A quantum leap in computing
When American physicist Richard Feynman in 1982 proposed creating a quantum computer that could solve complex problems, the idea was merely a theory scientists believed was far off in the future.
A few decades later, USC Dornsife researchers are closing in on harnessing quantum computing, a system that takes advantage of computational quirks such as quantum coherence. In the past, quantum decoherence had hindered researchers’ attempts to construct a durable quantum computer because the process interferes with quantum properties and renders the system no better than a classical computer. Once a deterrent, decoherence has become an obstacle that can be overcome using quantum tricks developed by USC researchers.
USC scientists can now vet their theories on the world’s first commercially available operational quantum computer.
In October, USC founded the USC-Lockheed Martin Quantum Computing Center, which houses the D-Wave One, worth about $10 million and owned by Lockheed Martin. USC and Lockheed Martin will work together to explore the potential of the groundbreaking technology. The center and the adiabatic quantum computer that uses quantum annealing to solve optimization problems operating on a 128 qubit chip-set are located on the USC Information Sciences Institute campus in Marina del Rey, Calif.
“We have been strong in quantum computing for years but this development really is a ‘quantum leap’ for us,” said Daniel Lidar, a professor of chemistry in USC Dornsife with a joint appointment in USC Viterbi School of Engineering, who serves as the center’s scientific and technical director, and who initiated the efforts culminating in the arrival of the D-Wave One.
“We believe the ‘Rainier’ processor can pave the way toward solving some interesting algorithm issues such as optimization problems — problems such as machine learning automatic image recognition, and software validation.”
Lidar is separately leading a team conducting research with the support of a $6.25 million Department of Defense Multidisciplinary Research Initiative (MURI) grant issued to five academic institutions under USC leadership. The USC award is part of a $151 million MURI program involving 27 institutions.
“The D-Wave chip is not uncontroversial: many researchers in the community are skeptical regarding its quantum powers,” Lidar said. “An important aspect of the USC research effort will be to settle this controversy.”
Stephan Haas and Paolo Zanardi of USC Dornsife, USC Viterbi faculty members and researchers on the Marina del Rey campus, along with scholars from several universities are working with Lidar.
The center’s findings could lead to designs for superfast computers.
“This center is very big for the quantum information community,” said Zanardi, professor of physics in USC Dornsife and a newly elected fellow of the American Physical Society. “Rather than just writing our theories on the board we can finally check them on a real concrete system.”
Fifteen USC Dornsife and USC Viterbi researchers, along with USC graduates and postdoctoral students are collaborating through the center, trying to better understand the perplexing questions of quantum systems. The group is part of the USC Center for Quantum Information and Science and Technology (CQIST), which serves as the umbrella organization for quantum computing at USC.
Unlike a classical computer, which encodes either a one or a zero using traditional bits, quantum computers rely on qubits, a unit of quantum information associated with the quantum properties of a physical atom. Quantum mechanics can encode the one and zero digits simultaneously — greatly speeding up the system. This property known as superposition — coupled with the quantum states ability to “tunnel” through energy barriers — allows the computer to perform optimization calculations far faster than classical computers. By taking advantage of these properties, a quantum computer in theory could process every possible answer at the same time rather than one at a time.
Researchers will utilize the D-Wave processor to develop methods to construct new quantum optimization algorithms, study the fundamental physics of entanglement and lead experiments in adiabatic quantum computing.
They will also focus on managing decoherence. The same ingredient that drives quantum computers to operate at fast speeds can also be a troublesome stumbling block that kicks quantum particles off superposition, knocking the quantum system back down to that of a classical computer. Envision the quantum system as a point in space and you want the point to follow a precise trajectory. Simple enough except the quantum system’s continuous interaction with the environment randomly kicks the points around and off the trajectory. The key is to protect quantum information and control decoherence.
“In order to allow us to outperform classical information processing devices, quantum components have to be very stable,” Zanardi said. “It turns out this quantum weirdness is the extra ingredient that gives us computational speedups, compared to classical algorithms that are very fragile.”
The development of optimization algorithms can help detect bugs in computer programs. In addition, optimization has the power to find a needle in a haystack, said Haas, professor of physics and astronomy, and vice dean for research in USC Dornsife.
“A model has countless solutions but only one of these is optimal,” Haas said. “The optimal solution can be one in a billion. If you have a classical computer it would take forever to find the optimal solution. With a quantum computer the search is very much accelerated.”
Haas and Tameem Albash, a postdoctoral research associate in the department of physics in USC Dornsife, are addressing how to control a quantum computing system — or manipulating the inputs to a system to obtain the desired effect on the system’s output. By manipulating the magnetic field surrounding the device, the researchers are attempting to find the lowest-energy state of a specific quantum mechanical system, or the ground state property of a specific problem of interest.
“This chip gives us a new opportunity to flex our theoretical muscles,” Albash said. “The most interesting aspect of the chip is using it to solve problems we have never been able to answer.”
USC researchers are studying the various challenges associated with constructing a quantum computer, so it can be more easily built in the future. The new center paves the way for scholars to advance knowledge in a potentially revolutionary field.
“This technology is going to be a great testing ground for our theories and will enable us to develop our theories in new directions,” Zanardi said. “I expect great things out of the processor. We are all excited.”
Provided by USC College
Mwaka 1982 mwanafizikia Richard Feynman alipendekeza kuunda kompyuta ya quantum ambayo ingeweza kutatua matatizo magumu, wazo hilo lilikuwa nadharia tu ambayo wanasayansi waliamini lilikuwa mbali sana katika siku zijazo. Katika miaka ya hivi karibuni, watafiti wa USC Dornsiff wamekuwa wakifanya kazi ya kugundua jinsi ya kutumia kompyuta ya quantum, ambayo ni mfumo wa kompyuta unaotumia faida za ubunifu wa kompyuta kama vile uthabiti wa quantum. Katika siku za nyuma, decoherence quantum alikuwa kuzuia watafiti 'jaribio la kujenga kompyuta kudumu quantum kwa sababu mchakato interferes na mali quantum na renders mfumo hakuna bora kuliko kompyuta ya kawaida. Wakati mmoja, decoherence imekuwa kikwazo ambacho kinaweza kushindwa kwa kutumia mbinu za quantum zilizotengenezwa na watafiti wa USC. Wanasayansi wa Chuo Kikuu cha California sasa wanaweza kuchunguza nadharia zao juu ya kompyuta ya kwanza ya quantum inayopatikana kibiashara ulimwenguni. "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""Lockheed-Martin Quantum Computing Center"" ni kituo cha kompyuta cha kwanza cha Marekani, ambacho kina uwezo wa kuendesha D-Wave-1 na kina thamani ya dola milioni 10 na inamilikiwa na Lockheed Martin." Kampuni ya Lockheed Martin na USC itashirikiana katika utafiti wa teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia ya teknolojia. "Kituo cha ""Quantum Computing"" cha UCLA, ambacho kina uwezo wa kuunda kompyuta ya quantum, kinachotumia vifaa vya kuhariri na kuhariri data kwa kutumia vifaa vya kuhariri, kinachotumiwa na wataalamu wa kompyuta, na kinachotumiwa na wataalamu wa kompyuta, ni Daniel Lidar, profesa wa kemia katika USC Dornish, ambaye pia ni mkurugenzi wa kiteknolojia na kiufundi wa USC Viterbi." "Tunaamini kwamba ""Rainier"" processor inaweza kufungua njia kuelekea kutatua baadhi ya masuala ya kuvutia algorithm kama vile matatizo ya optimization, matatizo kama vile kujifunza mashine, kutambua picha moja kwa moja, na uthibitisho wa programu. ""Lidar ni tofauti kuongoza timu ya kufanya utafiti kwa msaada wa $ 6.25 milioni Wizara ya Ulinzi Multidisciplinary Utafiti Initiative (MURI) ruzuku iliyotolewa kwa taasisi tano za kitaaluma USC chini ya uongozi." Tuzo hiyo ni sehemu ya mpango wa MURI wa dola milioni 151 unaohusisha taasisi 27. "Chip ya D-Wave si isiyo na utata: watafiti wengi katika jamii wanashuku juu ya nguvu zake za quantum", Lidar alisema. "Hatua ya kwanza ya utafiti wa utafiti wa USC ni ""kuondoa utata"" na ""kuondoa utata"" na ""kuondoa utata"" na ""kuondoa utata"" na ""kuondoa utata"" na ""kuondoa utata"" na ""kuondoa utata"" na ""kuondoa utata"" na ""kuondoa utata"" na ""kuondoa utata"" na ""kuondoa utata"" na ""kuondoa utata"" na ""kuondoa utata.""" Matokeo ya kituo hicho yanaweza kuongoza kwenye miundo ya kompyuta zenye mwendo wa kasi sana. "Kituo hiki ni kikubwa sana kwa jamii ya habari ya quantum, "alisema Zanardi, profesa wa fizikia katika USC Dornsife na mwanachama mpya aliyechaguliwa wa Jumuiya ya Fizikia ya Amerika." "Kwa hivyo, badala ya kuandika nadharia zetu kwenye ubao, tunaweza hatimaye kuziangalia kwenye mfumo halisi wa saruji. ""Wanafiti kumi na watano wa USC Dornsife na USC Viterbi, pamoja na wahitimu wa USC na wanafunzi wa postdoctoral wanafanya kazi kwa njia ya kituo hicho, wakijaribu kuelewa vizuri maswali ya kushangaza ya mifumo ya quantum." Kikundi hicho ni sehemu ya Kituo cha Habari ya Quantum na Sayansi na Teknolojia (CQIST), ambayo hutumika kama shirika la mwavuli kwa kompyuta ya quantum katika USC. "Kulingana na kompyuta ya kawaida, ambayo huandika ""1"" au ""0"" kwa kutumia bits za kawaida, kompyuta za quantum hutegemea qubits, kitengo cha habari ya quantum inayohusiana na mali za quantum za atomu ya kimwili." Quantum mechanics inaweza encode moja na sifuri tarakimu wakati huo huo <unk> sana kuharakisha mfumo. Mali hii inayojulikana kama superposition <unk> pamoja na uwezo wa hali ya quantum ya <unk>tunnel<unk> kupitia vizuizi vya nishati <unk> inaruhusu kompyuta kufanya hesabu za uboreshaji haraka zaidi kuliko kompyuta za kawaida. Kwa kutumia sifa hizi, kompyuta ya quantum inaweza kusindika majibu yote yanayowezekana kwa wakati mmoja badala ya moja kwa moja. Watafiti watatumia D-Wave processor kuendeleza mbinu za kujenga algorithms mpya za optimization ya quantum, kujifunza fizikia ya msingi ya entanglement na kuongoza majaribio katika kompyuta ya adiabatic quantum. Pia watazingatia usimamizi wa decoherence. "Kila kitu kinachohusika katika kuendesha kompyuta ya quantum kwa kasi ya juu inaweza pia kuwa ""kizuizi"" ambacho kinatoa chembe za quantum kutoka kwa superposition, na kurudisha mfumo wa quantum chini ya ile ya kompyuta ya kawaida." Fikiria mfumo wa quantum kama uhakika katika nafasi na unataka uhakika kufuata trajectory sahihi. Rahisi kutosha isipokuwa mfumo quantum ya kuendelea mwingiliano na mazingira randomly kicks pointi kuzunguka na nje ya trajectory. Ufunguo ni kulinda habari ya quantum na kudhibiti decoherence. "Ili kuruhusu sisi outperform vifaa vya kawaida ya usindikaji wa habari, vipengele quantum kuwa imara sana", Zanardi alisema. <unk>Inageuka kuwa weirdness hii ya quantum ni kiungo cha ziada ambacho kinatupa kasi ya hesabu, ikilinganishwa na algorithms za kawaida ambazo ni dhaifu sana.<unk> Maendeleo ya algorithms ya uboreshaji yanaweza kusaidia kugundua makosa katika programu za kompyuta. "Kwa kuongezea, optimization ina nguvu ya kupata sindano katika rundo la nyasi, ""alisema Haas, profesa wa fizikia na elimu ya nyota, na makamu wa dean kwa ajili ya utafiti katika USC Dornsiff." "Mfano una suluhisho isiyohesabika lakini moja tu kati ya hizi ni bora", Haas alisema. <unk> Suluhisho bora inaweza kuwa moja katika bilioni. Kama una kompyuta ya kawaida ingechukua milele kupata suluhisho bora. Haas na Tameem Albash, mtafiti wa postdoctoral katika idara ya fizikia katika USC Dornsife, wanazungumza jinsi ya kudhibiti mfumo wa kompyuta ya quantum au kudhibiti pembejeo kwa mfumo ili kupata athari inayotakiwa kwenye pato la mfumo. Kwa kutumia uwanja wa sumaku unaozunguka kifaa hicho, watafiti wanajaribu kupata hali ya nishati ya chini ya mfumo maalum wa quantum, au mali ya hali ya msingi ya tatizo maalum la maslahi. "Chip hii inatupa fursa mpya ya kuimarisha misuli yetu ya nadharia", Albash alisema. "Uchunguzi wa ""Quantum Computer"" unaonyesha kuwa chip hiyo inaweza kutatua matatizo ambayo bado hatujaweza kuyatatua, na watafiti wa USC wanajifunza changamoto mbalimbali zinazohusiana na kujenga kompyuta ya quantum ili iweze kujengwa kwa urahisi zaidi katika siku zijazo." Kituo hicho kipya hufungua njia kwa wasomi kuendeleza maarifa katika uwanja unaoweza kuwa wa mapinduzi. "Teknolojia hii itakuwa uwanja mkubwa wa majaribio kwa nadharia zetu na itatuwezesha kuendeleza nadharia zetu katika mwelekeo mpya", Zanardi alisema. <unk>Ninatarajia mambo makubwa kutoka kwa processor. Sisi sote ni msisimko. <unk> Kutolewa na Chuo cha USC