Quantum theory is used in a variety of microscopy techniques. Quantum microscopy enables the measurement and imaging of tiny features of matter and quantum particles. This article provides an overview of how quantum microscopy can drive the future of sensing and imaging.

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Modern research extensively uses optical microscopy and spectroscopy in various fields, from fundamental physics to chemistry, material science, and life sciences. It is fascinating to see how advances in understanding light properties have prompted new imaging applications over time.

Understanding diffraction and interference requires considering light as a wave. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the basic realization that light exists as discrete energy units called quanta sparked the first quantum revolution, which built the whole laser and photonics industry. In the second quantum revolution, quantum states that can display entanglement and superposition are used for quantum technology applications. Due to these new findings, various innovative sensing and imaging methods are now feasible.

One approach to overcoming some of the constraints of conventional imaging systems, where entanglement plays a key role, is to use the quantum features of light. The energy, momentum, and position correlations of the entangled photon pairs are particularly important. They enable imaging and spectroscopy in spectral bands where effective detection is not feasible.

Beyond classical restrictions like the shot noise level, sensing and imaging become conceivable by employing certain quantum states of light and associated photon number statistics. Additionally, two-photon fluorescence microscopy may be performed at very low light intensities when using quantum light, opening up new perspectives for photosensitive biological probes.

There are several ways to go beyond the traditional restrictions of sensitivity and resolution in optical microscopy, thanks to the principles of quantum optics. Imaging a biological sample has remained difficult despite using several concepts in proof-of-concept tests, primarily because of the intrinsically weak signal recorded and the fragility of quantum states of light. However, in theory, these quantum protocols may increase the capabilities of current super-resolution methods by introducing new information without erasing the conventional information.

Bright sources of entangled photons have sparked a revival in quantum optical interferometry. Quantum metrology, quantum computing logic gates, quantum lithography, quantum cryptography and quantum teleportation are some of the unique concepts related to quantum entanglement that have been implemented using optical interferometry to test the fundamentals of quantum mechanics.

In order to overcome the shot-noise limit in quantum metrology, new techniques have been developed. For example, these techniques may be employed in fiber optical gyroscopes and sensors for biological or chemical targets. Furthermore, imaging techniques like LIDAR and optical lithography may surpass the Rayleigh diffraction limit by using this entanglement.

Image scanning microscopy (ISM) is a new super-resolution technique that improves reliable resolution without lowering the signal intensity. Recently, researchers developed quantum image scanning microscopy (Q-ISM), which increases the resolution of ISM up to twofold, four times above the diffraction limit, by combining ISM with the measurement of quantum photon correlation. They developed the Q-ISM concept and used photon antibunching, a quantum phenomenon, as a resolution-enhancing contrast mechanism to produce super-resolved optical pictures of a biological material dyed with fluorescent quantum dots.

A quantum microscope platform created by University of Technology Sydney (UTS) researchers provides new techniques to examine material characteristics and physical processes.

Due to their propensity to react to electromagnetic fields or other stimuli, quantum sensors based on diamond nitrogen-vacancy centres are recognized as potentially sensitive devices for monitoring specific physical attributes. However, reliance on quantum defects housed in stiff 3D crystals like diamond has made it challenging to interact intimately with a sample when employing solid-state spin sensors as microscopy tools up to this point.

Image Credit:metamorworks/Shutterstock.com

Instead of a larger crystal, this novel method takes advantage of point flaws embedded inside a tiny layer of hexagonal boron nitride (hBn). As a van der Waals substance, hBn comprises weaker-hold material layers in two dimensions. As a result, Van der Waals sensors might make it possible to use a quantum microscopy method on materials and targets that were not previously reachable.

Quantum microscopy enables the measurement and imaging of tiny features of matter and quantum particles. Due to quantum microscopy, several novel sensing and imaging techniques are now possible. The specifics covered in this article strongly imply that quantum microscopy will play a significant part in future sensing and imaging. The development of technologies like hBN-based quantum microscopes and quantum image scanning microscopy has the potential to enhance resolution significantly. Future MRI and NMR imaging of chemical processes, as well as imaging and remote sensing applications, may all be done using hBN-based quantum microscopes.

More from AZoOptics: What are Fiber Optic Microendoscopes?

Gilaberte Basset, M., Setzpfandt, F., Steinlechner, F., Beckert, E., Pertsch, T., & Grfe, M. (2019). Perspectives for applications of quantum imaging. Laser & Photonics Reviews. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/lpor.201900097

Healey, A. J., Scholten, S. C., Yang, T., Scott, J. A., Abrahams, G. J., Robertson, I. O., ... & Tetienne, J. P. (2022). Quantum microscopy with van der Waals heterostructures. Nature Physics. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41567-022-01815-5

Jonathan P. Dowling and Kaushik P. Seshadreesan (2015) Quantum Optical Technologies for Metrology, Sensing, and Imaging. Journal of Lightwave Technology. https://opg.optica.org/jlt/abstract.cfm?URI=jlt-33-12-2359

Quantum microscopy prototype points to novel sensing and imaging (2022) Optics.org. Available at: https://optics.org/news/13/11/13 (Assessed: November 28, 2022)

Tenne, R., Rossman, U., Rephael, B., Israel, Y., Krupinski-Ptaszek, A., Lapkiewicz, R., ... & Oron, D. (2019). Super-resolution enhancement by quantum image scanning microscopy. Nature Photonics. https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1806/1806.07661.pdf

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the author expressed in their private capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of AZoM.com Limited T/A AZoNetwork the owner and operator of this website. This disclaimer forms part of the Terms and conditions of use of this website.

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The Future of Sensing and Imaging Using Quantum Microscopy - AZoOptics

Accelerating advances in quantum computing are serving as powerful reminders that the technology is rapidly advancing toward commercial viability. In just the past few months, for example, a research center in Japan announced a breakthrough in entangling qubits (the basic unit of information in quantum, akin to bits in conventional computers) that could improve error correction in quantum systems and potentially make large-scale quantum computers possible. And one company in Australia has developed software that has shown in experiments to improve the performance of any quantum-computing hardware.

As breakthroughs accelerate, investment dollars are pouring in, and quantum-computing start-ups are proliferating. Major technology companies continue to develop their quantum capabilities as well: companies such as Alibaba, Amazon, IBM, Google, and Microsoft have already launched commercial quantum-computing cloud services.

Of course, all this activity does not necessarily translate into commercial results. While quantum computing promises to help businesses solve problems that are beyond the reach and speed of conventional high-performance computers, use cases are largely experimental and hypothetical at this early stage. Indeed, experts are still debating the most foundational topics for the field (for more on these open questions, see sidebar, Debates in quantum computing).

Still, the activity suggests that chief information officers and other leaders who have been keeping an eye out for quantum-computing news can no longer be mere bystanders. Leaders should start to formulate their quantum-computing strategies, especially in industries, such as pharmaceuticals, that may reap the early benefits of commercial quantum computing. Change may come as early as 2030, as several companies predict they will launch usable quantum systems by that time.

To help leaders start planning, we conducted extensive research and interviewed 47 experts around the globe about quantum hardware, software, and applications; the emerging quantum-computing ecosystem; possible business use cases; and the most important drivers of the quantum-computing market. In the report Quantum computing: An emerging ecosystem and industry use cases, we discuss the evolution of the quantum-computing industry and dive into the technologys possible commercial uses in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, automotive, and financefields that may derive significant value from quantum computing in the near term. We then outline a path forward and how industry decision makers can start their efforts in quantum computing.

An ecosystem that can sustain a quantum-computing industry has begun to unfold. Our research indicates that the value at stake for quantum-computing players is nearly $80 billion (not to be confused with the value that quantum-computing use cases could generate).

Because quantum computing is still a young field, the majority of funding for basic research in the area still comes from public sources (Exhibit 1).

Exhibit 1

However, private funding is increasing rapidly. In 2021 alone, announced investments in quantum-computing start-ups have surpassed $1.7 billion, more than double the amount raised in 2020 (Exhibit 2). We expect private funding to continue increasing significantly as quantum-computing commercialization gains traction.

Exhibit 2

Hardware is a significant bottleneck in the ecosystem. The challenge is both technical and structural. First, there is the matter of scaling the number of qubits in a quantum computer while achieving a sufficient level of qubit quality. Hardware also has a high barrier to entry because it requires a rare combination of capital, experience in experimental and theoretical quantum physics, and deep knowledgeespecially domain knowledge of the relevant options for implementation.

Multiple quantum-computing hardware platforms are under development. The most important milestone will be the achievement of fully error-corrected, fault-tolerant quantum computing, without which a quantum computer cannot provide exact, mathematically accurate results (Exhibit 3).

Exhibit 3

Experts disagree on whether quantum computers can create significant business value before they are fully fault tolerant. However, many say that imperfect fault tolerance does not necessarily make quantum-computing systems unusable.

When might we reach fault tolerance? Most hardware players are hesitant to reveal their development road maps, but a few have publicly shared their plans. Five manufacturers have announced plans to have fault-tolerant quantum-computing hardware by 2030. If this timeline holds, the industry will likely establish a clear quantum advantage for many use cases by then.

The number of software-focused start-ups is increasing faster than any other segment of the quantum-computing value chain. In software, industry participants currently offer customized services and aim to develop turnkey services when the industry is more mature. As quantum-computing software continues to develop, organizations will be able to upgrade their software tools and eventually use fully quantum tools. In the meantime, quantum computing requires a new programming paradigmand software stack. To build communities of developers around their offerings, the larger industry participants often provide their software-development kits free of charge.

In the end, cloud-based quantum-computing services may become the most valuable part of the ecosystem and can create outsize rewards to those who control them. Most providers of cloud-computing services now offer access to quantum computers on their platforms, which allows potential users to experiment with the technology. Since personal or mobile quantum computing is unlikely this decade, the cloud may be the main way for early users to experience the technology until the larger ecosystem matures.

Most known use cases fit into four archetypes: quantum simulation, quantum linear algebra for AI and machine learning, quantum optimization and search, and quantum factorization. We describe these fully in the report, as well as outline questions leaders should consider as they evaluate potential use cases.

We focus on potential use cases in a few industries that research suggests could reap the greatest short-term benefits from the technology: pharmaceuticals, chemicals, automotive, and finance. Collectively (and conservatively), the value at stake for these industries could be between roughly $300 billion and $700 billion (Exhibit 4).

Exhibit 4

Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize the research and development of molecular structures in the biopharmaceuticals industry as well as provide value in production and further down the value chain. In R&D, for example, new drugs take an average of $2 billion and more than ten years to reach the market after discovery. Quantum computing could make R&D dramatically faster and more targeted and precise by making target identification, drug design, and toxicity testing less dependent on trial and error and therefore more efficient. A faster R&D timeline could get products to the right patients more quickly and more efficientlyin short, it would improve more patients quality of life. Production, logistics, and supply chain could also benefit from quantum computing. While it is difficult to estimate how much revenue or patient impact such advances could create, in a $1.5 trillion industry with average margins in earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of 16 percent (by our calculations), even a 1 to 5 percent revenue increase would result in $15 billion to $75 billion of additional revenues and $2 billion to $12 billion in EBIT.

Quantum computing can improve R&D, production, and supply-chain optimization in chemicals. Consider that quantum computing can be used in production to improve catalyst designs. New and improved catalysts, for example, could enable energy savings on existing production processesa single catalyst can produce up to 15 percent in efficiency gainsand innovative catalysts may enable the replacement of petrochemicals by more sustainable feedstock or the breakdown of carbon for CO2 usage. In the context of the chemicals industry, which spends $800 billion on production every year (half of which relies on catalysis), a realistic 5 to 10 percent efficiency gain would mean a gain of $20 billion to $40 billion in value.

The automotive industry can benefit from quantum computing in its R&D, product design, supply-chain management, production, and mobility and traffic management. The technology could, for example, be applied to decrease manufacturing processrelated costs and shorten cycle times by optimizing elements such as path planning in complex multirobot processes (the path a robot follows to complete a task) including welding, gluing, and painting. Even a 2 to 5 percent productivity gainin the context of an industry that spends $500 billion per year on manufacturing costswould create $10 billion to $25 billion of value per year.

Finally, quantum-computing use cases in finance are a bit further in the future, and the advantages of possible short-term uses are speculative. However, we believe that the most promising use cases of quantum computing in finance are in portfolio and risk management. For example, efficiently quantum-optimized loan portfolios that focus on collateral could allow lenders to improve their offerings, possibly lowering interest rates and freeing up capital. It is earlyand complicatedto estimate the value potential of quantum computingenhanced collateral management, but as of 2021, the global lending market stands at $6.9 trillion, which suggests significant potential impact from quantum optimization.

In the meantime, business leaders in every sector should prepare for the maturation of quantum computing.

Until about 2030, we believe that quantum-computing use cases will have a hybrid operating model that is a cross between quantum and conventional high-performance computing. For example, conventional high-performance computers may benefit from quantum-inspired algorithms.

Beyond 2030, intense ongoing research by private companies and public institutions will remain vital to improve quantum hardware and enable moreand more complexuse cases. Six key factorsfunding, accessibility, standardization, industry consortia, talent, and digital infrastructurewill determine the technologys path to commercialization.

Leaders outside the quantum-computing industry can take five concrete steps to prepare for the maturation of quantum computing:

Leaders in every industry have an uncommon opportunity to stay alert to a generation-defining technology. Strategic insights and soaring business value could be the prize.

Excerpt from:

Quantum computing use cases are getting real--what you need to know - McKinsey

The race for quantum supremacy isn't just between tech companies, but between nation-states as well.

Why it matters: The first country to produce effective, working quantum computers will have a key advantage in economics, defense and cybersecurity and the U.S., China, and Europe are all competing.

What's happening: Last month, the Commerce Department added a dozen Chinese companies to a trade blacklist in an effort to prevent emerging U.S. technologies from being used for quantum computing efforts that would boost Beijing's military.

The big picture: One of the clearest uses of quantum computing is to eventually break the complex mathematical problems used to encrypt information of all kinds on the internet, including sensitive government data.

Between the lines: While U.S. companies generally have the lead on building better quantum computers, China has invested massively in the industry, including an $11 billion national laboratory for quantum information sciences.

What to watch: Progress on American efforts to develop post-quantum cryptography standards that would resist more powerful quantum computers, as well as research from the five new quantum institutes created by the White House last year.

The bottom line: "The economy for the next hundred years will be driven by quantum," says Chapman. "So it's not a game we want to lose."

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Running the international quantum race - Axios

The race to lead in quantum computing is not just a matter of two. Currently the United States and China have the upper hand, but other countries, including Germany, France or the United Kingdom, are also making important contributions with a very clear purpose: to acquire a solid technological foundation in this discipline.

In the medium term, quantum computing, if it continues to develop as it has done during the last decade and little by little it circumvents the challenges that still remain to be solved, will make a difference not only in the field of scientific research; also in telecommunications, economy or in the very sensitive field of cryptography, among other critical areas for many nations.

Quantum computing will make a difference not only in the field of scientific research; also in telecommunications, economics or in the very sensitive field of cryptography

The countries that I mentioned in the first paragraph of this article, and some others, have embarked on a long-distance race to avoid being left off the hook, but beyond this international pulse there is a strictly technical struggle that is going relatively unnoticed outside the scientific realm.

The interesting thing is that in this context, the leading role is not played by the countries that seek to lead in quantum computing; It is demanded by the most advanced technologies that are being used to make qubits. However, that in an area where there is so much to do we have several options on the table is great news. Far from being a problem, any innovation that allows us to develop more and better qubits is welcome.

Having quantum computers with many qubits is crucial. And it is so not only because by increasing the number of qubits it is possible to carry out many more calculations simultaneously, but also because in order to make these equipment capable of make amends for their own mistakes it is essential to have more qubits. So many more.

Eagle, the most advanced quantum processor to date, is from IBM and has no less than 127 qubits

The most advanced quantum processor developed to date, known as Eagle, was unveiled by IBM in mid-November, and has 127 qubits. This company plans to have a 433 qubit quantum chip ready by 2022, and one of no less than 1121 qubits in 2023. If this progression is confirmed, come from the hand of IBM or any other company, the first quantum processors with more than a million qubits will arrive in a few years, and just at that moment quantum computers will reach a tipping point.

During the conversation we had with Ignacio Cirac, a Spanish scientist unanimously considered one of the founding fathers of quantum computing, last June he explained to us how many qubits a quantum processor must have to be capable of solve truly significant problems and implement the long-awaited bug fix:

The number of qubits will depend on the type of problems we want to solve with quantum computers. To tackle symbolic problems we will need to have several million qubits. Probably even hundreds of millions of qubits. Right now we are talking about a hundred qubits, so there is a long way to go. There are people who say that 100,000 qubits may solve a specific problem, but it really takes a lot of qubits.

There is no doubt that much remains to be done. Very much. But the researchers are on it. And, furthermore, they are not following a single path. Currently there are two technologies that are proving to have enormous potential not only because of their ability to allow us to increase the number of qubits of quantum processors, but also because they are allowing researchers fine-tune higher quality qubits.

As the quality of a qubit increases, the greater its ability to resist quantum decoherence, which is the phenomenon that appears when the quantum effects that give these computers an insurmountable advantage over classical supercomputers vanish. This is the reason why it is crucial not only to have processors with more qubits, but also to develop higher quality qubits.

Intel is working to increase the scalability of its quantum processors by applying the knowledge that this company has accumulated during decades of producing CMOS devices in their manufacture.

The technology that companies such as IBM, Google or Intel, among others, are using to manufacture their quantum processors uses the superconducting qubits, which are characterized by working at a temperature of about 20 millikelvin, which is approximately -273 degrees Celsius. It is imperative that they operate with the highest degree of isolation from the environment possible and at such an astonishingly low temperature.

IBM aims to have a quantum processor with 1,121 qubits by 2023, and its competitors are likely to be on its heels.

And it is because this minimum level of energy allows them to extend the time during which the quantum states of the system are maintained, and, at the same time, also postpone the moment in which quantum decoherence appears. Quantum states are maintained for a limited period of time, and this time is precisely what we have for carry out quantum logic operations with the qubits of our computer.

One of the greatest successes that superconducting qubits are achieving is precisely how fast they are allowing scaling the number of quantum bits. As weve seen, IBM aims to have a 1,121-qubit quantum processor by 2023, and possibly Intel, Google, and the quantum chips being developed by China will undergo similar development.

In fact, Intel announced just a few days ago that it is working to increase scalability of its quantum processors, applying in their manufacture all the knowledge that this company has accumulated during decades of production of CMOS devices. In fact, the background that both this company and IBM have in the field of semiconductor production works in their favor because all that knowledge is being very useful when it comes to addressing the progressive refinement of their superconducting qubits.

This is the path that IonQ and Honeywell are taking, and they seem to be getting good results. In this article we are not going to delve into the operation of this technology so as not to complicate it too much (we can do it in another report if you are interested in this topic and you confirm it in the comments), but it is interesting that very broadly we can intuit what is your strategy to identify how superconducting qubits differ from those that use ion traps.

Ion trap qubits use positively charged ionized atoms, keeping them confined and isolated in an electromagnetic field

These last use ionized atomsTherefore, they have a non-neutral global electrical charge that allows them to be isolated and confined within an electromagnetic field. This is the starting point of this technology, and from here the strategies used by IonQ and Honeywell, which are the companies that have decided to travel this path with more impetus, to manipulate these ionized atoms and carry out logical operations with them differ. slightly.

The ion-trapped qubits that IonQ and Honeywell are using are more robust than superconducting qubits, allowing them to effectively bypass quantum decoherence for longer.

IonQ acts on the quantum state of its qubits with ion traps by cooling them to reduce the computational noise level and using lasers just below to trade them. But it does not use a single laser; It uses one for each ion, and also a global laser that acts on all of them simultaneously. Honeywell also uses ionized atoms and lasers, but the procedure it uses to establish entanglement between two ions and act on them with a laser is different from that used by IonQ.

In any case, the most interesting thing is that both Honeywell and IonQ ensure that their qubits with ion traps they are more robust than the superconducting qubits used by your competitors. And this means, as we have seen a few lines above, that they manage to preserve the stability of a quantum state for a longer time, which allows them to carry out, according to these companies, more operations with their qubits before quantum decoherence appears. .

Although, as we have seen, superconducting qubits and those using ion traps are currently the most highly developed, they are not the only technologies within our grasp. Many research groups are working in this area, and some promising lines of research propose different ideas at the two in which we just inquired.

There are experts in Spain who work in quantum computing with molecules. They implant ions in macromolecules, store information in them, and can do little calculations. It is a very unique line both in Europe and in the world that could be strengthened. There are many areas where all the greater robustness of ion-trapped qubits versus superconducting qubits. And, incidentally, he told us about another very promising technology, which reminds us that, fortunately, there are several attractive lines of research open that seek to develop more robust and stable qubits:

Superconducting qubits will probably help us to have more qubits, but we think they will have more errors than ion qubits. There is also a third technology, neutral atoms, in which several research groups are working and which is managing to gather more qubits while maintaining the accuracy and lack of errors of the other systems. I hope that very soon we will be able to develop more advanced technologies that will surpass those we have today.

Images | Honeywell | IonQ | Intel

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In the race for the best quantum computer there are two sides, and they are not the United States and China: they are the two most advanced qubit...

IonQ(NYSE:IONQ) seeks to lead the way in a very specific market: quantum computing. Fortunately, you dont have to be a mathematician or computer scientist to invest in IONQ stock.

Source: Amin Van / Shutterstock.com

It is important to understand what the company does, though. To put it simply, IonQ develops quantum computers designed to solve the worlds most complex problems.

This niche industry has vast moneymaking potential. According to IonQ, experts predict that the total addressable market for quantum computing will reach around $65 billion by 2030.

IonQ got in fairly early and aggressively, as the company has been around since 2015 and produced six generations of quantum computers. Theres a terrific investment opportunity here, yet the share price is down and if you ask me, this just doesnt compute.

Going back to the beginning, IonQoffered its shares for public tradingon theNew York Stock Exchange on Oct. 1, 2021, after reverse-merging with dMY Technology Group III.

The stock started off at around $10 but sank to the low $7s in just a few days time. However, that turned out to be a great time to start a long position.

Amazingly, IONQ stock staged a swift turnaround and soared to nearly $36 in November. In hindsight, however, this rally went too fast and too far.

Inevitably, a retracement ensued and the early investors had to cough up some of their gains. By early December, the share price had declined to $18 and change.

Sure, you could wait and hope that IONQ stock falls further before considering a position. Yet, you might miss out on a buy-the-dip opportunity with an ambitious, future-facing tech business.

I case I didnt make it abundantly clear already, IonQ is serious about advancing quantum-computing technology.

Case in point: in order to cement its leadership position in this niche, IonQ recently revealed its plans to use barium ions as qubits in its systems, thereby bringing about a wave of advantages it believes will enable advanced quantum computing architectures.

A qubit, or quantum bit, is basically a tiny bit of coded information in quantum mechanics.

Its perfectly fine if you dont fully understand the scientific minutiae, as IonQ President and CEO Peter Chapman and his team have the necessary know-how and experience.

We believe the advanced architectures enabled by barium qubits will be even more powerful and more scalable than the systems we have been able to build so far, opening the door to broader applications of quantum computing, Chapman assured.

Apparently, the advantages of using barium ions as qubits include lower error rates, higher gate fidelity, better state detection, more easily networked quantum systems and iterable, more reliable hardware, with more uptime for customers.

Thankfully, now I can leave the science to the scientists, and focus on what I do best: breaking down financial data.After all, Id be hard-pressed to recommend any company if it didnt at least have a decent capital position.

CFO Thomas Kramer was evidently glad to report that, as of Sept. 30 IonQ had cash and cash equivalents of $587 million.The companys strong balance sheet, according to Kramer will allow IonQ to accelerate [the] scaling of all business functions and continue attracting the industrys best and brightest.

Since IonQ is well-capitalized, the company should be well-positioned to benefit from Capitol Hills interest in quantum as shown by the infrastructure bill, the CFO added.

Its also worth noting that IonQ generated $223,000 in revenues during 2021s third quarter, bringing the year-to-date total to $451,000.

Hopefully, the company can parlay its quantum-computing know-how into seven-figure revenues in the near future.

IonQs loyal investors dont need to understand everything about qubits. They only need to envision a robust future for the quantum-computing market.

We cant claim that IonQ is generating massive revenues at this point. Therefore, it requires patience and foresight to invest in this company with confidence.

Yet, an early stake could offer vast rewards in the long run. After all, when it comes to deep-level, next-gen quantum computing, IonQ clearly has it down to a science.

On the date of publication, David Moadeldid not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.comPublishing Guidelines.

David Moadel has provided compelling content and crossed the occasional line on behalf of Crush the Street, Market Realist, TalkMarkets, Finom Group, Benzinga, and (of course) InvestorPlace.com. He also serves as the chief analyst and market researcher for Portfolio Wealth Global and hosts the popular financial YouTube channel Looking at the Markets.

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IonQ Stock Is an Investment in Cutting Edge, Global Solutions - InvestorPlace

The coming era of quantum computing how it will usher in a new era for our world one company on the cutting edge to consider today

Atoms dont follow the traditional rules of physics.

Our top scientists now understand that quantum particles can move forward or backward in time.

It gets crazier

They can also exist in two places at onceand even teleport.

Its mind-blowing stuff.

Now, consider that these strange behaviors are what leading technologists are trying to harness as they create a tool that will transform, well,everything.

***That tool is the quantum computer

Heres a boiled-down description from our hypergrowth expert, Luke Lango:

While the engineering behind quantum computing is super complex, the big idea is quite simple: Take the unique attributes of quantum mechanics such as super-positioning and entanglement and apply them to computing, so as to create a new generation of quantum computers that can do things infinitely faster than even the fastest supercomputers can do today.

Its hard to grasp the additional speed of these quantum computers, and what it means for coming technological advancements.

But consider this comparison from Peter Chapman, CEO of leading quantum startup, IonQ:

The differences between quantum computers and classical computers are even more vast than those between classical computers and pen and paper.

Futurist, Bernard Marr, writes that quantum computers can solve problems that would take a traditional computer a billion years to solve.

And this isnt just a later this decade kind of technology were already tiptoeing into this world.

FromMedium:

In 2019, Googles quantum computer did a calculation in less than four minutes that would take the worlds most powerful computer 10,000 years to do

This makes Googles quantum computer about 158 million times faster than the worlds fastest supercomputer

It is the seed for the worlds first fully functional quantum computer that can make better medicines, create smarter artificial intelligence and solve great riddles of the cosmos

As to the ability of quantum computers to change everything, there are many examples, but consider perhaps the most significant healthcare.

FromForbes:

Quantum computers could enable drastic progression in drug discovery and development, ultimately giving scientists the ability to solve problems that are currently intractable

Scientists, such as those at Swiss pharmaceutical company, Roche, hope that quantum simulations will speed up the development of drugs and vaccines to protect against the likes of Covid-19, influenza, cancer and even potentially find a cure for Alzheimers.

***Big tech is already funneling money into this budding technology

Google isnt the only big tech name pouring money into research here.

Back to Luke:

In December of 2019, Amazon announced that the company would be jumping into the quantum compute space by launchingBraket, its own Quantum Computing as a Service (QCaaS) business.

Not two weeks later, Intel unveiled a first-of-its-kind cryogenic control chip Horse Ridge to help facilitate the development of full-stack quantum computing systems.

More recently, IBM just shipped its first quantum computer to Germany (this summer), marking the first quantum computer in Europe. (Also this summer), researchers at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, fabricated a compact quantum computer processor that fits in two small boxes a huge step forward for the miniaturization of these computers.

Folks the quantum computing revolution startsnow and over the next decade, the rise of quantum computing will turn into one of Wall Streets biggest investment megatrends.

Lets put some numbers on Lukes claim.

FromGlobalNewswire:

The Global Quantum Computing Market Size is expected to value USD 487.4 million in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 3728.4 million by 2030 at a CAGR of 25.40% over the forecast period from 2021 to 2030.

We will be bringing you news of advancements here in theDigestover the coming years, as well as specific quantum-related recommendations for your portfolio. But its never too early to begin.

And so today, were peering over Lukes shoulder at a recent quantum computing play he wrote about in his service,The Daily 10X Stock Report. It turns out, this company is the same one that our venture capital expert, Cody Shirk, highlighted in his recent issue ofVenture Capital Digest.

Whats coming with quantum computing is going to be nothing short of astonishing. Today, lets put a company on your radar thats right in the middle of all of it.

***A pure-play quantum computing company

For newerDigestreaders, Luke is the analyst behindTheDaily 10X, as we call it. His specialty is finding market-leading tech innovators that are pioneering explosive trends, capable of generating 10X returns for investors over the long-term.

TheDaily 10Xis like nothing else we offer. Luke doesnt keep a portfolio or provide sell advice. But every day the market is open, he highlights a small cap stock with the potential to grow 1,000%.

Its a lucrative approach to the markets. To illustrate, in just the past five years, Luke has recommended 17 different 1,000%+ gaining stocks. Most investors never enjoy even one such 10X-winner.

Returning to quantum computers, whats the company on Lukes radar? The same that caught Cody Shirks eye?

From Luke:

The company were talking about isRigetti,who is coming public via a SPAC merger withSupernova Partners Acquisition Company II(SNII).

Rigetti is a pure-play quantum computing company founded in 2013 by someone we perceive as a modern-day genius, Chad Rigetti. Mr. Rigetti is an Applied Physics PhD from Yale that previously was a researcher for three years at IBMs quantum computing group. Very few people know the quantum computing industry like him.

Over the past eight years, Rigetti has established itself as a thought and technology leader in the quantum computing space. The company has secured huge partnerships with power tech players like Amazon Web Services and found itself cited in over 1,000 peer-reviewed publications. The company has also amassed a workforce in excess of 130 employees, over 40 of whom are PhD holders.

In Lukes issue, he dives into Rigettis competitive advantage its proprietary and scalable chip architecture. He notes that it appears to be highly effective and highly defensible.

But whats especially interesting at the moment is its valuation. At just $1.7 billion, its well beneath other quantum computing startups that are valued in the multi-billion-dollar range.

***How might Rigetti 10X your investment?

Lets go back to Luke:

Management pegs its addressable market at $850 billion, very similar to estimates being thrown around by other public quantum computing companies.

Revenues are expected around $600 million by 2026. That number could easily eclipse $1 billion by 2030.

Application software stocks of this ilk tend to trade around 11X sales.

That implies a long-term valuation target of $11 billion.

***One final note on Rigetti and quantum computing investing in general

Luke makes a great point, namely, that were in the earliest of the early days when it comes to investing here. That means plenty of risk we simply dont know who tomorrows winners will be.

In this type of situation, small position sizes in a basket of sector-related companies is often the best approach. This offers diversification, as well as the chance you align some of your money with tomorrows big winner.

On this note, heres Luke to take us out:

Were in love with the quantum computing market. I know. Were not supposed to fall in love in the stock market, but quantum computing is a rare exception because the trend will be that big and is that inevitable.

When you find a trend with huge potential like this, you have to take multiple shots on goal within the industry to maximize your return potential.

That is mostly why Rigetti is so interesting. It is another high-quality shot on goal in the quantum computing industry.

Have a good evening,

Jeff Remsburg

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The Next Megatrend Has Started - InvestorPlace

A recent reportpublished by theStreet.comranked QTUMas one of the top tech ETFs for 2022, beating out all of all of GlobalX's and Ark's suite of ETFs.QTUM's values hasrisen over34% so far in 2021,compared to ARKK'sbeing down22%.

QTUMlaunchedinSeptember2018 and now hasover $170 million in AUM. With 70 holdings and a 0.40% expense ratio, Defiance'sQTUM ETF offers diversified yet targeted exposureto a range oftopcloud computing, machine learning andquantum computing stocks.

Media Contact:

Julia Stoll MacMillan Communications (212) 473-4442[emailprotected]

As of this writing the Fund may or may not hold one or more of the positions (stocks) mentioned in the article. For a current list of holdings, click here

Fund holdings and sector allocations are subject to change at any time and should not be considered recommendations to buy or sell any security.

The Funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. Theprospectuscontain this and other important information about the investment company. Please read it carefully before investing. A hard copy of the prospectus can be requested by calling 833.333.9383.

Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. As an ETF, the funds may trade at a premium or discount to NAV. Shares of any ETF are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. The Funds are not actively managed and would not sell a security due to current or projected under performance unless that security is removed from the Index or is required upon a reconstitution of the Index. A portfolio concentrated in a single industry or country, may be subject to a higher degree of risk. The value of stocks of information technology companies are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition. The Funds are considered to be non-diversified, so they may invest more of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers. Investments in foreign securities involve certain risks including risk of loss due to foreign currency fluctuations or to political or economic instability. This risk is magnified in emerging markets. Small and mid-cap companies are subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than securities of large-cap companies.The possible applications of quantum computing are only in the exploration stages, and the possibility of returns is uncertain and may not be realized in the near future. The "BlueStar Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index", "BQTUM Index" (collectively "Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index"), is the exclusive property and a trademark of BlueStar Global Investors LLC d/b/a BlueStar Indexes and has been licensed for use for certain purposes by Defiance ETFs LLC. Products based on the Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by BlueStar Global Investors, LLC or BlueStar Indexes, and BlueStar Global Investors, LLC and BlueStar Indexes makes no representation regarding the advisability of trading in such product(s). It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

Total return represents changes to the NAV and accounts for distributions from the fund. Median 30 Day Spread is a calculation of Fund's median bid-ask spread, expressed as a percentage rounded to the nearest hundredth, computed by: identifying the Fund's national best bid and national best offer as of the end of each 10 second interval during each trading day of the last 30 calendar days; dividing the difference between each such bid and offer by the midpoint of the national best bid and national best offer; and identifying the median of those values.

Diversification does not ensure a profit nor protect against loss in a declining market. Commissions may be charged on trades.

QTUM is distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC.

SOURCE Defiance ETFs

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$QTUM ETF, Disruptive Tech Exposure without the Soul Searching - PRNewswire

An IBM quantum computer.

Cryptocurrencies hold the potential to change finance, eliminating middlemen and bringing accounts to millions of unbanked people around the world. Quantum computers could upend the way pharmaceuticals and materials are designed by bringing their extraordinary power to the process.

Here's the problem: The blockchain accounting technology that powers cryptocurrencies could be vulnerable to sophisticated attacks and forged transactions if quantum computing matures faster than efforts to future-proof digital money.

Spice up your small talk with the latest tech news, products and reviews. Delivered on weekdays.

Cryptocurrencies are secured by a technology called public key cryptography. The system is ubiquitous, protecting your online purchases and scrambling your communications for anyone other than the intended recipient. The technology works by combining a public key, one that anyone can see, with a private key that's for your eyes only.

If current progress continues, quantum computers will be able to crack public key cryptography, potentially creating a serious threat to the crypto world, where some currencies are valued at hundreds of billions of dollars. If encryption is broken, attackers can impersonate the legitimate owners of cryptocurrency, NFTs or other such digital assets.

"Once quantum computing becomes powerful enough, then essentially all the security guarantees will go out of the window," Dawn Song, a computer security entrepreneur and professor at the University of California, Berkeley, told the Collective[i] Forecast forum in October. "When public key cryptography is broken, users could be losing their funds and the whole system will break."

Quantum computers get their power by manipulating data stored on qubits, elements like charged atoms that are subject to the peculiar physics governing the ultrasmall. To crack encryption, quantum computers will need to harness thousands of qubits, vastly more than the dozens corralled by today's machines. The machines will also need persistent qubits that can perform calculations much longer than the fleeting moments possible right now.

But makers of quantum computers are working hard to address those shortcomings. They're stuffing ever more qubits into machines and working on quantum error correction methods to help qubits perform more-sophisticated and longer calculations.

"We expect that within a few years, sufficiently powerful computers will be available" for cracking blockchains open, said Nir Minerbi, CEO of quantum software maker Classiq Technologies.

The good news for cryptocurrency fans is the quantum computing problem can be fixed by adopting the same post-quantum cryptography technology that the computing industry already has begun developing. The US government's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), trying to get ahead of the problem, is several years into a careful process to find quantum-proof cryptography algorithms with involvement from researchers around the globe.

Indeed, several cryptocurrency and blockchain efforts are actively working on quantum resistant software:

A problem with the post-quantum cryptography algorithms under consideration so far, though, is that they generally need longer numeric encryption keys and longer processing times, says Peter Chapman, CEO of quantum computer maker IonQ. That could substantially increase the amount of computing horsepower needed to house blockchains.

Many cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, are decentralized by design, overseen in effect by anyone who participates in each cryptocurrency network. To update a cryptocurrency's inner workings, people trying to upgrade a cryptocurrency must convince more than half of participants to "fork" the cryptocurrency into a new version.

The real quantum test for cryptocurrencies will be governance structures, not technologies, says Hunter Jensen, chief technology officer of Permission.io, a company using cryptocurrency for a targeted advertising system.

Such governance could reward cryptocurrencies that have stronger central powers, such as Dash with its masternodes or even "govcoins" issued by central banks, that can in principle move more swiftly to adopt post-quantum protection. But it presents a conundrum in the crypto community, which often rejects the idea of authority.

"It will be the truly decentralized currencies which will get hit if their communities are too slow and disorganized to act," said Andersen Cheng, chief executive at Post Quantum, a London based company that sells post-quantum encryption technology.

Another risk is that blockchains rely on a digital fingerprinting technology called hashing that quantum computers could disrupt. That's likely to be fixable with more-modest technology updates, though.

The cryptocurrency wallets people use to keep track of their digital assets could also be vulnerable to quantum computing. These wallets store private keys people need to access their assets recorded on the blockchain. A successful attack could empty a wallet.

"How do you force users to upgrade keys? That answer is not so straightforward and likely the most dangerous part," said Joe Genereux, senior cryptography and security engineer at browser maker Brave, which uses its own Basic Attention Token (BAT) cryptocurrency for an ad system that pays users. "I think cryptocurrencies that have better governance or post-quantum designs baked in early can get around this issue better."

Ultimately, though, cryptocurrency's organic, self-directed development suggests people will update the digital asset technology to surmount quantum computing's challenges, says David Sacco, who teaches at the University of New Haven.

"The beauty of the ecosystem," he said, "is that anyone can do it if they understand the technology."

See the rest here:

Cryptocurrency faces a quantum computing problem - CNET

Quantum computing has the potential to fundamentally transform the technology industry by applying the weird effects of the quantum realm to complex business problems. But right now, quantum computing faces a more mundane problem itself: finding enough recruits.

Demand for digital skills in the workplace has been on a steady upward trend for years, but the sudden increased reliance on technology since the start of 2020 has made competition in tech recruitment even more fierce.

The CIO's guide to Quantum computing

Quantum computers offer great promise for cryptography and optimization problems, and companies are racing to make them practical for business use. ZDNet explores what quantum computers will and wont be able to do, and the challenges that remain.

Read More

The challenge is even greater for organizations dealing in highly specialized technologies. Quantum computing, for example, combines a variety of specialist fields such as quantum theory, advanced mathematics, and computer science that aren't seen on your typical CV, shrinking the talent pool considerably for companies looking to hire in this nascent, but increasingly competitive, industry.

SEE:Quantum computing's next big challenge: A quantum skills shortage

"It is incredibly small," says Samantha Edmondson, head of talent at British quantum computing startup, Universal Quantum, which is on a mission to build the world's first million-qubit quantum computer.

"Say if we were looking to hire an experienced quantum physicist that had the kind of expertise we needed, then yes, you're looking at a small handful of academic groups across the world that you can really pick from."

Quantum computers operate on inherently different principles to classical computers, requiring a new approach to problem-solving and a workforce consisting of academic, technical, and businesses expertise.

No one candidate is going to possess all of these. "It involves so many different skills: we need classical hardware engineers, we need software engineers, we need mathematicians, we need simulation and modelling experts," says Edmondson.

"I think the challenge for us is, if we go to hire a classical engineer, they don't have the physics background; if we hire a physicist, they're not used to working with classical hardware engineering analogue design is new to them."

Another fundamental challenge for businesses is getting people interested in technical fields to begin with.

Not only are fewer young people taking IT and STEM-related subjects at school, but research also suggests that younger generations aren't all too confident about their chances of landing a career in tech either.

Robert Liscouski, CEO of Quantum Computing Inc (QCI), says this is reflective of endemic problems in how young people are educated, which doesn't necessarily include skills that are transferrable into the modern, professional workforce. "I think we're not doing a very good job at all of preparing young people for these technology jobs," he tells ZDNet.

"I think we still have this 19th Century education going on that's really focused on educating children so they can work in factories."

Better education, meanwhile, remains out of reach for most. "Where I live in Northern Virginia, we have a couple of academies that are geared for really advanced education in the secondary school and high schoolThe admission requirements in those programmes are so competitive that kids need to be at the absolute top of their game," says Liscouski.

"That's great you want that advanced thinking. But we need to figure out how we kind of bring that into the entire high school system and inculcate these kids into thinking about technology differently."

One solution for the shortage of specialist tech talent is for employers to bring on employees that are not necessarily already experts in the field, and then train them up on the job.

For a field like quantum computing, this still means being selective in the candidates you can hire higher-level education and expertise in mathematics, physics, engineering, and coding are always going to rank highly, for instance. Even so, internships and training programs can help to lower the barriers to entry.

Universal Quantum runs a three-month internship scheme that's open to graduates who hold a master's in physics or mathematics. Typically, interns take on a specific project that they are given total responsibility for, with Universal Quantum providing support through one-on-one mentoring and drop-in sessions with quantum physicists.

SEE:What is quantum computing? Everything you need to know about the strange world of quantum computers

The internship culminates in them presenting their work to a large section of the company. "Typically, we'll speak to them at the beginning and get a sense of what their interests are, and then we'll match that to a company need we have," says Edmondson.

"They'll often say, 'I don't know anything about quantum' or 'I've never worked in quantum,' and we have to reassure them and say 'that's completely fine, we're happy to teach you that when you come here.' That's quite exciting to them."

Liscouski too believes that deep quantum expertise isn't necessarily a requirement for enterprises to begin taking advantage of quantum computing, although he acknowledges that not all companies have the resources to offer comprehensive training programmes. "It's very hard for small companies and it's very hard for medium-sized companies because you don't have that luxury of taking 10% of your workforce out and putting them in training for a period of time," he says.

"Typically, you hire people because you need them now, not because you need them in six months."

One alternative is to target students at university, college, or even school: something that QCI previously offered with its quantum computing clubs, where participants learn to use the company's software, Qatalyst.

"We're moving into actually the academic instructional program, where professors are using our software as part of their curriculum, and we've got a whole curriculum development programme for that," says Liscouski.

"We're trying to push this down to the lowest common denominator in terms of who can access it. We're even trying to get into high schools to help that workforce development."

Qatalyst is a quantum application accelerator that enables end users to transform real-world problems into quantum-ready requests, and then it processes those requests on a combination of classical computers and cloud-based quantum processors, including Ion-Q, D-Wave, and Rigetti.

SEE:Quantum computing: Getting it ready for business

It enables businesses to make use of quantum applications without needing to have their own quantum computers or specialists.

"It's intended to try to put that technology in the hands of folks who are trying to solve business problems without having to be quantum programmers," says Liscouski.

"Our focus on our platform and the development that we've done to connect to any number of quantum platforms, is to disintermediate, or de-emphasise, the need for this high-end talent that's going to make a program run on a quantum computer."

In many ways, QCI proposes a technical solution to a shortage of specialist skills -- although Liscouski acknowledges that technology on its own is not the be-all to end-all. "We still have this shortcoming of all of this talent that's going to make this stuff work at scale," he adds.

"Quantum programmes are different than classical programmes. The way you look at a problem classically is different to the way you look at a problem from a quantum point of viewThinking about those problems requires a different level of thinking than classical computers."

Given the scant interest in technology careers shown by Generation Z, outreach is going to play a significant role in putting burgeoning, next-generation technologies like quantum computing on their radars undoubtedly the first step to addressing any skills gaps.

Edmondson says tech organizations need to become involved in attracting young people at a grassroots level within schools, as well as getting more creative in how they portray opportunities in the tech sector. "It's definitely a responsibility of businesses to try to nurture the talent pool coming forward and undertake outreach that will assist with that and that's just getting young people excited about things," she says.

SEE:Tech jobs have an image problem, and it's making the skills shortage worse

"We set up a lab in Spitalfields Market in London in a huge shipping container and were giving live demonstrations and experiments. People would come in and we'd talk to them about what we were doing and get them excited. That's relatively small-scale right now, but if somebody goes away and because of that becomes excited to learn something or do a new subject, that's a win."

Liscouski says that exposure to new technologies from an early age will also play an important role in equipping the next-generation workforce with key digital skills and have them working on real-world problems. "I think there has to be either post-high school training capability, or post-college training capability, or colleges have to extend and think more broadly about what they're preparing students to do," he adds.

"Because, at the end of the day, quantum computing like any computer that we know of unless there is end-user adoption, unless there is a focus on what problems can be solved, it becomes a science experiment and is just going to stay in the research world."

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Quantum computing skills are hard to find. Here's how companies are tackling the shortage - ZDNet

The latest breakthrough in the field of quantum computing could pave the way for complex simulations that tell us about the earliest moments of the universe and more.

A team of researchers from the University of Waterloo, Canada, claims to have performed the first ever simulation of baryons (a highly complex type of subatomic particle) on a quantum computer.

To achieve this goal, the researchers paired a traditional computer with a quantum machine in the cloud, and developed from scratch a quantum algorithm that was resource-efficient enough to allow the system to shoulder the workload.

Until now, computers have only been able to simulate the composite elements of baryons (which are made up of three quarks), but the research paper shows its possible to perform detailed quantum simulations with many baryons.

Although the science is complex, the broad significance is this: scientists will be able to simulate aspects of physics completely out of reach for traditional supercomputers.

According to the researchers, the breakthrough represents a landmark step towards overcoming the limitations of classical computing and allowing the massive potential of quantum computers to be realized.

This is an important step forward - it is the first simulation of baryone on a quantum computer ever, said Christine Muschik, faculty member at the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC). Instead of smashing particles in an accelerator, a quantum computer may one day allow us to simulate these interactions that we use to study the origins of the universe and so much more.

More specifically, researchers will be able to simulate complex lattice gauge theories, which describe the physics of reality. So-called non-Abelian gauge theories are said to be particularly attractive candidates for quantum simulation, as they relate to the stability of matter in the universe.

While the most powerful traditional computers are able to simulate simple non-Abelian gauge theories, only a quantum computer (as has now been proven) can perform the complex simulations necessary to unpack the inner workings of the universe.

Whats exciting about these results for us is that the theory can be made so much more complicated, added Jinglei Zhang, another researcher at the IQC. We can consider simulating matter at higher densities, which is beyond the capability of classical computers.

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Quantum computing breakthrough may help us learn about the earliest moments of the universe - TechRadar