Light that guides itself could power the next revolution in computing and communications.
Category: computing – Page 6
Simplified Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev model simulated on trapped-ion quantum computer
The simulation of strongly interacting many-body systems is a key objective of quantum physics research, as it can help to test the predictions of physics theories and yield new valuable insight. Researchers at Quantinuum, a quantum computing company, recently simulated a simplified version of a well-known theoretical model, the so-called Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev (SYK) model, using a trapped-ion quantum computer and a previously introduced randomized quantum algorithm.
Their simulation, outlined in a paper published on the arXiv preprint server, improves the present understanding of chaotic quantum systems that cannot be simulated using classical computers. In the future, their work could contribute to the simulation of other complex quantum systems and theoretical models.
“We were interested in the SYK model for two reasons: on one hand it is a prototypical model of strongly interacting fermions in condensed matter physics, and on the other hand it is the simplest toy model for studying quantum gravity in the lab via the holographic duality,” said Enrico Rinaldi, Lead R&D Scientist at Quantinuum and senior author of the paper.
Quantum Companies Join Forces in Italy’s New Quantum Alliance
IonQ and D-Wave, two publicly traded U.S. quantum computing companies, are joining as founding members of Q-Alliance, a new initiative in Lombardy described by organizers as the foundation of “the world’s most powerful quantum hub.”
The alliance, formalized in Como with a memorandum of understanding, is designed to accelerate quantum research and industrial applications as part of Italy’s broader digital transformation agenda, according to a news release. It is backed by the Italian government’s Interministerial Committee for Digital Transition and supported by Undersecretary of State Senator Alessio Butti.
Q-Alliance will serve as an open platform connecting universities, research institutions, and private industry. The program aims to train young researchers through scholarships and internships, promote collaboration across scientific disciplines, and position Italy as a European center for quantum development.
NVIDIA Embraces the ‘Made in USA’ Narrative, As Jensen Huang Unveils the First Blackwell Chip Wafer Produced by TSMC Arizona
NVIDIA’s CEO has revealed that TSMC has produced the first Blackwell chip wafer in America, a massive development towards the future of manufacturing in the nation.
Since the Trump administration took office, efforts to bring manufacturing back to the US have influenced almost every tech giant, with NVIDIA leading the way. The firm announced plans to invest $500 billion in American manufacturing, prompting suppliers like Foxconn and Quanta to set up manufacturing facilities in the US. In a blog post shared by Team Green, it is revealed that TSMC Arizona has begun manufacturing Blackwell on American soil, and Jensen Huang himself paid a visit to Phoenix to celebrate this massive achievement.
‘Wetware’: Scientists use human mini-brains to power computers
Inside a lab in the picturesque Swiss town of Vevey, a scientist gives tiny clumps of human brain cells the nutrient-rich fluid they need to stay alive.
It is vital these mini-brains remain healthy, because they are serving as rudimentary computer processors—and, unlike your laptop, once they die, they cannot be rebooted.
This new field of research, called biocomputing or “wetware,” aims to harness the evolutionarily honed yet still mysterious computing power of the human brain.
Taking the shock out of predicting shock wave behavior with precise computational modeling
Shock waves should not be shocking—engineers across scientific fields need to be able to precisely predict how the instant and strong pressure changes initiate and dissipate to prevent damage. Now, thanks to a team from Yokohama National University, those predictions are even better understood.
In work published on Aug. 19 in the Physics of Fluids, the researchers detailed how computational models used to simulate shock wave behavior represent the very weak shock waves in a way that is distinctly different from both theoretical predictions and physical measurements.
Shock waves comprise the pressure that pushes out from an explosion or from an object moving faster than sound, like a supersonic jet. Weak shockwaves refer to the same changes in pressure, density and velocity, but they are much smaller than the larger waves and move closer to the speed of sound. However, current computational modeling approaches have difficulty accurately representing these very weak shock waves, according to co-author Keiichi Kitamura, professor, Faculty of Engineering, Yokohama National University.
Quantum networks bring new precision to dark matter searches
Detecting dark matter—the mysterious substance that holds galaxies together—is one of the greatest unsolved problems in physics. Although it cannot be seen or touched directly, scientists believe dark matter leaves weak signals that could be captured by highly sensitive quantum devices.
In a new study published in Physical Review D, researchers at Tohoku University propose a way to boost the sensitivity of quantum sensors by connecting them in carefully designed network structures. These quantum sensors use the rules of quantum physics to detect extremely small signals, making them far more sensitive than ordinary sensors. Using these, accurately detecting the faint clues left behind from dark matter could finally become possible.
The study focuses on superconducting qubits, which are tiny electric circuits cooled to very low temperatures. These qubits are normally used as building blocks of quantum computers, but here they act as powerful quantum sensors. Just as a team working together can achieve more than a single person, linking many of these superconducting qubits in an optimized network allows them to detect weak dark matter signals much more effectively than any single sensor could on its own.