The Post-Quantum World

Things can get tricky when you try to cram too many qubits onto one quantum processor. Is the best way to build a machine with thousands of qubits actually to connect, or “interconnect,” many smaller processors together? And can this concept be extended to interconnect several large-scale machines across vast distances? Join host Konstantinos Karagiannis for a chat about the technology that might...

In late 2020, physicists in China generated controversy by claiming quantum advantage with a photonic quantum computing system that’s technically not programmable. Other companies have been experimenting with photonic systems, including QuiX Quantum. How do these machines work? Should scientists redefine what quantum advantage means, focusing on practical, usable problems a machine is solving? Joi...

In coding, libraries make developers’ lives easier, sparing them thousands of lines of code, while also increasing performance and security. And everyone’s concerned with security as fault-tolerant quantum computing approaches. Geometry Labs has released the “lattice-algebra” library to bring a high-performance cryptographic library to developers interested in using post-quantum cryptography in bl...

Quantum computing via cloud access feels global, but there are reasons to have these machines located in a particular region. Oxford Quantum Circuits released a quantum computer, named Lucy, on Amazon Braket that not only helps customers with regulatory concerns, but also brings an exciting new type of transmon technology to the industry. Join host Konstantinos Karagiannis for a chat on the coaxmo...

The fear of a quantum cryptographic apocalypse has been with us since the 1990s and has launched quite a few careers and companies. Post-Quantum, no relation to this show, has been developing end-to-end solutions for quantum-secure communications since 2009, and they recently participated in a year-long proof of concept with NATO. Join host Konstantinos Karagiannis for a chat on practical solution...

Getting to fault-tolerant quantum computing requires improving qubit quality. The dream of engineers is the “four nines,” or 99.99 percent fidelity. Quantinuum, well known for its H1 trapped-ion system, has found a way to achieve this elusive goal by switching from ytterbium to barium-137. Join host Konstantinos Karagiannis for a chat on the latest research coming from Tony Ransford and team at Qu...

According to one source, there are currently 1,600 job openings in quantum computing. Evidence of a skills shortage, no doubt. A shortage that is only likely to become a bigger issue moving forward. What does it take to start a quantum career path? Is a PhD a must-have? Join host Konstantinos Karagiannis for a chat on becoming part of our growing industry with Denise Ruffner from Atom Computing. F...

Quantum machine learning, or QML, is one of the three major application categories for quantum computing, along with optimization and simulation. As we’re working with customers at Protiviti to find advantageous use cases in QML, we rely daily on a tool called PennyLane from Xanadu. Join host Konstantinos Karagiannis, and special cohost Emily Stamm, for a chat with Nathan Killoran from Xanadu to l...

Quantum volume. Algorithmic qubits. Qubit counts in general. What do they really tell us about the usability and power of a quantum computer? As we learned from classical computing, only benchmark software can really compare how systems perform different tasks. Super.tech is back to discuss their SupermarQ benchmark suite that gives us real performance data for quantum hardware. Host Konstantinos...

Controlling a quantum computer can mean a lot of things. For Q-CTRL, it includes better error correction and tools that help improve the performance of algorithms … by a factor of 9,000. It also means having a strong educational environment to help solve the talent shortage facing the industry. Join host Konstantinos Karagiannis for a chat with Michael J Biercuk from Q-CTRL on how control engineer...

It’s amazing how many programming languages and interfaces exist in quantum computing already. What if there was a way to learn and use all of them without installing anything? qBraid is making that possible with a site you can join today – and at no cost!. Join host Konstantinos Karagiannis for a chat with Kanav Setia from qBraid. For more on QBraid, visit www.qbraid.com . Visit Protiviti at  www...

Nearly US$1 billion in funding poured into the quantum computing industry last year. One company, PsiQuantum, received about half of that! What are they building? Nothing less than a photonic quantum computer with a million qubits. How does this machine compare to trapped ion and transmon approaches from the competition? And, more importantly, how soon could this quantum computing behemoth be avai...

We’re currently in the quantum economy 2.0. What was 1.0? We discuss this with someone who spent over two decades at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and who now consults with companies on a range of policy issues relating to the quantum economy. We also explore the business outlook for various quantum computing and sensing technologies. Join host Konstantinos Karagiannis...

Crypto agility measures how well your company can adapt to new cryptographic primitives and algorithms without making disruptive changes. Every company will need to achieve this bragging right as soon as possible to avoid the coming quantum computing cryptographic apocalypse. This includes a combination of auditing where you are on the journey and then actually taking action. QuSecure provides pro...

Monte Carlo simulations have been around for quite a while in classical computing. They help companies model potential outcomes of a broad range of “what if” scenarios. Since 2015, the quantum computing industry has believed Monte Carlo simulations would be one of the best use cases to show quantum advantage. QC Ware was able to prove the feasibility of this approach recently, working with Goldman...

D-Wave has been making quantum computers for over a decade, and their annealers excel at optimization. If you look at the use cases the company has been helping customers with, it almost feels like quantum advantage is here. If you’re saving time or money, or both, how can you complain? And even after the other type of quantum computers, universal-gate-based systems, become fault tolerant, anneale...

Ever notice that giant tech companies seem to receive press coverage for privacy concerns as often as they do for new product launches? How did we end up in this world of playing catch-up with the ethical implications of technology? Quantum computing is still relatively new, but it will impact machine learning, encryption and other areas that will have major repercussions on all our futures. Can w...

Compared to a couple of years ago, we’re spoiled by how many real quantum computers we can access online today. Some systems are available through multi-hardware cloud sites like Microsoft Azure Quantum and Amazon Braket; some through individual system manufacturer’s own sites. As more machines come online, and more businesses compete for quantum compute time, things are starting to get a little c...

One of the hottest jobs in quantum computing in the coming years will be that of software engineer. The need for translating complex business needs to quantum algorithms and code will only grow. In this episode, we talk to a software engineer who’s had a unique career path. Anna Hughes earned her Ph. D. in stellar astrophysics and went from working on the potential habitability of exoplanets to wo...

Technologies like interconnect and improved memory for repeaters will enable quantum computers to accelerate in power and connectivity in the future. Q-NEXT is one of five Quantum Information Science Research Centers funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to help develop these technologies, to the tune of $115 million. The DOE is focused on strengthening the nation’s leadership position in the qu...

Classical computing cannot simulate more than about 50 qubits. What does it mean that we now have a quantum computer with, gasp, 100 qubits? ColdQuanta found a way to beat giants like IBM to this amazing feat, and they did it with a new approach that may lead to smaller quantum computing systems that one day could be rack-mountable. Like a reverse microwave, the new Hilbert computer uses lasers to...

Open source has helped revolutionize classical computing. What can it do for quantum? EPiQC is a collaboration across five universities that is developing a range of open source tools to connect algorithms to quantum computers, including programming languages, compilers, optimizers, and more. They’re also working on benchmarking, which is much needed as different types of quantum systems come onli...

As we begin training and building up the quantum workforce of the future, it’s clear the precious few developers working in these early days will need some help making the most of their time. We’re starting to see a few players in the quantum development tool market. Instead of worrying about gate-level coding, the Quantum Algorithm Design (QAD) platform from Classiq lets developers take high-leve...

Trapped ion and transmon qubits are dominant in the world of gate-based quantum computers. In this episode, we take a look at a new type of system that uses electrons in superfluid helium. The approach promises over 1-GHz gate speed, spin-state qubits with over 1-second coherence times, and high connectivity or “gateability.” Will these machines also be linkable or modular? We also discuss funding...

The cryptographic apocalypse could be under five years away, depending on interconnect technologies that might allow quantum computers to work together. Is now the time to start planning for, or even implementing, post-quantum safe cryptography? It all depends on the shelf life of the data you’re trying to protect. Join host Konstantinos Karagiannis for a chat about post-quantum cryptography you c...