuable for a variety of applications both now and in developing materials, researchers said. One such property is spontaneous electric polarization that can be reversed by applying an electric field, which facilitates technologies ranging from ultrasounds to ink-jet printers to energy-efficient RAM for computers to the ferroelectric-driven gyroscope in smartphones that enable smooth videos and sharp photos.

To develop these technologies, researchers need to experiment to understand the behavior of such polarization and its reversal. For efficiencys sake, the researchers usually design their experiments based on predicted outcomes. Typically, such predictions require adjustments called fitting parameters to closely match real-world variables, which take time and energy to determine. But zentropy can integrate top-down statistical and bottom-up quantum mechanics to predict experimental measures of the system without such adjustments.

Of course, at the end of the day, the experiments are the ultimate test, but we found that zentropy can provide a quantitative prediction that can narrow down the possibilities significantly, Liu said. You can design better experiments to explore ferroelectric material and the research work can move much faster, and this means you save time, energy, and money and are more efficient.

While Liu and his team have successfully applied zentropy theory to predict the magnetic properties of a range of materials for various phenomena, discovering how to apply it to ferroelectric materials has been tricky. In the current study, the researchers reported finding a method to apply zentropy theory to ferroelectrics, focusing on lead titanate. Like all ferroelectrics, lead titanate possesses electric polarization that can be reversed when external electric fields, temperature changes, or mechanical stress is applied.

As an electric field reverses electric polarization reverses, the system transitions from ordered in one direction to disordered and then to ordered again as the system settles into the new direction. However, this ferroelectricity occurs only below a critical temperature unique to each ferroelectric material. Above this temperature, ferroelectricity the ability to reverse polarization disappears and paraelectricity the ability to become polarized emerges. The change is called the phase transition. The measurement of those temperatures can indicate critical information about the outcome of various experiments, Liu said. However, predicting the phase transition prior to an experiment is nearly impossible.

No theory and method can accurately predict the free energy of the ferroelectric materials and the phase transitions prior to the experiments, Liu said. The best prediction of transition temperature is more than 100 degrees away from the experiments actual temperature.

This discrepancy arises due to the unknown uncertainties in models, as well as fitting parameters that could not consider all salient information affecting the actual measurements. For example, an often-used theory characterizes macroscopic features of ferroelectricity and paraelectricity but does not consider microscopic features such as dynamic domain walls boundaries between regions with distinct polarization characteristics within the material. These configurations are building blocks of the system and fluctuate significantly with respect to temperature and electric field.

In ferroelectrics, the configuration of electric dipoles in the material can change the direction of polarization. The researchers applied zentropy to predict the phase transitions in lead titanate, including identifying three types of possible configurations in the material.

The predictions made by the researchers were effective and in agreement with observations made during experiments reported in the scientific literature, according to Liu. They used publicly available data on domain wall energies to predict a transition temperature of 776 degrees Kelvin, showing a remarkable agreement withthe observed experimental transition temperature of 763 degrees Kelvin. Liu said the team is working on further reducing the difference between predicted and observed temperatures with better predictions of domain wall energies as a function of temperature.

This ability to predict transition temperature so closely to the actual measurements can provide valuable insights into the physics of ferroelectric material and help scientists to better their experimental designs, Liu said.

This basically means you can have some intuitions and a predictive approach on how a material behaves both microscopically and macroscopically before you conduct the experiments, Liu said. We can start predicting the outcome accurately before the experiment.

Along with Liu, other researchers in the study from Penn State include Shun-Li Shang, research professor of materials science and engineering; Yi Wang, research professor of materials science and engineering; and Jinglian Du, research fellow in materials science and engineering at the time of the study.

Reference: Parameter-free prediction of phase transition in PbTiO3 through combination of quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics by Zi-Kui Liu, Shun-Li Shang, Jinglian Du and Yi Wang, 20 April 2023, Scripta Materialia. DOI: 10.1016/j.scriptamat.2023.115480

The Department of Energys Basic Energy Sciences program supported this research.

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Zentropy A New Theory That Could Transform Material Science - SciTechDaily

A team of researchers studying the quantum realm say they have observed an otherworldly mirror universe through the eye of a decaying monopole that is eerily reminiscent of the mirror universe written about by author Lewis Carroll in his Alices Adventures in Wonderland.

Dubbed an Alice ring in honor of Carrolls mirror universe, these fleeting, quantum world events may help to unravel the mysteries of the quantum realm.

In quantum physics, monopoles are the proposed counterpart to dipoles, which have a positive and negative charge at opposing ends, just like a conventional magnet. In contrast, the monopole is only negatively or positively charged.

For decades, scientists have theorized how an actual magnetic monopole might decay, with the most common theory being that it would create a brief, fleeting ring-like structure that might open the door to an alternate mirror universe. As noted, the mirror universe revealed by these decaying rings reminded theorists of the mirror universe in Lewis Carrols Alices Adventures in Wonderland, where everything is the opposite of the real world.

Such theoretical Alice rings have remained particularly elusive for decades. But now, a team of researchers who have been studying the phenomenon for years say they have spotted these structures in nature for the first time ever. And as they suspected, Alice rings may indeed be a portal to what they describe as an otherworldly mirror universe.

The hunt for a real-world Alice ring involved a years-long collaboration between Professor Mikko Mttnen of Aalto University and Professor David Hall from Amherst College. In fact, their first discovery on the road to Carrolls mirror universe took place in 2014, when the duo successfully proved the existence of an analog of a quantum monopole.In 2015, they actually isolated a quantum monopole, and then in 2017 actually observed one decaying into the other. Still, it wasnt until their latest research that they witnessed the appearance of the doorway to the mirror universe known as the elusive Alice ring.

This was the first time our collaboration was able to create Alice rings in nature, which was a monumental achievement, Mttnen said.

According to the press release announcing this once-in-a-career feat, the research team, which was aided by Ph.D. candidate Alina Blinova, manipulated a gas of rubidium atoms prepared in a nonmagnetic state near absolute zero temperature. Then, operating under these extreme conditions, the researchers were able to create a monopole by steering a zero point of a three-dimensional magnetic field into the quantum gas. As previously theorized, the result was a perfectly formed Alice ring.

Notably, the researchers point out that Alice rings only last for a few milliseconds, as they are extremely fragile. This means that when a magnetic monopole is exposed to the slightest external force, it immediately decays into an Alice ring.

Think of the monopole as an egg teetering at the top of a hill, Mttnen said. The slightest perturbations can send it crashing down. In the same way, monopoles are subject to noise that triggers their decay into Alice rings.

Perhaps even more astonishing, and as the longtime collaborators had hoped, their Alice ring seemed to offer a glimpse into a mirror universe just like Carrolls.

From a distance, the Alice ring just looks like a monopole, but the world takes a different shape when peering through the centre of the ring, Hall said.

It is from this perspective that everything seems to be mirrored, as if the ring were a gateway into a world of antimatter instead of matter, Mttnen added.

Published in the journal Nature Communications, the researchers say that the verified observation of an Alice ring in the real world could one day lead to a better understanding of quantum physics. However, there is still no indication whether or not it will lead to attending a tea party with a mad hatter.

Christopher Plain is a Science Fiction and Fantasy novelist and Head Science Writer at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him on X, learn about his books at plainfiction.com, or email him directly at christopher@thedebrief.org.

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Researchers Studying the Quantum Realm Observe Alice in ... - The Debrief