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Category: quantum physics – Page 7

Researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences revealed that not all forms of quantum nonlocality guarantee intrinsic randomness. They demonstrated that violating two-input Bell inequalities is both necessary and sufficient for certifying randomness, but this equivalence breaks down in scenarios involving multiple inputs. The study is published in Physical Review Letters.

Quantum mechanics is inherently probabilistic, and this intrinsic has been leveraged for applications like random number generation. However, ensuring the security of these random numbers in real-world scenarios is challenging due to potential vulnerabilities in the devices used.

Bell nonlocality, where particles exhibit correlations that cannot be explained by classical physics, offers a way to certify randomness without trusting the devices. Previous studies have shown that violating Bell inequalities can certify randomness in simple two-input, two-output systems. However, the applicability of this principle to more complex, multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) systems has been unclear.

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In a new paper in Nature, a team of researchers from JPMorganChase, Quantinuum, Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and The University of Texas at Austin describe a milestone in the field of quantum computing, with potential applications in cryptography, fairness and privacy.

Using a 56-qubit quantum computer, they have for the first time experimentally demonstrated certified randomness, a way of generating random numbers from a quantum computer and then using a classical supercomputer to prove they are truly random and freshly generated. This could pave the way toward the use of quantum computers for a practical task unattainable through classical methods.

Scott Aaronson, Schlumberger Centennial Chair of Computer Science and director of the Quantum Information Center at UT Austin, invented the certified randomness protocol that was demonstrated. He and his former postdoctoral researcher, Shih-Han Hung, provided theoretical and analytical support to the experimentalists on this latest project.

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For decades, researchers have explored how electrons behave in quantum materials. Under certain conditions, electrons interact strongly with each other instead of moving independently, leading to exotic quantum states. One such state, first proposed by Nobel laureate Eugene Wigner, is the Wigner crystal—a structured electron arrangement caused by their mutual repulsion. Although widely theorized, experimental proof has been rare.

Researchers at Yonsei University have now provided evidence of Wigner crystallization and the associated electronic rotons. In a study published in the journal Nature, Prof. Keun Su Kim and his team used (ARPES) to analyze black phosphorus doped with alkali metals. Their data revealed aperiodic energy variations, a hallmark of electronic rotons.

Crucially, as they decreased the dopant density within the material, the roton energy gap shrank to zero. This observation confirmed a transition from a fluid-like quantum state to a structured electron lattice, characteristic of Wigner crystallization.

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Highly charged heavy ions form a very suitable experimental field for investigating quantum electrodynamics (QED), the best-tested theory in physics describing all electrical and magnetic interactions of light and matter. A crucial property of the electron within QED is the so-called g factor, which precisely characterizes how the particle behaves in a magnetic field.

Recently, the ALPHATRAP group led by Sven Sturm in the division of Klaus Blaum at the Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik (MPIK) in Heidelberg measured the g factor of hydrogen-like tin ions on a precision level of 0.5 parts per billion, which is like measuring the distance from Cologne to Frankfurt with precision down to the thickness of a human hair. This is a stringent test of QED for the simplest atomic system, just like conventional hydrogen but with a much higher electric field experienced by the electron due to the charge of 50 protons inside the tin nucleus.

In a new study published in Physical Review Letters, researchers have now tackled highly charged boron-like tin ions with only five remaining electrons. The goal is to study the inter-electronic effects in the boron-like configuration. So far, the only boron-like g factor has been measured with high precision for argon ions with a proton number Z of 18. However, the nucleus is not a point charge like the electron and its charge distribution leads to finite nuclear size corrections—another challenge for precision experiments.

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Georgia Tech researchers recently proposed a method for generating quantum entanglement between photons. This method constitutes a breakthrough that has potentially transformative consequences for the future of photonics-based quantum computing.

“Our results point to the possibility of building quantum computers using light by taking advantage of this entanglement,” said Chandra Raman, a professor in the School of Physics. The research is published in the journal Physical Review Letters.

Quantum computers have the potential to outperform their conventional counterparts, becoming the fastest programmable machines in existence. Entanglement is the key resource for building these quantum computers.

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Similar to humans going on journeys of self-discovery, quantum computers are also capable of deepening their understanding of their own foundations.

Researchers from Tohoku University and St. Paul’s School, London, have developed a that allows quantum computers to analyze and protect quantum entanglement—a fundamental underpinning of quantum computing. These findings will advance our understanding of quantum entanglement and quantum technologies.

The study was published in Physical Review Letters on March 4, 2025.

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A new solid-state laser produces 193-nm light for precision chipmaking and even creates vortex beams with orbital angular momentum – a first that could transform quantum tech and manufacturing.

Deep ultraviolet (DUV) lasers, which emit high-energy light at very short wavelengths, play a vital role in areas like semiconductor manufacturing, high-resolution spectroscopy, precision material processing, and quantum technology. Compared to traditional excimer or gas discharge lasers, DUV lasers offer better coherence and lower power consumption, making it possible to build smaller, more efficient systems.

Breakthrough in Solid-State Laser Development.

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Additionally, the quantum computing cloud service offered by the University of Osaka has begun integrating OQTOPUS into its operations and Fujitsu Limited will make it available for research partners using its quantum computers in the second half of 2025.

Moving forward, the research team will drive the advancement of quantum computing through the continuous expansion of OQTOPUS’s capabilities and the development of a thriving global community. Dr. Keisuke Fujii at the Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Biology (QIQB) of The University of Osaka mentions, “this will facilitate the standardization of various quantum software and systems while driving the creation of innovative quantum applications.”

The research was funded by the Japan Science and Technology Agency and the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology.

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There remain many questions — how precisely to test prime resonance coupling in the lab, how to formalize “consciousness” in a rigorous physical sense, and how to harness these insights for breakthrough technologies.

Yet the potential is vast. Non-local communication, quantum AI, and a bold reinterpretation of black holes as ultimate observers challenge us to delve deeper and rethink old assumptions.

The journey forward will require experiments that push the boundaries of quantum measurement, investigate subtle anomalies in tunneling and interference, and refine our understanding of how consciousness might operate as an entropic conductor.

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