Category Archives: Quantum Computing

The Boston giant is renting a special corner of Amazon's cloud to remake Monte Carlo and do hyper-quant investing like an AI Peter Lynch, with no experience as a golf caddy.

Brooke's Note: Passive indexing is done by computers that mostly make sure that theybet on nothing but the diversity implicit in any given index of securities. It's an approach where wisdom of knowing how little you know -- and executing it with mechanical precision -- mostly beats market timing done byyounger, smarter computers, never mind smarter, or dumber, people. The passive approach now attracts the most dollars because it is cheaper andbetter, or better because it's cheaper. But it's easy to see why smart people with smart computers wouldn't want to accept this new odd reality lying down, and Fidelity's people, it seems areamong them. The logic to its FCAT quantum project with Amazonis that a tipping point back to active managers beating passive onesis bound to come alongif computers keep getting smarter. Of course, active managers eventually outsmart each other, which blunts any advantages, so it's key to be first. Fidelity Investments is trying to do just that by playing the quantum revolution.

Fidelity Investments is exploring a path out of the drab world of passive investing backto the greener pastures of active management, using a technology that, until recently, was more science fiction than fact.

That path is being charted deep within the bowels of the Boston giant at its Center for Applied Technology (FCAT). It'son a never-ending mission to find "breakthrough achievements in research and tech,"according to its website.

And, it thinks it's found one in the latest advances in quantum computing.Itpromises to revitalize active management, where the fees are fat and the returns are -- hopefully -- fatter.

Fidelity's latest research project runs FCAT-developed quantum algorithms through Amazon's Braket, arecently launchedcloudservicethatruns on three super-computers, D-Wave, IonQand Rigetti.

Quantum computers areable to solve certaincomputational problems, infinitely faster than classical computers. They havefour major potential benefits for financial firms.

It speeds up market forecasting, cryptographyand data gathering,and makes it more precise, says Fidelity head of emerging technologyAdam Schouela.

It is a quest for the proverbial quantum leap.

"We're looking for those technologies that truly have that potential to displace technologies we're using today," he says."That's where quantum computing fits in."

In August, Fidelity completed a quantum computing proof-of-concept in conjunction with Amazon that promises faster and more accurate asset pricing, investment analytics, tradingand Monte Carlo analyses.

"Active investing is in Fidelitys DNA,"says Will Trout, director of wealth management at Pleasanton, Calif.-based consultancy, Javelin Strategy & Research, via email.

"Whether supported by the boffins or cutting-edge technology ... avenues where it's still possible to outperform and get paid ... will remain on the Fidelity road map," he explains.

FCATs latest project created a security not unlike an index ETF that tracked a synthesized index in close to real time with a lower rate of error than currently possible. By further crunchingthe data, it yieldednear real-time asset pricing, inclusive of options trades.

That said, Schouelais careful to temper expectations.

"I wouldn't necessarily call it a gamble but I wouldn't call it a 'will'... as in will potentially."

Fidelity is also one of the few firms withdeep enough pockets to pull off a project like this in such a nascent technology, says Lex Sokolin, global fintech co-head at New York City blockchain software company, ConsenSys, via email.

"With mutual fund AUM over [$3.5] trillion, Fidelity is able to partner and have a meaningful conversation with [firms like] Amazon ... these are big fixed-cost projects, and technology firms need to find a use case that works for millions." See:Fidelity Investments takes another leap into the future, enlisting Amazon to turn advisors into virtual reality avatars, but some say it's pie-in-the-sky.

Although quantum computing has potential long-term benefits for the financial industry, the field itself remains closer to the whiteboard than the shop floor.

Between 1977 and 1990, when Peter Lynch managed Fidelity's Magellan Fund, he averaged a 29.2% annual return, increasing assets from $18 million to$14 billion.

The legendary investor got recruited by a Fidelity exec who saw promise in his caddy -- an approach to capturing lucrative decision-making capabilities regarded by most HR departments as too hit-or-miss in 2020.

Indeed, many of FCATs own staff have yet to come to terms with quantum computing.

The firm uses a mix of workshops and virtual reality to get its employees thinking about the "mental shift" quantum-design requires.

"Quantum computing is in the very early stages of considering commercialization," Sokolin explains.

"This hardware is important, as are its uses, but I expect the discussion to stay in innovation labs for another few years. Much of what is happening today is finding the problems that fit the types of solutions that quantum computation can provide."

But a developmental leap is in the offing, similar to the shift from hexadecimal machine code to programming in English-like script, and Fidelity intends to capitalize, says Schouela.

"There are these layers of abstraction [that have] started to form for quantum computing [and] as soon as the technology is viable, we have the ability to leverage it to the benefit of Fidelity."

Typically, the now 20 year-old FCAT spends between three- to seven-years working on a project before it gets tucked into Fidelity or spun-off.

Fidelity's ability to succeed depends on its ability to make a portfolio of bets where failure or cold storageis an option.

"We shelve stuff all the time," Schouela says. " [and] sometimes the markets not ready for something yet it's an exploration."

'Incidental' pairing

The Fidelity-Amazon quantum partnership is also the fourth time the two firms have worked together since anearly attemptat joint distribution in 2006.

In May 2018, Fidelity developed a chatbot Cora built on AWS Sumerian, a VR design tool; and later Fidelity strengthened its VR partnership with Amazon as it pursued VR advice and training systems, the latter of which are now in use.

Then, in late 2019, Amazon chose Fidelity as its new 401(k) vendor. See:Fidelity wrests high-profile Amazon 401(k) business from Vanguard.

But the two firms continued partnering is merely "incidental", rather than strategic, says Schouela, who worked on Fidelity's VR projects.

"Its completely different folks [at Amazon this time] so it is a little bit more on the incidental side were [also] actively working with lots of different people in this space."

Fidelity's ownership of the algorithm-basedshort-selling asset manager Geode -- a 2003 Fidelity spin-off -- and its stake in ESG investment manager Ethic are examples of the firm's continued interest in active-management. See:Fidelity Investments inks deal with $180-million startup.

"Fidelity, led by [CEO] Abby Johnson in this context has unlimited thirst for advantage," saysSteve Gresham, managing principal of NYC consultancy, The Execution Project, via email.

Johnson has, for example, pushed the family firm toward crypto-currency.Fidelity Investments applies its proven Peter Jubber to its unproven bitcoin unit and its launch of Fidelity Digital Funds signals it's all in on blockchain currency

Yet Amazon will win downstream, says Sokolin.

"If it can help financial firms, whether Fidelity, hedge funds, or market makers more efficiently price financial instruments at scale [for] the entire market in real time, then it can become the de facto analytics engine for financial services."

"This would again mean that technology firms become more powerful relative to the existingfinancial ecosystem," he adds.

Amazon uses neutral language.

"Our goal for Braket is to be a catalyst,"says AWS vice president for technology, Bill Vass,in a release.

Excerpt from:
Fidelity Investments leaps back to the future in an experiment to restore active management to its lofty perch, using technology that is still more...

Monday markedtwo years since the passage of the National Quantum Initiative, or NQI Actand in that time, federal agencies followed through on its early calls and helped lay the groundwork for new breakthroughs across the U.S. quantum realm.

Now, the sights of those helping implement the law are set on the future.

I would say in five years, something we'd love to see is ... a better idea of, What are the applications for a quantum computer thats buildable in the next fiveto 10 years, that would be beneficial to society? the Office of Science and Technology Policy Assistant Director for Quantum Information Science Dr. Charles Tahan told Nextgov in an interview Friday. He also serves as the director of the National Quantum Coordination Officea cooperation-pushing hub established by the legislation.

Tahan reflected on some foundational moves made over the last 24 months and offered a glimpse into his teams big-ticket priorities for 2021.

Quantum devices and technologies are among an ever-evolving field that hones in on phenomena at the atomic scale. Potential applications are coming to light, and are expected to radically reshape science, engineering, computing, networking, sensing, communication and more. They offer promises like unhackable internet or navigation support in places disconnected from GPS.

Federal agencies have a long history of exploring physical sciences and quantum-related pursuitsbut previous efforts were often siloed. Signed by President Donald Trump in 2018, the NQI Act sought to provide for a coordinated federal program to accelerate quantum research and development for the economic and national security of America. It assigned specific jobs for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Energy Department and National Science Foundation, among others, and mandated new collaborations to boost the nations quantum workforce talent pipeline and strengthen societys grasp of this relatively fresh area of investment. The functions of the National Quantum Coordination Office, or NQCO, were also set forth in the bill, and it was officially instituted in early 2019. Since then, the group has helped connect an array of relevant stakeholders and facilitate new initiatives proposed by the law.

Now, everything that's been called out in the act has been establishedits started up, Tahan explained. He noted the three agencies with weighty responsibilities spent 2019 planning out their courses of action within their communities, and this year, subsequently launched weighty new efforts.

One of the latest was unveiled in August by the Energy Department, which awarded $625 million over five yearssubject to appropriationsto its Argonne, Brookhaven, Fermi, Oak Ridge and Lawrence Berkeley national laboratories to establish QIS Research Centers. In each, top thinkers will link up to push forward collaborative research spanning many disciplines. Academic and private-sector institutions also pledged to provide $340 million in contributions for the work.

These are about $25 million eachthat's a tremendous amount of students, and postdocs, and researchers, Tahan said. And those are spread out across the country, focusing on all different areas of quantum: computing, sensing and networking.

NSF this summer also revealed the formation of new Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes to tackle fundamental research hurdles in quantum information science and engineering over the next half-decade. The University of Colorado, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, and University of California, Berkeley are set to head and house the first three institutes, though Tahan confirmed more could be launched next year. The initiative is backed by $75 million in federal fundingand while it will take advantage of existing infrastructures, non-governmental entities involved are also making their own investments and constructing new facilities.

That's the foundation, you know, Tahan said. The teams have been formed, the research plans have been writtenthat's a tremendous amount of workand now they're off actually working. So now, we start to reap the rewards because all the heavy lifting of getting people organized has been done.

Together with NSF, OSTP also helped set in motion the National Q-12 Education Partnership. It intends to connect public, private and academic sector quantum players and cohesively create and release learning materials to help U.S. educators produce new courses to engage students with quantum fields. The work is ultimately meant to spur K-12 students' interest in the emerging areas earlier into their education, and NSF will award nearly $1 million across QIS education efforts through the work.

And beyond the governments walls and those of academia, the NQI Act also presented new opportunities for industry. Meeting the laws requirements, NIST helped convene a consortium of cross-sector stakeholders to strategically confront existing quantum-related technology, standards and workforce gaps, and needs. This year, that groupthe Quantum Economic Development Consortium, or QED-Cbloomed in size, established a more formal membership structure and announced companies that make up its steering committee.

It took a year or more to get all these companies together and then write partnership agreements. So, that partnership agreement was completed towards the beginning of summer, and the steering committee signed it over the summer, and now there are I think 100 companies or so who have signed it, Tahan said. So, it's up and running. It's a real economic development consortiumthats a technical thingand that's a big deal. And how big it is, and how fast it's growing is really, really remarkable.

This fall also brought the launch of quantum.gov, a one-stop website streamlining federal work and policies. The quantum coordination office simultaneously released a comprehensive roadmap pinpointing crucial areas of needed research, deemed the Quantum Frontiers Report.

That assessment incorporates data collected from many workshops, and prior efforts OSTP held to promote the national initiative and establishes eight frontiers that contain core problems with fundamental questions confronting QIS today and must be addressed to push forward research and development breakthroughs in the space. They include expanding opportunities for quantum technologies to benefit society, characterizing and mitigating quantum errors, and more.

It tries to cut through the hype a little bit, Tahan explained. It's a field that requires deep technical expertise. So, it's easy to be led in the wrong direction if you don't have all the data. So we try to narrow it down into here are the important problems, here's what we really don't know, heres what we do know, and go this way, and that will, hopefully benefit the whole enterprise.

Quantum-focused strides have also been made by the U.S. on the international front. Tahan pointed to the first quantum cooperation agreement signed between America and Japan late last year, which laid out basic core values guiding their working together.

We've been using that as a model to engage with other countries. We've had high-level meetings with Australia, industry collaborations with the U.K., and we're engaging with other countries. So, that's progressing, Tahan said. Many countries are interested in quantum as you can guesstheres a lot of investments around the worldand many want to work with us on going faster together.

China had also made its own notable quantum investments (some predating the NQI Act), and touted new claims of quantum supremacy, following Google, on the global stage this year.

I wouldn't frame it as a competition ... We are still very much in the research phase here, and we'll see how those things pan out, Tahan said. I think we're taking the right steps, collectively. The U.S. ecosystem of companies, nonprofits and governments arebased on our strategy, both technical and policiesgoing in the right direction and making the right investments.

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris previously put forthlegislationto broadly advance quantum research, but at this point, the Biden administration hasnt publicly shared any intentions to prioritize government-steered ongoing or future quantum efforts.

[One of] the big things we're looking towards in the next year, is workforce development. We have a critical shortage or need for talent in this space. Its a very diverse set of skills. With these new centers, just do the math. How many students and postdocs are you going to need to fill up those, to do all that research? It's a very large number, Tahan said. And so we're working on something to create that pipeline.

In that light, the team will work to continue to develop NSFs ongoing, Q-12 partnership. Theyll also reflect on whats been built so far through the national initiative to identify any crucial needs that may have been looked over.

As you stand something up thats really big, you're always going to make some mistakes. What have you missed? Tahan noted.

And going forward, the group plans to hone deeper in on balancing the economic and security implications of the burgeoning fields.

As the technology gets more and more advanced, how do we be first to realize everything but also protect our investments? Tahan said. And getting that balance right is going to require careful policy thinking about how to update the way the United States does things.

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Two Years into the Government's National Quantum Initiative - Nextgov

We've already looked at the possible cybercrime landscape for 2021, but what about the other side of the coin? How are businesses going to set about ensuring they are properly protected next year?

Josh Bregman, COO of CyGlass thinks security needs to put people first, "2020 has been incredibly stressful. Organizations should therefore look to put people first in 2021. Cybersecurity teams are especially stressed. They've been tasked with securing a changing environment where more people than ever before are working remotely. They've also faced new threats as cyber criminals have looked to take advantage of the pandemic: whether through phishing attacks or exploiting weaknesses in corporate infrastructure. Being proactive, encouraging good cyber hygiene and executing a well thought out cyber program will go a long way towards promoting a peaceful and productive 2021, not least because it will build resiliency."

Mary Writz, VP of product management at ForgeRock thinks quantum computing will change how we think about secure access, "When quantum becomes an everyday reality, certain types of encryption and thereby authentication (using encrypted tokens) will be invalidated. Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and digital signatures will no longer be considered secure. Organizations will need to be nimble to modernize identity and access technology."

Gaurav Banga, CEO and founder of Balbix, also has concerns over quantum computing's effect on encryption, "Quantum computing is likely to become practical soon, with the capability to break many encryption algorithms. Organizations should plan to upgrade to TLS 1.3 and quantum-safe cryptographic ciphers soon. Big Tech vendors Google and Microsoft will make updates to web browsers, but the server-side is for your organization to review and change. Kick off a Y2K-like project to identify and fix your organization's encryption before it is too late."

Sharon Wagner, CEO of Sixgill predicts greater automation, "We'll see organizations ramp up investment in security tools that automate tasks. The security industry has long been plagued by talent shortages, and companies will look toward automation to even the playing field. While many of these automated tools were previously only accessible to large enterprises, much of this technology is becoming available to businesses of all sizes. With this, security teams will be able to cover more assets, eliminate blindspots at scale, and focus more on the most pressing security issues."

Michael Rezek, VP of cybersecurity strategy at Accedian sees room for a blend of tools and education, "As IT teams build out their 2021 cybersecurity strategy, they should look most critically to network detection & response solutions (NDR), and other complementary solutions like endpoint security platforms that can detect advanced persistent threats (APT) and malware. For smaller companies, managed security services such as managed defense and response are also good options. However, a comprehensive security strategy must also include educating all employees about these threats and what to watch out for. Simple cybersecurity practices like varying and updating passwords and not clicking on suspicious links can go a long way in defending against ransomware. Perhaps most importantly, since no security plan is foolproof, companies should have a plan in the event of a ransomware attack. This is especially important since attackers might perform months of reconnaissance before actually striking. Once they have enough data, they'll typically move laterally inside the network in search of other prized data. Many cybercrime gangs will then install ransomware and use the stolen data as a back-up plan in case the organization refuses to pay. The more rapidly you can detect a breach and identify what information was exploited, the better your changes of mitigating this type of loss. Having a plan and the forensic data to back it up will ensure your organization and its reputation are protected."

Amir Jerbi, CTO at Aqua Security, sees more automation too, "As DevOps moves more broadly to use Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to automate provisioning of cloud native platforms, it is only a matter of time before vulnerabilities in these processes are exploited. The use of many templates leaves an opening for attackers to embed deployment automation of their own components, which when executed may allow them to manipulate the cloud infrastructure of their attack targets."

Marlys Rodgers, chief information security officer and head of technology oversight at CSAA Insurance Group, inaugural member of the AttackIQ Informed Defenders Council says, "Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic, businesses still have to function and deliver on their promises to customers. This means adapting and finding new ways to enable employees to be productive from the safety of their homes. As CISO and Head of Technology Oversight for my company, I am dedicated to structuring and sustaining a security program that enables the business, as opposed to restricting capabilities in the name of minimizing risk. Additionally, I believe in complete transparency regarding the company's security posture across all levels, including the C-suite and board, so that we may work together to understand our risk and prioritize security investments accordingly. These two guiding principles have served me well throughout my career, but in 2020 especially, they allowed my company to innovate to better serve our customers while simultaneously scaling the security program."

Devin Redmond CEO and co-founder of Theta Lake believes we'll see more focus on the security of collaboration tools, "Incumbent collaboration tools (Zoom, Teams, Webex) are going to get dragged into conversations about privacy law and big tech, further pressuring them to stay on top of security and compliance capabilities. At least two regulatory agencies will make explicit statements about regulatory obligations to retain and supervise collaboration conversations. Additionally, collaboration tools will replace many call center interactions and force organizations on related compliance, privacy, and security risks."

Cybersecurity needs to become 'baked in' according to Charles Eagan, CTO at BlackBerry:

Cybersecurity is, in all too many ways, an after-market add-on. But this kind of model can become a roadblock to comprehensive security -- like plugging the sink while the faucet is already on.

Take, for instance, the connected vehicle market: vehicles continue to make use of data-rich sensors to deliver safety and comfort features to the driver. But if these platforms aren't built with security as a prerequisite, it's easy to open up a new cyberattack vector with each new feature. In many cases, the data that drives Machine Learning and AI is only useful -- and safe -- if it cannot be compromised. Cybersecurity must become a pillar of product and platform development from day one, instead of added on after the architecture is established.

Tony Lauro, Akamai's director of security technology and strategy thinks multi-factor authentication must become the norm, "Over the past 12 months, attacks against remote workers have increased dramatically, and the techniques used to do so have also increased in complexity. In 2021 security-conscious organizations will be compelled to re-evaluate their requirements for using multi-factor authentication (MFA) technology for solutions that incorporate a strong crypto component to defend against man in the middle and phishing-based 2FA bypasses."

Jerry Ray, COO of enterprise data security and encryption company SecureAge, thinks we'll see greater use of encryption, "Throughout most of 2020, VPNs, access controls, and zero trust user authentication became all the rage in the immediate push to allow employees to work from home. As the year ends and 2021 unfolds, though, a greater appreciation for data encryption has been slowly coming to life. As work from home will continue throughout 2021 and the ploys used by hackers to get into the untamed endpoints become more refined and clever, data that can't be used even if stolen or lost will prove the last, best line of defense."

MikeRiemer, global chief technology officer of Ivanti thinks organizations must adopt zero trust, "As employees continue to work from home, enterprises must come to terms with the reality that it may not be just the employee accessing a company device. Other people, such as a child or spouse, may use a laptop, phone, or tablet and inadvertently download ransomware or other types of software malware. Then, when the employee starts using the device to access a corporate network or specific corporate cloud application, it becomes a rogue device. Without having eyes on employees, how do businesses ensure the user and device are trusted? And what about the application, data and infrastructure? All of these components must be verified on a continual basis every few minutes to maintain a superior secure access posture. That is why organizations must adopt a Zero Trust Access solution capable of handling the hyper-converged technology and infrastructure within today's digital workplace by providing a unified, cloud-based service that enables greater accessibility, efficiency, and risk reduction."

Casey Ellis, CTO, founder, and chairman of Bugcrowd thinks more governments around the world will adopt vulnerability disclosure as a default:

Governments are collectively realizing the scale and distributed nature of the threats they face in the cyber domain, as well as the league of good-faith hackers available to help them balance forces. When you're faced with an army of adversaries, an army of allies makes a lot of sense.

Judging by the language used in the policies released in 2020, governments around the world (including the UK) are also leaning in to the benefit of transparency inherent to a well-run VDP to create confidence in their constituents (neighborhood watch for the internet). The added confidence, ease of explanation, and the fact that security research and incidental discovery of security issues happen whether there is an invitation or not is making this an increasingly easy decision for governments to make.

Image credit: photousvp77/depositphotos.com

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Encryption, zero trust and the quantum threat security predictions for 2021 - BetaNews

Paris, December 4, 2020 Atos introduces Q-score, the first universal quantum metrics, applicable to all programmable quantum processors. Atos Q-score measures a quantum systems effectiveness at handling real-life problems, those which cannot be solved by traditional computers, rather than simply measuring its theoretical performance. Q-score reaffirms Atos commitment to deliver early and concrete benefits of quantum computing. Over the past five years, Atos has become a pioneer in quantum applications through its participation in industrial and academic partnerships and funded projects, working hand-in-hand with industrials to develop use-cases which will be able to be accelerated by quantum computing.

Faced with the emergence of a myriad of processor technologies and programming approaches, organizations looking to invest in quantum computing need a reliable metrics to help them choose the most efficient path for them. Being hardware-agnostic, Q-score is an objective, simple and fair metrics which they can rely on, said Elie Girard, Atos CEO. Since the launch of Atos Quantum in 2016, the first quantum computing industry program in Europe, our aim has remained the same: advance the development of industry and research applications, and pave the way to quantum superiority.

What does Q-score measure?

Today the number of qubits (quantum units) is the most common figure of merit for assessing the performance of a quantum system. However, qubits are volatile and vastly vary in quality (speed, stability, connectivity, etc.) from one quantum technology to another (such as supraconducting, trapped ions, silicon and photonics), making it an imperfect benchmark tool. By focusing on the ability to solve well-known combinatorial optimization problems, Atos Q-score will provide research centers, universities, businesses and technological leaders with explicit, reliable, objective and comparable results when solving real-world optimization problems.

Q-score measures the actual performance of quantum processors when solving an optimization problem, representative of the near-term quantum computing era (NISQ - Noisy Intermediate Scale Quantum). To provide a frame of reference for comparing performance scores and maintain uniformity, Q-score relies on a standard combinatorial optimization problem, the same for all assessments (the Max-Cut Problem, similar to the well-known TSP - Travelling Salesman Problem, see below). The score is calculated based on the maximum number of variables within such a problem that a quantum technology can optimize (ex: 23 variables = 23 Q-score or Qs).

Atos will organize the publication of a yearly list of the most powerful quantum processors in the world based on Q-score. Due in 2021, the first report will include actual self-assessments provided by manufacturers.

Based on an open access software package, Q-score is built on 3 pillars:

A free software kit, which enables Q-score to be run on any processor will be available in Q1 2021. Atos invites all manufacturers to run Q-score on their technology and publish their results.

Thanks to the advanced qubit simulation capabilities of the Atos Quantum Learning Machine (Atos QLM), its powerful quantum simulator, Atos is able to calculate Q-score estimates for various platforms. These estimates take into account the characteristics publicly provided by the manufacturers. Results range around a Q-score of 15 Qs, but progress is rapid, with an estimated average Q-score dating from one year ago in the area of 10 Qs, and an estimated projected average Q-score dating one year from now to be above 20 Qs.

Q-score has been reviewed by the Atos Quantum Advisory Board, a group of international experts, mathematicians and physicists authorities in their fields, which met onDecember 4, 2020.

Understanding Q-score using the Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP)

Today's most promising application of quantum computing is solving large combinatorial optimization problems. Examples of such problems are the famous TSP problem and the less notorious but as important Max-Cut problem.

Problem statement: a traveler needs to visit N number of cities in a round-tour, where distances between all the cities are known and each city should be visited just once. What is the absolute shortest possible route so that he visits each city exactly once and returns to the origin city?

Simple in appearance, this problem becomes quite complex when it comes to giving a definitive, perfect answer taking into account an increasing number of N variables (cities). Max-Cut is a more generic problem, with a broad range of applications, for instance in the optimization of electronic boards or in the positioning of 5G antennas.

Q-score evaluates the capacity of a quantum processor to solve these combinatorial problems.

Q-score, Quantum Performance, and Quantum Superiority

While the most powerful High Performance Computers (HPC) worldwide to come in the near term (so called exascale) would reach an equivalent Q-score close to 60, today we estimate, according to public data, that the best Quantum Processing Unit (QPU) yields a Q-score around 15 Qs. With recent progress, we expect quantum performance to reach Q-scores above 20 Qs in the coming year.

Q-score can be measured for QPUs with more than 200 qubits. Therefore, it will remain the perfect metrics reference to identify and measure quantum superiority, defined as the ability of quantum technologies to solve an optimization problem that classical technologies cannot solve at the same point in time.

As per the above, Atos estimates quantum superiority in the context of optimization problems to be reached above 60 Qs.

Atos commitment to advance industry applications of quantum computing

The year 2020 represents an inflexion point in the quantum race, with the identification of the first real-life problems or applications which are unable to be solved in the classical world but may be able to be solved in the quantum world. As for any disruptive technology, envisaging the related applications (as well as necessary ethical limitations) is a major step towards conviction, adoption and success. This is exactly where Atos sees its main role.

Leveraging the Atos QLM and Atos unique expertise in algorithm development, the Group coordinates the European project NEASQC - NExt ApplicationS of Quantum Computing, one of the most ambitious projects which aims to boost near-term quantum applications and demonstrates quantum superiority. NEASQC brings together academics and manufacturers, motivated by the quantum acceleration of their business applications. These applications will be further supported by the release in 2023 of the first Atos NISQ accelerator, integrating qubits in an HPC - High Performance Computing architecture.

Below are some examples of applications from NEASQC industrial partners that could be accelerated by quantum computing:

To learn more about NEASQC and the use-cases above (as well as others), please visit https://neasqc.eu/

Bob Sorensen, Senior Vice President of Research, Chief Analyst for Quantum Computing at Hyperion Research, LLC, comments: Leveraging its widely acknowledged expertise in supercomputing, Atos is working to provide quantum computing users with early and tangible computational advantage on various applications by building on its Atos Quantum R&D program, with the aim of delivering near-term results through a hybrid quantum supercomputing approach.The launch of Q-score is a key innovative step that offers a way for the quantum computing community to better characterize gains by focusing on real-life use-cases.

On Friday, December 4, 2020, the Group will hold a media conference call in English at 12pm CET, chaired by Elie Girard, CEO, and Cyril Allouche, Fellow, Head of the Atos Quantum R&D Program, in order to present Q-score and answer questions from the press. Members of the Atos Quantum Advisory Board will be present. After the conference, a replay of the webcast will be available. Journalists can register to the press conference at: https://quantum-press-conference-atos.aio-events.com/105/participation_form

Atos Quantum Advisory Board members are:

To learn more about Q-score, please visit: https://atos.net/en/solutions/q-score

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About Atos Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with 110,000 employees in 73 countries and annual revenue of 12 billion. European number one in Cloud, Cybersecurity and High-Performance Computing, the Group provides end-to-end Orchestrated Hybrid Cloud, Big Data, Business Applications and Digital Workplace solutions. The Group is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic & Paralympic Games and operates under the brands Atos, Atos|Syntel, and Unify. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea), listed on the CAC40 Paris stock index.

The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

Press contact:Marion Delmas | marion.delmas@atos.net | +33 6 37 63 91 99

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Atos announces Q-score, the only universal metrics to assess quantum performance and superiority - GlobeNewswire

A new tool that uses light to map out the electronic structures of crystals could reveal the capabilities of emerging quantum materials and pave the way for advanced energy technologies and quantum computers, according to researchers at the University of Michigan, the University of Regensburg and the University of Marburg.

A paper on the work is published in Science.

Applications include LED lights, solar cells and artificial photosynthesis.

Quantum materials could have an impact way beyond quantum computing, said Mackillo Kira, a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Michigan, who led the theory side of the new study. If you optimize quantum properties right, you can get 100% efficiency for light absorption.

Silicon-based solar cells are already becoming the cheapest form of electricity, although their sunlight-to-electricity conversion efficiency is rather low, about 30%. Emerging 2D semiconductors, which consist of a single layer of crystal, could do that much betterpotentially using up to 100% of the sunlight. They could also elevate quantum computing to room temperature from the near-absolute-zero machines demonstrated so far.

New quantum materials are now being discovered at a faster pace than ever, said Rupert Huber, a professor of physics at the University of Regensburg in Germany, who led the experimental work. By simply stacking such layers one on top of the other under variable twist angles, and with a wide selection of materials, scientists can now create artificial solids with truly unprecedented properties.

The ability to map these properties down to the atoms could help streamline the process of designing materials with the right quantum structures. But these ultrathin materials are much smaller and messier than earlier crystals, and the old analysis methods dont work. Now, 2D materials can be measured with the new laser-based method at room temperature and pressure.

The measurable operations include processes that are key to solar cells, lasers and optically driven quantum computing. Essentially, electrons pop between a ground state, in which they cannot travel, and states in the semiconductors conduction band, in which they are free to move through space. They do this by absorbing and emitting light.

The quantum mapping method uses a 100 femtosecond (100 quadrillionths of a second) pulse of red laser light to pop electrons out of the ground state and into the conduction band. Next the electrons are hit with a second pulse of infrared light. This pushes them so that they oscillate up and down an energy valley in the conduction band, a little like skateboarders in a halfpipe.

The team uses the dual wave/particle nature of electrons to create a standing wave pattern that looks like a comb. They discovered that when the peak of this electron comb overlaps with the materials band structureits quantum structureelectrons emit light intensely. That powerful light emission along, with the narrow width of the comb lines, helped create a picture so sharp that researchers call it super-resolution.

By combining that precise location information with the frequency of the light, the team was able to map out the band structure of the 2D semiconductor tungsten diselenide. Not only that, but they could also get a read on each electrons orbital angular momentum through the way the front of the light wave twisted in space. Manipulating an electrons orbital angular momentum, known also as a pseudospin, is a promising avenue for storing and processing quantum information.

In tungsten diselenide, the orbital angular momentum identifies which of two different valleys an electron occupies. The messages that the electrons send out can show researchers not only which valley the electron was in but also what the landscape of that valley looks like and how far apart the valleys are, which are the key elements needed to design new semiconductor-based quantum devices.

For instance, when the team used the laser to push electrons up the side of one valley until they fell into the other, the electrons emitted light at that drop point too. That light gives clues about the depths of the valleys and the height of the ridge between them. With this kind of information, researchers can figure out how the material would fare for a variety of purposes.

The paper is titled, Super-resolution lightwave tomography of electronic bands in quantum materials. This research was funded by the Army Research Office, the German Research Foundation and the U-M College of Engineering Blue Sky Research Program.

ReferenceBorsch M et al. Super-resolution lightwave tomography of electronic bands in quantum materials. Science 04 Dec 2020, Vol. 370, Issue 6521, pp. 1204-1207. DOI: 10.1126/science.abe2112

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Quantum Structures Mapped With Light To Reveal Their Potential - Technology Networks

02Dec2020

Regional web aims to connect processors capable of exchanging qubits over optical fiber.

The QuTech collaboration, which is pioneering the application of quantum technologies in The Netherlands, has launched plans to build a high-speed quantum network connecting the Randstad metropolitan region.

According to project leaders at Technical University of Delft and the TNO research organization, the effort will focus on connecting quantum processors across a significant distance.

The aim is to build the very first fully functional quantum network using high-speed fiber connections, they announced. A quantum network is a radically new internet technology, with the potential for creating pioneering applications.

Optical channelsBy connecting quantum processors to each other via optical channels, such a network would enable the exchange of quantum bits - the basic units of quantum information upon which quantum computers are built.

Also known as qubits, these units enable high-security quantum communication. QuTech says that these connections are expected to evolve over time towards a global quantum network, allowing additional applications in areas like position verification, clock synchronization, and computation with external quantum computers.

Among other things, the project is intended to lead to new techniques, insights and standards that will bring a quantum network closer, stated the collaboration, which also includes telecoms firm KPN, Dutch ICT development organization SURF, and a VU Amsterdam spin-out company called Optical Positioning Navigation and Timing (OPNT).

QuTech adds that all existing quantum networks are based on a simpler technology, suggesting that the new Randstad project will represent a fully functional approach.

Different parties in the collaboration each contribute their own areas of expertise, it announced. Ultimately, the mix of skills will help to create a programmable quantum network that connects quantum processors in different cities.

Quantum ecosystemErwin van Zwet, Internet Division Engineering Lead at QuTech, added: Working with these partners, we expect to have taken significant steps towards a quantum network by the end of the project.

Acknowledging that the technology required is still at an early stage, the four parties involved in the collaboration say that they stand to benefit from joining forces right now.

Wojciech Kozlowski, a postdoctoral researcher at QuTech with responsibility for one of the work packages defined in the project, said: Every day we are working on finding answers to the question of how network operators, such as KPN or SURF, can deploy a quantum network, and what sort of services they can offer their users.

Although we are still in an early stage of development, we are already building the quantum internet ecosystem of the future by working with key partners. This ecosystem will prove crucial as our quantum network evolves into a fully-fledged quantum internet.

The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has also awarded a new 4.5million grant to an interdisciplinary consortium including QuTech aiming to bring quantum technology closer to potential users across society through the "Quantum Inspire" platform.

The platform, based around a 50-qubit quantum computer, is set to gain a more intuitive and easily accessible user interface, with a view to future commercial use.

Lieven Vandersypen, the director of research at QuTech, said that the new program would see greater availability of Quantum Inspire to students, the general public, industry, and government.

"We hope that different people from all parts of society will interact with Quantum Inspire, so that we can work together to figure out the full range of possibilities offered to our society by quantum computing including which societal challenges it will be able to solve," Vandersypen added.

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Netherlands team to build high-speed quantum network - Optics.org