Quantum Computing Sector

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>>> Microsoft Debuts Its First Quantum Computing Chip, Majorana 1


MSN

by Aaron McDade

2-19-25


Key Takeaways

Microsoft on Wednesday announced its first quantum computing chip, Majorana 1.

The company said the chip currently uses eight "qubits," or quantum bits, with the potential to scale to 1 million qubits.

A 1 million-qubit quantum computer could be more powerful than every computer on the planet combined, Microsoft said.

Microsoft (MSFT) on Wednesday announced its first quantum computing chip, Majorana 1, and said it could significantly reduce the time needed to reach quantum computing at a larger scale.

The Majorana 1 chip contains eight "qubits," or quantum bits, with the potential to scale to 1 million qubits, which the tech giant said would create a computer more powerful than every existing binary computer in the world working together.

Rivals like Alphabet's (GOOGL) Google and some other tech companies are also working on their own designs for quantum computing chips. However, some chipmakers, like Nvidia (NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang, have previously cautioned it could still be years before there are "very useful quantum computers."

Google debuted its own chip, called Willow, in December, the second in the company's six stated milestones in its quantum computing roadmap.

Shares of Microsoft rose just over 1% to close at $414.77 Wednesday. They've gained about 3% over the past 12 months.

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>>> Little-Known Quantum ETF Rakes In Cash After Computing Breakthrough


Bloomberg

by Vildana Hajric

December 24, 2024


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/little-known-quantum-etf-rakes-175431299.html


(Bloomberg) — For most of its six-year life, the Defiance Quantum ETF behaved just like any other high-tech long shot: Unexceptional returns and meager investor interest kept it stuck among the investing also-rans that dot the exchange-traded fund landscape.

All that changed in the span of a nanosecond after Google-parent Alphabet Inc. announced a big breakthrough in quantum computing earlier this month. Now, flows for the fund, which trades under the ticker QTUM, are surging like never before.

QTUM, which was designed to track stocks of companies tied to quantum computing, has seen roughly $250 million of inflows so far in December, an amount that puts it on track for its largest monthly cash haul since launching in 2018, data compiled by Bloomberg show. It has gained 17% in the period. Prior to this year, QTUM had taken in a net $164 million since inception.

The inflows started to pick up earlier this month following news that Alphabet had achieved a major accomplishment in quantum computing through the use of its Willow quantum chip. The company said that its quantum computer needs only five minutes to solve a problem that would take a supercomputer around 10 septillion years to do. Shares of Alphabet rose in the wake of the announcement, and other stocks linked to quantum computing have also extended advances in recent days.

“Quantum is having the same moment as AI did last year. Many of the quantum stocks aren’t held by ETFs broadly so QTUM is really the only pure play out there,” Bloomberg Intelligence’s Athanasios Psarofagis said. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see more quantum-related filings soon.”

Quantum computing involves using the mechanics of quantum physics to make more powerful computers. Such computers can do things that standard ones can’t, including modeling out complex webs of items that involve many inputs and moving parts. Specialists in the field are hoping that these computers will produce leaps and breakthroughs in fields from drug development to financial modeling.

QTUM tracks an index that’s made up of companies including D-Wave Quantum Inc., Rigetti Computing Inc. and IonQ Inc., among others, as well as Alphabet and Nvidia Corp. D-Wave — a Canadian firm that became the first to sell quantum computers in 2011 — is up more than 800% this year, while Rigetti has added more than 1,000%.

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QBTS $$$ NEWS OUT: D-Wave Maintains SOC 2 Type 2 Compliance, Reinforcing Commitment to Delivering Secure, Enterprise-Grade Quantum Computing Solutions
07:00:00 AM ET, 12/18/2024 - Business Wire
SOC 2 Type 2 compliance part of company’s ongoing efforts to support customers’ production deployments of quantum applications

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 18, 2024--D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NYSE: QBTS), a leader in quantum computing systems, software, and services and the world’s first commercial supplier of quantum computers, today announced the successful completion of its second SOC 2® Type 2 audit as of November 25, 2024, maintaining this rigorous compliance and marking its ongoing commitment to customer data security and protection. This milestone follows D-Wave’s previous successful SOC 2 Type 2 audit completed in December 2023.

As organizations consider where to run business-critical applications, they are increasingly seeking trusted vendors to help reduce risk and meet standards like SOC 2. Achieving SOC 2 Type 2 compliance serves as an independent attestation to D-Wave’s dedication to ensuring customer data is protected. The renewed compliance comes as D-Wave is implementing a number of measures to support customers’ production deployments of quantum applications. In October 2024, the company announced the introduction of service-level agreements (SLAs) specifically tailored for the Leap™ quantum cloud service customers who are transitioning applications into production. By establishing formal SLAs, D-Wave stands behind the high levels of availability, reliability and scalability of its Leap cloud service and its ability to support requirements for commercial-grade quantum and hybrid-quantum applications.

“At D-Wave we maintain a focused effort to provide commercial-grade security measures and mitigate risk for enterprises looking to scale their deployment of quantum computing solutions,” said Dr. Trevor Lanting, chief development officer at D-Wave. “With customers increasingly using our quantum solutions to support daily operations, security is paramount. Our SOC 2 compliance recognizes our leadership in using industry-standard best practices to protect our customers’ data.”

The SOC 2 Type 2 audit was conducted by leading compliance assessor A-LIGN, a technology-enabled security and compliance partner trusted by more than 2,500 global organizations to help mitigate cybersecurity risks. Established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the SOC 2 examination is designed for organizations of any size, regardless of industry and scope, to ensure the personal assets of their potential and existing customers are protected. SOC 2 reports are recognized globally and affirm that a company’s infrastructure, software, people, data, policies, procedures, and operations have been formally reviewed.

“Congratulations to D-Wave for once again completing its SOC 2 audit, a widely recognized signal of trust and security,” said Steve Simmons, COO of A-LIGN. “It's great to work with organizations like D-Wave, who understand the value of expertise in driving an efficient audit and the importance of a high-quality final report.”

D-Wave will continue to annually perform SOC 2 Type 2 assessments and make the latest report available to current or potential customers upon execution of a nondisclosure agreement.

About D-Wave Quantum Inc.

D-Wave is a leader in the development and delivery of quantum computing systems, software, and services, and is the world’s first commercial supplier of quantum computers—and the only company building both annealing quantum computers and gate-model quantum computers. Our mission is to unlock the power of quantum computing today to benefit business and society. We do this by delivering customer value with practical quantum applications for problems as diverse as logistics, artificial intelligence, materials sciences, drug discovery, scheduling, cybersecurity, fault detection, and financial modeling. D-Wave’s technology has been used by some of the world’s most advanced organizations including Mastercard, Deloitte, Davidson Technologies, ArcelorMittal, Siemens Healthineers, Unisys, NEC Corporation, Pattison Food Group Ltd., DENSO, Lockheed Martin, Forschungszentrum Jülich, University of Southern California, and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

ABOUT A-LIGN

A-LIGN is the only end-to-end cybersecurity compliance solutions provider with readiness to report compliance automation software paired with professional audit services, trusted by more than 4,000 global organizations to help mitigate cybersecurity risks. A-LIGN uniquely delivers a single-provider holistic approach as a licensed CPA firm to SOC 1 and SOC 2 Audit services, accredited ISO 27001, ISO 27701 and ISO 22301 Certification Body, HITRUST CSF Assessor firm, accredited FedRAMP 3PAO, authorized CMMC C3PAO, PCI Qualified Security Assessor Company, and PCI SSC registered Secure Software Assessor Company. Working with growing businesses to global enterprises, A-LIGN’s experts and its compliance automation platform, A-SCEND, are transforming the compliance experience. For more information, visit www.A-LIGN.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements and may not be indicative of future results. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, among others, various factors beyond management’s control, including the risks set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” discussed under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part I of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or any updates discussed under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in Part II of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in our other filings with the SEC. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements in this press release in making an investment decision, which are based on information available to us on the date hereof. We undertake no duty to update this information unless required by law.


View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241218338373/en/

Media Contact:
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>>> Quantum-computing stocks are soaring as investors place bets on ‘the next big thing’ in tech


MarketWatch

by Joseph Adinolfi

December 11, 2024


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/quantum-computing-stocks-soaring-investors-200100154.html


A trio of quantum-computing stocks has seen huge gains over the past few months, bolstered by a wave of hype from retail investors looking to cash in on what could be the “next big thing” in tech.

Shares of Rigetti Computing Inc. RGTI, D-Wave Quantum Inc. QBTS and IonQ Inc. IONQ — all small-capitalization stocks closely associated with quantum computing — have gained 843%, 455% and 398% in the three months through Tuesday’s close, FactSet data showed.

Quantum-computing stocks are soaring as investors place bets on ‘the next big thing’ in tech

The Defiance Quantum ETF QTUM — which invests in a number of mature and developing companies involved in quantum computing and machine learning — has gained more than 30% over the same period.

For shareholders of these companies, the gains amount to only a few billion dollars’ worth of value creation. Still, a steady drumbeat of new developments, coupled with their strong performance in the market, appears to have piqued investors’ interest.

The latest market-moving announcement landed shortly before the closing bell on Monday, when Alphabet Inc.’s Google Quantum AI unit published what some experts characterized as a potential breakthrough in the field that could accelerate the development of a commercially viable product.

Shares of all three of the small-cap companies named above briefly rallied on the news on Tuesday, although only one — Rigetti — managed to hang on to its gains by the time the closing bell rang. Shares of both IonQ and D-Wave Quantum continued to slide on Wednesday.

But setting these latest moves aside, their recent spurt of gains still represents a notable turnaround since the bursting of the SPAC bubble had saddled their shareholders with major losses. All three companies were taken public via mergers with shell companies during the so-called SPAC boom, and D-Wave Quantum and Rigetti have continued to trade well below their peaks from 2020 and 2021.

Over the past two weeks, users have flocked to posts on Reddit and other social-media platforms to share their hopes, questions and concerns about a technology that some feel could be the next big development in tech.

To longtime market watchers, it is just the latest example of retail investors’ affinity for speculative technology bets.

“This market loves a sexy technology theme; we certainly know that’s the case with AI,” said Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers. “It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if people move on to quantum computing.”

But there is one important distinction between quantum computing and AI that investors should keep in mind. Although there is hope that there could be synergies between the two technologies, quantum computing is still years away from producing a commercially viable product.

For now, investors seem to be brushing off these concerns, as these stocks have been swept up in the frenzied trading activity that has increasingly dominated the U.S. market — a dynamic that appears to have shifted into overdrive following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the Nov. 5 U.S. election.

Given their focus on a still-unproven technology, these companies remain extremely speculative investments.

“It’s hype on hype,” said Daniel O’Regan, a managing director at Mizuho Securities USA, in response to a question about what’s driving these companies higher. “They don’t really have any revenue. People who are gravitating toward some of the [quantum-computing] pure plays are trying to dream the dream. They’re betting that this could be the next, next big thing.”

A few other factors have contributed to their meteoric rise, according to O’Regan, including the fact that shares of all three had been heavily shorted, leaving them vulnerable to a short squeeze.

IonQ, the most mature company in the group, is expected to report sales of just $41.4 million during the 2024 calendar year. During the brief period that these companies have been publicly traded, none has produced a quarterly profit, according to FactSet data.

Name

Market Cap

Projected 2024 sales

Rigetti Computing

$1.6 billion

$16.2 million

D-Wave Quantum

$1.4 billion

$9.1 million

IonQ

$7.1 billion

$41.4 million

Furthermore, their quest for commercial viability faces another potentially enormous obstacle: entrenched competition from companies with far more resources. Alphabet and IBM Corp. IBM have already invested heavily in their own quantum-computing technology, O’Regan noted.

But as more Big Tech names scramble to gain a foothold, one or more of these three small-cap companies could potentially find itself the target of a takeover bid.

To some, that could be reason enough to keep plowing capital into their shares.

A breakthrough

In November, Amazon.com Inc.’s AMZN Amazon Web Services segment unveiled a new advisory service focused on quantum computing.

Then on Monday, Google published the results of a breakthrough involving its quantum-computing chip, Willow, in the scientific journal Nature. The paper confirmed that Willow had performed a computation that would have taken a classical supercomputer 10 septillion — that is, 10 to the 25th power — years to complete. It also demonstrated a level of error control that Google said represented a breakthrough that the field has been working toward for decades.

By the time the closing bell rang on Tuesday, Alphabet was sitting on a 5.6% gain, boosting its market capitalization by nearly $120 billion. Shares were up another 4% in recent trading on Wednesday.

Rigetti also managed to hang on to a sizable double-digit advance after announcing a quantum-computing breakthrough of its own. The company’s shares finished 45% higher, and were continuing to climb another 16% on Wednesday, recently trading at $7.55 a share, according to FactSet data.

Those moves were big on a percentage-point basis. But to help put things in perspective, the increase in Google’s market cap on Tuesday alone dwarfed the size of all three of the small-cap companies put together.

What is quantum computing?

Quantum computing has been studied for about three decades now, according to William Oliver, the Henry Ellis Warren (1894) professor of electrical engineering and computer science and a professor of physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

It aims to replace conventional classical computers in tackling certain types of complex problems. Although there are a couple of different methods for putting the technology into practice, Google’s new chip uses superconducting materials and electrical circuits to create qubits, the fundamental logical unit that powers these quantum processes.

In theory, the computing power of these units should dramatically eclipse their classical counterparts. Drug development and other types of complicated research have been cited as potential applications.

But there is one critical problem that engineers still need to untangle: The qubits used to carry out quantum computations are inherently unstable, forcing engineers to employ special algorithms to correct the errors that will inevitably occur.

For years, adding more qubits to a quantum computer didn’t seem to have much of an impact on the accuracy of these computations. If anything, it made them less reliable.

That is what made the latest demonstration from Google so notable. The company’s chip managed to show that the addition of more qubits helped bolster its error-correcting abilities.

“It’s a very important demonstration. We’re still at a very early stage of the technology,” Oliver told MarketWatch on Tuesday. “They showed that you can take qubits that are faulty, add more of them to the system, and the system gets better. This is exactly what we need to have happen if we’re going to commercialize quantum technology.”

Since Google’s Monday announcement, people have had plenty of questions about the long-term impact of quantum computing. One concern that has surfaced repeatedly on platforms like X: could quantum computing potentially threaten the encryption that secures cryptocurrencies like bitcoin?

Oliver said the answer is yes, although such capabilities are likely still 10 years away, if not more. Still, he said it is imperative that cryptocurrencies switch to post-quantum encryption as soon as possible. The National Institute of Standards and Technology has already released its postquantum encryption standards, he pointed out.

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>>> Google says it has cracked a quantum computing challenge with new chip


Reuters

by Stephen Nellis

December 9, 2024


https://www.yahoo.com/tech/google-says-cracked-quantum-computing-160249632.html


SANTA BARBARA, California (Reuters) - Google on Monday said that it has overcome a key challenge in quantum computing with a new generation of chip, solving a computing problem in five minutes that would take a classical computer more time than the history of the universe.

Like other tech giants such as Microsoft and International Business Machines, Alphabet's Google is chasing quantum computing because it promises computing speeds far faster than today's fastest systems. While the math problem solved by the company's Santa Barbara, California quantum lab does not have commercial applications, Google hopes quantum computers will one day solve problems in medicine, battery chemistry and artificial intelligence that are out of reach for today's computers.

The results released Monday came from a new chip called Willow that has 105 "qubits" , which are the building blocks of quantum computers. Qubits are fast but error-prone, because they can be jostled by something as small as a subatomic particle from events in outer space.

As more qubits are packed onto a chip, those errors can add up to make the chip no better than a conventional computer chip. So since the 1990s, scientists have been working on quantum error-correction.

In a paper published in the journal Nature on Monday, Google said that it has found a way to string together the Willow chip's qubits so that error rates go down as the number of qubits goes up. The company also says it can correct errors in real time, a key step toward making its quantum machines practical.

"We are past the break even point," Hartmut Neven, who leads the Google Quantum AI unit, said in an interview.

In 2019, IBM challenged Google's claim that Google's quantum chip solved a problem that would take a classical computer 10,000 years, saying the problem could be solved in two-and-a-half days using different technical assumptions about a classical system.

In a blog post Monday, Google said it took some of those concerns into account in its newest estimates. Even under the most idealistic conditions, Google said a classical computer would still take a billion years to get the same results as its newest chip.

Some of Google's rivals are producing chips with a larger number of qubits than Google, but Google is focused on making the most reliable qubits it can, Anthony Megrant, chief architect for Google Quantum AI, said in an interview.

Google fabricated its previous chips in a shared facility at the University of California, Santa Barbara, but built its own dedicated fabrication facility to produce its Willow chips. Megrant said that new facility will speed up how fast Google can make future chips, which are chilled in huge refrigerators called cryostats to run experiments.

"If we have a good idea, we want somebody on the team to be able to ... get that into the clean room and into one of these cryostats as fast as possible, so we can get lots of cycles of learning," Megrant said.

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>>> Electrons become fractions of themselves in graphene, study finds

An exotic electronic state observed by MIT physicists could enable more robust forms of quantum computing.


by Jennifer Chu

MIT News

February 21, 2024


https://news.mit.edu/2024/electrons-become-fractions-graphene-study-finds-0221


The electron is the basic unit of electricity, as it carries a single negative charge. This is what we’re taught in high school physics, and it is overwhelmingly the case in most materials in nature.

But in very special states of matter, electrons can splinter into fractions of their whole. This phenomenon, known as “fractional charge,” is exceedingly rare, and if it can be corralled and controlled, the exotic electronic state could help to build resilient, fault-tolerant quantum computers.

To date, this effect, known to physicists as the “fractional quantum Hall effect,” has been observed a handful of times, and mostly under very high, carefully maintained magnetic fields. Only recently have scientists seen the effect in a material that did not require such powerful magnetic manipulation.

Now, MIT physicists have observed the elusive fractional charge effect, this time in a simpler material: five layers of graphene — an atom-thin layer of carbon that stems from graphite and common pencil lead. They report their results today in Nature.

They found that when five sheets of graphene are stacked like steps on a staircase, the resulting structure inherently provides just the right conditions for electrons to pass through as fractions of their total charge, with no need for any external magnetic field.

The results are the first evidence of the “fractional quantum anomalous Hall effect” (the term “anomalous” refers to the absence of a magnetic field) in crystalline graphene, a material that physicists did not expect to exhibit this effect.

“This five-layer graphene is a material system where many good surprises happen,” says study author Long Ju, assistant professor of physics at MIT. “Fractional charge is just so exotic, and now we can realize this effect with a much simpler system and without a magnetic field. That in itself is important for fundamental physics. And it could enable the possibility for a type of quantum computing that is more robust against perturbation.”

Ju’s MIT co-authors are lead author Zhengguang Lu, Tonghang Han, Yuxuan Yao, Aidan Reddy, Jixiang Yang, Junseok Seo, and Liang Fu, along with Kenji Watanabe and Takashi Taniguchi at the National Institute for Materials Science in Japan.

A bizarre state

The fractional quantum Hall effect is an example of the weird phenomena that can arise when particles shift from behaving as individual units to acting together as a whole. This collective “correlated” behavior emerges in special states, for instance when electrons are slowed from their normally frenetic pace to a crawl that enables the particles to sense each other and interact. These interactions can produce rare electronic states, such as the seemingly unorthodox splitting of an electron’s charge.

In 1982, scientists discovered the fractional quantum Hall effect in heterostructures of gallium arsenide, where a gas of electrons confined in a two-dimensional plane is placed under high magnetic fields. The discovery later won the group a Nobel Prize in Physics.

“[The discovery] was a very big deal, because these unit charges interacting in a way to give something like fractional charge was very, very bizarre,” Ju says. “At the time, there were no theory predictions, and the experiments surprised everyone.”

Those researchers achieved their groundbreaking results using magnetic fields to slow down the material’s electrons enough for them to interact. The fields they worked with were about 10 times stronger than what typically powers an MRI machine.

In August 2023, scientists at the University of Washington reported the first evidence of fractional charge without a magnetic field. They observed this “anomalous” version of the effect, in a twisted semiconductor called molybdenum ditelluride. The group prepared the material in a specific configuration, which theorists predicted would give the material an inherent magnetic field, enough to encourage electrons to fractionalize without any external magnetic control.

The “no magnets” result opened a promising route to topological quantum computing — a more secure form of quantum computing, in which the added ingredient of topology (a property that remains unchanged in the face of weak deformation or disturbance) gives a qubit added protection when carrying out a computation. This computation scheme is based on a combination of fractional quantum Hall effect and a superconductor. It used to be almost impossible to realize: One needs a strong magnetic field to get fractional charge, while the same magnetic field will usually kill the superconductor. In this case the fractional charges would serve as a qubit (the basic unit of a quantum computer).

Making steps

That same month, Ju and his team happened to also observe signs of anomalous fractional charge in graphene — a material for which there had been no predictions for exhibiting such an effect.

Ju’s group has been exploring electronic behavior in graphene, which by itself has exhibited exceptional properties. Most recently, Ju’s group has looked into pentalayer graphene — a structure of five graphene sheets, each stacked slightly off from the other, like steps on a staircase. Such pentalayer graphene structure is embedded in graphite and can be obtained by exfoliation using Scotch tape. When placed in a refrigerator at ultracold temperatures, the structure’s electrons slow to a crawl and interact in ways they normally wouldn’t when whizzing around at higher temperatures.

In their new work, the researchers did some calculations and found that electrons might interact with each other even more strongly if the pentalayer structure were aligned with hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) — a material that has a similar atomic structure to that of graphene, but with slightly different dimensions. In combination, the two materials should produce a moiré superlattice — an intricate, scaffold-like atomic structure that could slow electrons down in ways that mimic a magnetic field.

“We did these calculations, then thought, let’s go for it,” says Ju, who happened to install a new dilution refrigerator in his MIT lab last summer, which the team planned to use to cool materials down to ultralow temperatures, to study exotic electronic behavior.

The researchers fabricated two samples of the hybrid graphene structure by first exfoliating graphene layers from a block of graphite, then using optical tools to identify five-layered flakes in the steplike configuration. They then stamped the graphene flake onto an hBN flake and placed a second hBN flake over the graphene structure. Finally, they attached electrodes to the structure and placed it in the refrigerator, set to near absolute zero.

As they applied a current to the material and measured the voltage output, they started to see signatures of fractional charge, where the voltage equals the current multiplied by a fractional number and some fundamental physics constants.

“The day we saw it, we didn’t recognize it at first,” says first author Lu. “Then we started to shout as we realized, this was really big. It was a completely surprising moment.”

“This was probably the first serious samples we put in the new fridge,” adds co-first author Han. “Once we calmed down, we looked in detail to make sure that what we were seeing was real.”

With further analysis, the team confirmed that the graphene structure indeed exhibited the fractional quantum anomalous Hall effect. It is the first time the effect has been seen in graphene.

“Graphene can also be a superconductor,” Ju says. “So, you could have two totally different effects in the same material, right next to each other. If you use graphene to talk to graphene, it avoids a lot of unwanted effects when bridging graphene with other materials.”

For now, the group is continuing to explore multilayer graphene for other rare electronic states.

“We are diving in to explore many fundamental physics ideas and applications,” he says. “We know there will be more to come.”

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>>> International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), together with its subsidiaries, provides integrated solutions and services worldwide. The company operates through Software, Consulting, Infrastructure, and Financing segments. The Software segment offers a hybrid cloud and AI platforms that allows clients to realize their digital and AI transformations across the applications, data, and environments in which they operate. The Consulting segment focuses on skills integration for strategy, experience, technology, and operations by domain and industry. The Infrastructure segment provides on-premises and cloud based server, and storage solutions, as well as life-cycle services for hybrid cloud infrastructure deployment. The Financing segment offers client and commercial financing, facilitates IBM clients' acquisition of hardware, software, and services. The company has a strategic partnership to various companies including hyperscalers, service providers, global system integrators, and software and hardware vendors that includes Adobe, Amazon Web services, Microsoft, Oracle, Salesforce, Samsung Electronics and SAP, and others. The company was formerly known as Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co. International Business Machines Corporation was incorporated in 1911 and is headquartered in Armonk, New York.

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>>> IonQ went public via a merger with the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) dMY Technology Group III in 2021. IonQ is a start-up-stage quantum computing company, and it's the first quantum computing pure-play (all it does is quantum computing development) company to become publicly traded.


https://www.fool.com/investing/stock-market/market-sectors/information-technology/ai-stocks/quantum-computing-stocks/


IonQ develops quantum computing hardware and is the first to have its computing systems available via all the major public cloud services. It plans to build a network of quantum computers accessible via the cloud and is targeting rapid growth in 2023 as researchers begin using its hardware at greater scale.

IonQ's orientation toward cloud computing is illustrated by its partnerships with Microsoft, Amazon's (AMZN 1.65%) Web Services (AWS), and Google Cloud. The Japanese telecommunications company and tech investor SoftBank Group (SFTBF -2.12%) also has invested in IonQ and is partnering with the company to bring quantum computing power to the many other tech companies in its portfolio. IonQ's most powerful computer, Aria, is now available via an Amazon AWS service.

IonQ generates little in the way of revenue right now and is not yet profitable. It will need to continue spending heavily to develop its products and business for at least a few more years. Investing in this start-up is a speculative play. The stock could be the most profitable way to invest in quantum computing if IonQ is successful, but investors should act with prudence, given that this is still a start-up business.

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>>> Quantum computer built by Google can instantly execute a task that would normally take 47 years


by Chrissy Sexton

Earth.com


https://www.earth.com/news/quantum-computer-can-instantly-execute-a-task-that-would-normally-take-47-years/


In a significant leap for the field of quantum computing, Google has reportedly engineered a quantum computer that can execute calculations in mere moments that would take the world’s most advanced supercomputers nearly half a century to process.

The news, reported by the Daily Telegraph, could signify a landmark moment in the evolution of this emerging technology.

Quantum computing, a science that takes advantage of the oddities of quantum physics, remains a fast-moving and somewhat contentious field.

Quantum computers hold immense promise for potentially revolutionizing sectors like climate science and drug discovery. They offer computation speeds far beyond those of their classical counterparts.

Potential drawbacks of quantum computing

However, this advanced technology is not without its potential drawbacks. Quantum computers pose significant challenges for contemporary encryption systems, thus placing them high on the list of national security concerns.

The contentious discussion continues. Critics argue that, despite the impressive milestones, these quantum machines still need to demonstrate more practicality outside of academic research.

Astonishing capabilities of Google’s quantum computer

Google’s latest iteration of its quantum machine, the Sycamore quantum processor, currently holds 70 qubits. This is a substantial leap from the 53 qubits of its earlier version. This makes the new processor approximately 241 million times more robust than the previous model.

As each qubit can exist in a state of zero, one, or both simultaneously, the capability of storing and processing this level of quantum information is an achievement that even the fastest classical computer, however rapid or slow, cannot match.

The Google team, in a paper published on the arXiv pre-print server, remarked: “Quantum computers hold the promise of executing tasks beyond the capability of classical computers. We estimate the computational cost against improved classical methods and demonstrate that our experiment is beyond the capabilities of existing classical supercomputers.”

Even the currently fastest classical computers, such as the Frontier supercomputer based in Tennessee, cannot rival the potential of quantum computers. These traditional machines operate on the language of binary code, confined to a dual-state reality of zeroes and ones. The quantum paradigm, however, transcends this limitation.

Revolutionary power

It remains uncertain how much Google’s quantum computer costs to create. Regardless, this development certainly holds the promise of transformative computational power.

For instance, according to the Google team, it would take the Frontier supercomputer merely 6.18 seconds to match a calculation from Google’s 53-qubit computer. However, the same machine would take an astonishing 47.2 years to match a computation executed by Google’s latest 70-qubit device.

Quantum supremacy

Many experts in the field have praised Google’s significant strides. Steve Brierley, chief executive of Cambridge-based quantum company Riverlane, labeled Google’s advancement as a “major milestone.”

He also added: “The squabbling about whether we had reached, or indeed could reach, quantum supremacy is now resolved.”

Similarly, Professor Winfried Hensinger, director of the Sussex Centre for Quantum Technologies, commended Google for resolving a specific academic problem tough to compute on a conventional computer.

“Their most recent demonstration is yet another powerful demonstration that quantum computers are developing at a steady pace,” said Professor Hensinger.

He stressed that the upcoming critical step would be the creation of quantum computers capable of correcting their inherent operational errors.

While IBM has not yet commented on Google’s recent work, it is clear that this progress in the realm of quantum computing has caught the attention of researchers and companies worldwide. This will open new prospects and competition in the evolution of computational technology. Let the games begin!

More about quantum computing

Quantum computing, a remarkable leap in technological advancement, holds the potential to redefine our computational capacities. Harnessing the strange yet fascinating laws of quantum physics, it could significantly outperform classical computers in solving certain types of problems.

Basics of Quantum Computing

Traditional computers operate based on bits, which can be in a state of either 0 or 1. Quantum computers, on the other hand, operate on quantum bits, known as qubits. Unlike traditional bits, a qubit can exist in both states simultaneously, thanks to a quantum principle called superposition.

Superposition increases the computing power of a quantum computer exponentially. For example, two qubits can exist in four states simultaneously (00, 01, 10, 11), three qubits in eight states, and so on. This allows quantum computers to process a massive number of possibilities at once.

Another key quantum principle quantum computers exploit is entanglement. Entangled qubits are deeply linked. Change the state of one qubit, and the state of its entangled partner will change instantaneously, no matter the distance. This feature allows quantum computers to process complex computations more efficiently.

Applications of Quantum Computers

The unusual characteristics of quantum computing make it ideal for solving complex problems that classical computers struggle with.

Cryptography is a notable area where quantum computing can make a significant difference. The capacity to factor large numbers quickly makes quantum computers a threat to current encryption systems but also opens the door for the development of more secure quantum encryption methods.

In the field of medicine, quantum computing could enable the modeling of complex molecular structures, speeding up drug discovery. Quantum simulations could offer insights into new materials and processes that might take years to discover through experimentation.

Challenges in Quantum Computing

Despite its promising potential, quantum computing is not without challenges. Quantum states are delicate, and maintaining them for a practical length of time—known as quantum coherence—is a significant hurdle. The slightest environmental interference can cause qubits to lose their state, a phenomenon known as decoherence.

Quantum error correction is another daunting challenge. Due to the fragility of qubits, errors are more likely to occur in quantum computations than classical ones. Developing efficient error correction methods that don’t require a prohibitive number of qubits remains a central focus in quantum computing research.

The Future of Quantum Computing

While quantum computing is still in its infancy, the rapid pace of innovation signals a promising future. Tech giants like IBM, Google, and Microsoft, as well as numerous startups, are making significant strides in quantum computing research.

In the coming years, we can expect quantum computers to continue growing in power and reliability. Quantum supremacy—a point where quantum computers surpass classical computers in computational capabilities—may be closer than we think.

Quantum computing represents a thrilling frontier, promising to reshape how we tackle complex problems. As research and development persist, we inch closer to unlocking the full potential of this revolutionary technology.

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>>> IonQ to Present End-to-End Quantum Computing Solutions at SC22


BusinessWire

November 14, 2022


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ionq-present-end-end-quantum-153000014.html


IonQ, to provide live presentations and demos in collaboration with Dell Technologies, AWS Braket, and IonQ’s latest quantum toolsets

COLLEGE PARK, Md., November 14, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), an industry leader in quantum computing, today announced its participation at Super Compute 2022 (SC22). The multi-day event will take place in Dallas, Texas, on November 13-18, 2022, and feature joint IonQ presentations and demos with quantum researchers, scientists and executives from Dell Technologies and Amazon. Onsite attendees can visit IonQ, Dell Technologies and Amazon’s booths to hear the latest developments on hybrid quantum computing and real-world quantum use-cases.

At SC22, Dell Technologies and IonQ will demonstrate its new Dell Quantum Computing Solution. The hybrid quantum platform is based on Dell’s classical quantum simulator built on Dell PowerEdge servers, and integrates IonQ's quantum computers and Quantum Algorithm Development Team for its core quantum capabilities. The combination of Qiskit Dell Runtime and IonQ Aria enables users to quickly develop algorithmic approaches to complex use cases, including chemistry and materials simulation, natural language processing, and machine learning. The solution positions Dell as an advisor for organizations interested in optimizing their hybrid quantum computing use cases, with IonQ serving as the technical backbone for application development.

"Enabling the seamless transition of workloads from traditional hardware to quantum hardware is the next major step in scaling quantum for the enterprise," said Peter Chapman, CEO of IonQ. "Now is the time to realize the value of quantum. The Dell Quantum Computing Solution is designed to support the transfer of traditionally sourced data into quantum processors for more advanced modeling. Customers will benefit from Dell’s leading compute capabilities and IonQ's deep expertise in quantum applications to develop new approaches to today's most demanding computational tasks."

Members of the IonQ, Dell Technologies, and Amazon teams are onsite at SC22 between November 13-18 in Dallas, Texas, where they will be showcasing the Dell Quantum Computing Solution in Dell’s booth (#2443), and demonstrating access to IonQ systems with Amazon Braket in Amazon’s booth (#2425) as well as exploring the topics of hybrid quantum computing, real-world use cases of quantum, and current roadmaps at each booth including, IonQ’s own booth (#2640).

To learn more about IonQ’s presence at SC22, as well as the Dell Quantum Computing Solution and Amazon Braket, click here. Additionally, register here to attend IonQ’s Q3 earnings call taking place today at 4:30 PM ET.

About IonQ

IonQ, Inc. is a leader in quantum computing, with a proven track record of innovation and deployment. IonQ's current generation quantum computer, IonQ Forte, is the latest in a line of cutting-edge systems, including IonQ Aria, a system that boasts industry-leading 23 algorithmic qubits. Along with record performance, IonQ has defined what it believes is the best path forward to scale. IonQ is the only company with its quantum systems available through the cloud on Amazon Braket, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, as well as through direct API access. IonQ was founded in 2015 by Christopher Monroe and Jungsang Kim based on 25 years of pioneering research. To learn more, visit www.ionq.com.

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>>> NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) provides graphics, and compute and networking solutions in the United States, Taiwan, China, and internationally. The company's Graphics segment offers GeForce GPUs for gaming and PCs, the GeForce NOW game streaming service and related infrastructure, and solutions for gaming platforms; Quadro/NVIDIA RTX GPUs for enterprise workstation graphics; vGPU software for cloud-based visual and virtual computing; automotive platforms for infotainment systems; and Omniverse software for building 3D designs and virtual worlds. Its Compute & Networking segment provides Data Center platforms and systems for AI, HPC, and accelerated computing; Mellanox networking and interconnect solutions; automotive AI Cockpit, autonomous driving development agreements, and autonomous vehicle solutions; cryptocurrency mining processors; Jetson for robotics and other embedded platforms; and NVIDIA AI Enterprise and other software. The company's products are used in gaming, professional visualization, datacenter, and automotive markets. NVIDIA Corporation sells its products to original equipment manufacturers, original device manufacturers, system builders, add-in board manufacturers, retailers/distributors, independent software vendors, Internet and cloud service providers, automotive manufacturers and tier-1 automotive suppliers, mapping companies, start-ups, and other ecosystem participants. It has a strategic collaboration with Kroger Co. NVIDIA Corporation was incorporated in 1993 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.

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>>> Rigetti Computing, a Global Leader in Full-Stack Quantum Computing, Announces Plans to Become Publicly Traded via Merger with Supernova Partners Acquisition Company II


https://www.rigetti.com/merger-announcement


Rigetti is on a mission to build the world’s most powerful computers to help solve humanity’s most important and pressing problems. The company has developed the first-of-its-kind scalable approach to building quantum processors.

Transaction values Rigetti at a pro forma equity value of approximately $1.5 billion. The combined company is expected to receive approximately $458 million in gross cash proceeds, which includes a fully committed PIPE in excess of $100 million, direct investment, and $345 million of cash held in the trust account of Supernova II, assuming no redemptions.

PIPE transaction subscribed to by top investors including funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.; Bessemer Venture Partners; Franklin Templeton; and In-Q-Tel.

New strategic partners are Keysight Technologies, Palantir Technologies and Ampere Computing.

Management of Rigetti Computing and Supernova II will host an investor call at 8:30 am ET on Wednesday, October 6, to discuss the proposed transaction. Details are below.

More investor information


BERKELEY, Calif. — Oct. 6, 2021 — Rigetti & Co., Inc. (“Rigetti”), a pioneer in full-stack quantum computing, announced today it has entered into a definitive merger agreement with Supernova Partners Acquisition Company II, Ltd. (“Supernova II”) (NYSE:SNII), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company. When the transaction closes, the publicly traded company will be named Rigetti Computing, Inc. and its common stock is expected to be listed on the NYSE under the ticker “RGTI.”

Rigetti is a leader in scalable quantum processor technology. Scalability has been among the largest hurdles to bringing quantum computing to market, and Rigetti introduced its scalable superconducting chips in June 2021. Its patented multi-chip architecture is the building block for new generations of quantum processors that are expected to achieve a clear advantage over classical computers.

Quantum computing is one of the most transformative emerging technologies in the world today. Many of the world’s most important problems remain intractable, lying far beyond the capabilities of today’s supercomputers. Quantum computers process information in a fundamentally different way — solving problems simultaneously as opposed to sequentially — which will allow them, when scaled, to tackle problems of staggering computational complexity at unprecedented speed.

Quantum computing could be applied to a range of important uses such as enabling biotech companies to bring more effective therapies to market faster; researchers to develop more affordable clean energy sources; and financial companies to access faster and more accurate market insights to help reduce market volatility.

Rigetti will use the proceeds from the transaction to accelerate development of multiple generations of quantum processors and grow its commercial business. Rigetti expects to scale its quantum computers from 80 qubits in 2021, to 1,000 qubits in 2024, and to 4,000 qubits in 2026.

Rigetti’s distinctive quantum computers work in tandem with existing cloud and high-performance computing infrastructure to unlock powerful new capabilities to solve complex real-world problems. The company sells access to its machines through the Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services platform.

The PIPE transaction is subscribed to by top investors including: funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.; Bessemer Venture Partners; Franklin Templeton; and In-Q-Tel. Strategic investors include Keysight Technologies and Palantir Technologies. Ampere Computing will make a direct investment. These new strategic investors provide strong complementary technologies for advancing Rigetti’s quantum advantage, and build on Rigetti’s existing partnerships and collaborations with customers like Amazon Web Services, Astex Pharmaceuticals, DARPA, NASA, Standard Chartered Bank and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Rigetti CEO Chad Rigetti founded the company in 2013. The company has raised approximately $200 million in venture capital and today employs more than 130 people with offices in the United States, Canada, U.K., and Australia.

Supernova II is led by Michael Clifton, an investor who most recently helped lead global technology investing at The Carlyle Group; Robert Reid, a long-time senior partner at Blackstone; Spencer Rascoff, a serial entrepreneur who co-founded Hotwire, Zillow, dot.LA and Pacaso and who led Zillow as CEO for nearly a decade; and Alexander Klabin, founder and CEO of Ancient and former managing partner, co-CIO and co-founder of Senator Investment Group.

Clifton is expected to join the Rigetti Board of Directors after the transaction closes.

Management comments

Chad Rigetti, Rigetti Computing CEO and Founder

“In the next decade one Rigetti quantum computer could be more powerful than today’s entire global cloud. Rigetti is the leading innovator in this space. Our team has solved the most pressing scientific problems associated with bringing quantum computing to market by creating a scalable computer and high-performance integration with existing computing systems. We plan to use this capital to accelerate our product development and accelerate our goal to bring this transformational computing capability to every major industry.”

Michael Clifton, Supernova II

“The widespread adoption of quantum computing will have a significant impact on the economy and humanity in the next decade and beyond, on par with the advent of mobile and cloud technologies. Rigetti systems’ speed and scalability set them apart amongst competitors. With its model of easy integration into existing systems, Rigetti’s technology will be used by businesses, governments and institutions across the globe.”

Transaction Overview

The business combination values the combined entity at a pro forma equity value of approximately $1.5 billion. Upon closing, the combined company will receive approximately $458 million in gross cash proceeds, including a fully committed PIPE in excess of $100 million, direct investment, and $345 million of cash held in the trust account of Supernova II, assuming no redemptions. The proposed transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both Rigetti and Supernova II, and is subject to the approval of the stockholders of Supernova II and other customary closing conditions.

Additional information of the transaction terms and copies of the key transaction agreements will be provided in a current report on Form 8-K to be filed by Supernova II with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov.

Advisors

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Rigetti. Cooley LLP is serving as legal counsel to Rigetti.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is serving as exclusive financial advisor to Supernova II. Latham & Watkins LLP is serving as legal counsel to Supernova II.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. served as placement agents to Supernova II for the PIPE financing. Sidley Austin LLP served as counsel to the placement agents.

Conference Call

Management of Rigetti and Supernova Partners II will host an investor conference call on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 8:30 am ET to discuss the proposed business combination. A webcast of the call can be accessed at www.netroadshow.com/nrs/home/#!/?show=057a3ce4 or by visiting https://www.netroadshow.com/ with the entry code “Romeo9374”.

Alternatively the call can be accessed by dialing [phone] (domestic toll-free number) or [phone] (international) and providing the conference ID 400205. A replay of the call can be accessed by dialing [phone] (domestic toll-free number) or [phone] (international) and providing the conference ID 626929#.

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>>> IonQ Becomes First Publicly Traded, Pure-Play Quantum Computing Company; Closes Business Combination with dMY Technology Group III

10/01/2021


https://investors.ionq.com/news/news-details/2021/IonQ-Becomes-First-Publicly-Traded-Pure-Play-Quantum-Computing-Company-Closes-Business-Combination-with-dMY-Technology-Group-III/default.aspx


IonQ ushers in the era of quantum computing, lists on public market to begin trading on NYSE under ticker “IONQ” today, October 1, 2021

IonQ received gross proceeds of $636 million from transaction to fund growth and accelerate the commercialization of industry-leading quantum computers


COLLEGE PARK, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- IonQ, Inc. (“IonQ” or the “Company”) (NYSE: IONQ), a leader in quantum computing, completed its previously announced business combination with dMY Technology Group, Inc. III (“dMY”) (formerly NYSE: DMYI), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, on September 30, 2021. Starting this morning, the common stock and warrants of the combined company, IonQ Inc., will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbols “IONQ” and “IONQ.WS,” respectively.

IonQ is a trailblazer in quantum computing with the world’s most powerful trapped-ion quantum computer, and is the only company with its quantum systems available through the cloud on Amazon Braket, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. This business combination provided IonQ with $636 million in gross proceeds to fund future growth and accelerate the commercialization of its industry-leading quantum computers.

“Quantum is here, and IonQ is leading the industry with our revolutionary trapped-ion technology,” said Peter Chapman, President and CEO of IonQ. “Over the past six years, we have taken this critical technology out of the lab and have developed it into a commercial product. This year, we are proud to have tripled our bookings expectations for 2021, and are further thrilled to have announced collaborations with Goldman Sachs, Fidelity Center for Applied Technology, GE Research and the University of Maryland. We are humbled by the interest in our public listing and are confident in our ability to deliver against our business plan. I’m incredibly grateful to the entire IonQ ecosystem of employees, customers and stakeholders – this is just the beginning.”

Last month, IonQ announced that it had tripled its expectation for 2021 total contract bookings from its previously announced target of $5 million to $15 million. IonQ believes this is a demonstration of the real and rapidly accelerating need for quantum computing among enterprise customers and cements IonQ as a leader in quantum computing.

“IonQ’s listing today marks an incredibly significant milestone for quantum computing – the demand for this technology is real and the path to commercialization and scale is tangible,” said Niccolo de Masi, CEO of dMY Technology group of companies. “We’re thrilled to continue to partner with the IonQ management team and look forward to celebrating the company’s future accomplishments and milestones.”

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC served as the exclusive financial advisor to IonQ. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as the exclusive financial advisor to dMY III. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC also acted as co-lead placement agents on the PIPE. Needham & Company also acted as placement agent on the PIPE. Cooley LLP and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP represented IonQ and dMY III, respectively, as legal counsel.

About IonQ

IonQ, Inc. is a leader in quantum computing, with a proven track record of innovation and deployment. IonQ’s next-generation quantum computer is the world’s most powerful trapped-ion quantum computer, and IonQ has defined what it believes is the best path forward to scale. IonQ is the only company with its quantum systems available through the cloud on Amazon Braket, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, as well as through direct API access. IonQ was founded in 2015 by Christopher Monroe and Jungsang Kim based on 25 years of pioneering research. To learn more, visit www.ionq.com.

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>>> IonQ, Inc. (IONQ) engages in the development of general-purpose quantum computing systems. It sells access to quantum computers with 11 qubits. The company makes access to its quantum computers through cloud platforms, such as Amazon Web Services' (AWS) Amazon Braket, Microsoft's Azure Quantum, and Google's Cloud Marketplace, as well as through its cloud service. IonQ, Inc. was incorporated in 2015 and is headquartered in College Park, Maryland. <<<

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There is a CEVA board now...

https://investorshub.advfn.com/Ceva-Inc-23330

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>>> Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (CDNS) provides software, hardware, services, and reusable integrated circuit (IC) design blocks worldwide. The company offers functional verification services, including emulation and prototyping hardware. Its functional verification offering consists of JasperGold, a formal verification platform; Xcelium, a parallel logic simulation platform; Palladium, an enterprise emulation platform; and Protium, a prototyping platform for chip verification. The company also provides digital IC design products, including Genus logic synthesis and RTL power solutions, as well as Modus software solution to reduce systems-on-chip design-for-test time; physical implementation tools, including place and route, optimization, and multiple patterning preparation; and signoff products to signoff the design as ready for manufacture by a silicon foundry. In addition, it offers custom IC design and simulation products to create schematic and physical representations of circuits down to the transistor level for analog, mixed-signal, custom digital, memory, and radio frequency designs; and system design and analysis products to develop printed circuit boards and IC packages, as well as to analyze electromagnetic, electro-thermal, and other multi-physics effects. Further, the company provides intellectual property (IP) products consisting of pre-verified and customizable functional blocks to integrate into customer's ICs; and verification IP and memory models to verify the correct interaction with dozens of design IP interface protocols. Additionally, it offers services related to methodology, education, and hosted design solutions, as well as technical support and maintenance services. Cadence Design Systems, Inc. was incorporated in 1988 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.

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>>> CEVA, Inc. (CEVA) operates as a licensor of wireless connectivity and smart sensing platforms to semiconductor and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) companies worldwide. It designs and licenses various digital signal processors, AI processors, wireless platforms, and complementary software for sensor fusion, image enhancement, computer vision, voice input, and artificial intelligence (AI). The company licenses a family of signal processing intellectual properties (IPs), including DSP-based platforms for 5G baseband processing in mobile and infrastructure; imaging and computer vision for any camera-enabled devices; audio/voice/speech and ultra-low power applications for multiple IoT markets; sensor fusion software and inertial measurement unit solutions for AR/VR, robotics, remote controls, and IoT; AI processors capable of handling the gamut of neural network workload and on-device; IPs for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 4/5/6, and NB-IoT. Its technologies are licensed to companies, which design, manufacture, market, and sell application-specific integrated circuits and application-specific standard products to wireless, consumer electronics, and automotive companies for incorporation into various end products. The company delivers its DSP cores, platforms, and AI processors in the form of a hardware description language definition; and offers development platforms, software development kits, and software debug tools that facilitate system design, debug, and software development. The company licenses its technology through a direct sales force. The company was formerly known as ParthusCeva, Inc. and changed its name to CEVA, Inc. in December 2003. CEVA, Inc. was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland.

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>>> Cerence Inc. (CNRC) provides AI-powered assistants and innovations for connected and autonomous vehicles It offers edge software components; cloud-connected components; toolkits; applications; and virtual assistant coexistence and professional services. The company also provides conversational artificial intelligence, including voice recognition, natural language understanding, and artificial intelligence services. Cerence Inc. is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts.

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>>> Why Synopsys Stock Gained 15% in August

The company posted strong Q3 earnings and hinted at a major upgrade to its long-term outlook coming in Q4.


Motley Fool

by Demitri Kalogeropoulos

Sep 4, 2021


https://www.fool.com/investing/2021/09/04/why-synopsys-stock-gained-15-in-august/?source=eptyholnk0000202&utm_source=yahoo-host&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=article


What happened

Synopsys (NASDAQ:SNPS) shareholders beat a rallying market last month. The stock rose 15% in August compared to 3% spike in the S&P 500, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence. The semiconductor tech giant reported strong earnings and issued a bullish outlook for both 2021 and over the long term.

So what

Sales trends were robust in the fiscal third quarter, with revenue rising 10% to just under $1.1 billion. That success put Synopsys on a growth and earnings trajectory that management believes is meaningfully better than it had previously estimated. "The market is not only strong," co-CEO Aart de Gues said in the conference call, "it is transforming in a way that is very positive for Synopsys."

Executives say demand for advanced semiconductor chips is rising and should continue expanding thanks to major tailwinds including data storage, transmittal, and processing.

Now what

Synopsys raised its 2021 outlook, which helps explain why shares are beating the market so far this year. But management also predicted that the need for semiconductor chips is already stretching into future years. More customers are committing to multiyear contracts, which is great news in this cyclical industry.

Next up, look for the company to issue an updated long-term outlook in November that likely predicts double-digit sales growth through 2023, along with steadily rising profit margin. Hitting those ambitious targets would mean further solid returns for shareholders.

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>>> Explained: Quantum engineering


Quantum computers could usher in a golden age of computing power, solving problems intractable on today’s machines.


by Daniel Ackerman

MIT News Office

December 10, 2020


https://news.mit.edu/2020/explained-quantum-engineering-1210


Since the 1940s, classical computers have improved at breakneck speed. Today you can buy a wristwatch with more computing power than the state-of-the-art, room-sized computer from half a century ago. These advances have typically come through electrical engineers’ ability to fashion ever smaller transistors and circuits, and to pack them ever closer together.

But that downsizing will eventually hit a physical limit — as computer electronics approach the atomic level, it will become impossible to control individual components without impacting neighboring ones. Classical computers cannot keep improving indefinitely using conventional scaling.

Quantum computing, an idea spawned in the 1980s, could one day carry the baton into a new era of powerful high-speed computing. The method uses quantum mechanical phenomena to run complex calculations not feasible for classical computers. In theory, quantum computing could solve problems in minutes that would take classical computers millennia. Already, Google has demonstrated quantum computing’s ability to outperform the world’s best supercomputer for certain tasks.

But it’s still early days — quantum computing must clear a number of science and engineering hurdles before it can reliably solve practical problems. More than 100 researchers across MIT are helping develop the fundamental technologies necessary scale up quantum computing and turn its potential into reality.

What is quantum computing?

It helps to first understand the basics of classical computers, like the one you’re using to read this story. Classical computers store and process information in binary bits, each of which holds a value of 0 or 1. A typical laptop could contain billions of transistors that use different levels of electrical voltage to represent either of these two values. While the shape, size, and power of classical computers vary widely, they all operate on the same basic system of binary logic.

Quantum computers are fundamentally different. Their quantum bits, called qubits, can each hold a value of 0, 1, or a simultaneous combination of the two states. That’s thanks to a quantum mechanical phenomenon called superposition. “A quantum particle can act as if it’s in two places at once,” explains John Chiaverini, a researcher at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory’s Quantum Information and Integrated Nanosystems Group.

Particles can also be “entangled” with each other, as their quantum states become inextricably linked. Superposition and entanglement allow quantum computers to “solve some kinds of problems exponentially faster than classical computers,” Chiaverini says.

Chiaverini points to particular applications where quantum computers can shine. For example, they’re great at factoring large numbers, a vital tool in cryptography and digital security. They could also simulate complex molecular systems, which could aid drug discovery. In principle, quantum computers could turbocharge many areas of research and industry — if only we could build reliable ones.

How do you build a quantum computer?

Quantum systems are not easy to manage, thanks to two related challenges. The first is that a qubit’s superposition state is highly sensitive. Minor environmental disturbances or material defects can cause qubits to err and lose their quantum information. This process, called decoherence, limits the useful lifetime of a qubit.

The second challenge lies in controlling the qubit to perform logical functions, often achieved through a finely tuned pulse of electromagnetic radiation. This manipulation process itself can generate enough incidental electromagnetic noise to cause decoherence. To scale up quantum computers, engineers will have to strike a balance between protecting qubits from potential disturbance and still allowing them to be manipulated for calculations. This balance could theoretically be attained by a range of physical systems, though two technologies currently show the most promise: superconductors and trapped ions.

A superconducting quantum computer uses the flow of paired electrons — called “Cooper pairs” — through a resistance-free circuit as the qubit. “A superconductor is quite special, because below a certain temperature, its resistance goes away,” says William Oliver, who is an associate professor in MIT’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, a Lincoln Laboratory Fellow, and the director of the MIT Center for Quantum Engineering.

The computers Oliver engineers use qubits composed of superconducting aluminum circuits chilled close to absolute zero. The system acts as an anharmonic oscillator with two energy states, corresponding to 0 and 1, as current flows through the circuit one way or the other. These superconducting qubits are relatively large, about one tenth of a millimeter along each edge — that’s hundreds of thousands of times larger than a classical transistor. A superconducting qubit’s bulk makes it easy to manipulate for calculations.

But it also means Oliver is constantly fighting decoherence, seeking new ways to protect the qubits from environmental noise. His research mission is to iron out these technological kinks that could enable the fabrication of reliable superconducting quantum computers. “I like to do fundamental research, but I like to do it in a way that’s practical and scalable,” Oliver says. “Quantum engineering bridges quantum science and conventional engineering. Both science and engineering will be required to make quantum computing a reality.”

Another solution to the challenge of manipulating qubits while protecting them against decoherence is a trapped ion quantum computer, which uses individual atoms — and their natural quantum mechanical behavior — as qubits. Atoms make for simpler qubits than supercooled circuits, according to Chiaverini. “Luckily, I don’t have to engineer the qubits themselves,” he says. “Nature gives me these really nice qubits. But the key is engineering the system and getting ahold of those things.”

Chiaverini’s qubits are charged ions, rather than neutral atoms, because they’re easier to contain and localize. He uses lasers to control the ion’s quantum behavior. “We’re manipulating the state of an electron. We’re promoting one of the electrons in the atom to a higher energy level or a lower energy level,” he says.

The ions themselves are held in place by applying voltage to an array of electrodes on a chip. “If I do that correctly, then I can create an electromagnetic field that can hold on to a trapped ion just above the surface of the chip.” By changing the voltages applied to the electrodes, Chiaverini can move the ions across the surface of the chip, allowing for multiqubit operations between separately trapped ions.

So, while the qubits themselves are simple, fine-tuning the system that surrounds them is an immense challenge. “You need to engineer the control systems — things like lasers, voltages, and radio frequency signals. Getting them all into a chip that also traps the ions is what we think is a key enabler.”

Chiaverini notes that the engineering challenges facing trapped ion quantum computers generally relate to qubit control rather than preventing decoherence; the reverse is true for superconducting-based quantum computers. And of course, there are myriad other physical systems under investigation for their feasibility as quantum computers.

Where do we go from here?

If you’re saving up to buy a quantum computer, don’t hold your breath. Oliver and Chiaverini agree that quantum information processing will hit the commercial market only gradually in the coming years and decades as the science and engineering advance.

In the meantime, Chiaverini notes another application of the trapped ion technology he’s developing: highly precise optical clocks, which could aid navigation and GPS. For his part, Oliver envisions a linked classical-quantum system, where a classical machine could run most of an algorithm, sending select calculations for the quantum machine to run before its qubits decohere. In the longer term, quantum computers could operate with more independence as improved error-correcting codes allow them to function indefinitely.

“Quantum computing has been the future for several years,” Chiaverini says. But now the technology appears to be reaching an inflection point, shifting from solely a scientific problem to a joint science and engineering one — “quantum engineering” — a shift aided in part by Chiaverini, Oliver, and dozens of other researchers at MIT’s Center for Quantum Engineering (CQE) and elsewhere.

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>>> Quantum Teleportation Was Just Achieved With 90% Accuracy Over a 44km Distance


Science Alert

by David Nield

Jan 1, 2021


https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/quantum-teleportation-was-just-achieved-with-90percent-accuracy-over-a-44km-distance/ar-BB1cnZbN?ocid=uxbndlbing


Quantum Teleportation Was Just Achieved With 90% Accuracy Over a 44km Distance


Scientists are edging closer to making a super-secure, super-fast quantum internet possible: they've now been able to 'teleport' high-fidelity quantum information over a total distance of 44 kilometres (27 miles).

Both data fidelity and transfer distance are crucial when it comes to building a real, working quantum internet, and making progress in either of these areas is cause for celebration for those building our next-generation communications network.

In this case the team achieved a greater than 90 percent fidelity (data accuracy) level with its quantum information, as well as sending it across extensive fibre optic networks similar to those that form the backbone of our existing internet.

"We're thrilled by these results," says physicist Panagiotis Spentzouris, from the Fermilab particle physics and accelerator laboratory based at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

"This is a key achievement on the way to building a technology that will redefine how we conduct global communication."

Quantum internet technology uses qubits; unmeasured particles that remain suspended in a mix of possible states like spinning dice yet to settle.

Qubits that are introduced to one another have their identities 'entangled' in ways that become obvious once they're finally measured. Imagine these entangled qubits as a pair of dice - while each can land on any number, they are both guaranteed to add to seven no matter how far apart they are. Data in one location instantly reflects data in another.

By clever arrangement of entangling three qubits, it's possible to force the state of one particle to adopt the 'dice roll' of another via their mutually entangled partner. In quantum land, this is as good as turning one particle into another, teleporting its identity across a distance in a blink.

The entanglement still needs to be established in the beginning though, and then maintained as the qubits are sent to their eventual destination through optical fibres (or satellites).

The unstable, delicate nature of quantum information makes it tricky to beam entangled photons over long distances without interference, however. Longer optical fibres simply mean more opportunity for noise to interfere with the entangled states.

In total, the lengths of fibre used to channel each cubit added to 44 kilometres, setting a new limit to how far we can send entangled qubits and still successfully use them to teleport quantum information.

It's never before been demonstrated to work over such a long distance with such accuracy, and it brings a city-sized quantum network closer to reality – even though there are still years of work ahead to make that possible.

"With this demonstration we're beginning to lay the foundation for the construction of a Chicago-area metropolitan quantum network," says Spentzouris.

Quantum entanglement and data teleportation is a complex science, and not even the experts fully understand how it might ultimately be used in a quantum network. Each proof of concept like this that we get puts us a little closer to making such a network happen though.

As well as promising huge boosts in speed and computational power, a quantum internet would be ultra-secure – any hacking attempt would be as good as destroying the lock being picked. For now at least, scientists think quantum internet networks will act as specialist extensions to the classical internet, rather than a complete replacement.

Researchers are tackling quantum internet problems from all different angles, which is why you'll see a variety of distances mentioned in studies – they're not all measuring the same technology, using the same equipment, to test the same standards.

What makes this study special is the accuracy and the distance of the quantum entanglement teleportation, as well as the 'off the shelf' equipment used – it should theoretically be relatively easy to scale up this technology using the hardware we're already got in place.

"We are very proud to have achieved this milestone on sustainable, high-performing and scalable quantum teleportation systems," says physicist Maria Spiropulu, from Caltech.

"The results will be further improved with system upgrades we are expecting to complete by the second quarter of 2021."

The research has been published in PRX Quantum.

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>>> Defiance Quantum ETF QTUM — Up 47.4%


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/5-market-beating-smart-beta-130001526.html


The underlying BlueStar Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index consists of a modified equal-weighted portfolio of the stock of companies whose products or services are predominantly tied to the development of quantum computing and machine learning technology.

In March, IDC projected that global outlays on artificial intelligence will jump to about $35.8 billion in 2019, suggesting a 44% surge from the year-ago figure. This favorable data indicates that the upbeat prospect lie with quantum computing and machine learning.

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>>> “QTUM” ETF Capitalizes on the Field of Quantum Computing


ETF Trends

by BEN HERNANDEZ

NOVEMBER 25, 2019


https://www.etftrends.com/innovative-etfs-channel/qtum-etf-capitalizes-on-the-field-of-quantum-computing/


Disruption like artificial intelligence and robotics are in the forefront of technological advances, but other areas like quantum computing are powering the next generation of ETFs like the Defiance Quantum ETF (NYSEArca: QTUM).

Defiance ETFs notes multiple breakthroughs in the field of quantum computing.

“We have seen increased institutional interest in QTUM, given the recent announcement of Google reaching quantum supremacy,” says Chief Executive Officer Matthew Bielski.

QTUM tracks a rules-based index, known as the BlueStar Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index, that gives investors exposure to the next generation of computing, including disruptive companies building out quantum computing and machine learning technology. The index is comprised of equity securities of leading global companies engaged in the research and development or commercialization of systems and materials used in quantum computing.

Areas within quantum computing include advanced traditional computing hardware, high powered computing data connectivity solutions and cooling systems, and companies that specialize in the perception, collection and management of heterogeneous big data used in machine learning. Additionally, iIndex components are assigned an equal weight subject to a liquidity overlay, index components are reviewed semi-annually for eligibility, and the weights are reset accordingly.

QTUM is part of an ETF family that also includes FIVG, the First 5G ETF; and DIET, focused on next gen food and sustainability.

Fund facts:

Quantum computers use principles of quantum mechanics to perform significantly more complex computations, and at exponentially faster speeds, than conventional computers.

Quantum Computing is set to fundamentally enhance Machine Learning, a subset of artificial intelligence, which gives computers the ability to “learn” with data, without being explicitly programmed.

Benefits of QTUM:

QTUM offers investors liquid, transparent and low-cost* access to companies developing and applying Quantum Computing and other transformative computing technologies.

The underlying index, BlueStar Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index (BQTUM), tracks approximately 60 globally-listed stocks across all market capitalizations.

Equal weight methodology offers investors more precise exposure, including to smaller companies with more potential for growth.

In the business world, it’s adapt or die and the wave of disruption occurring in all sectors is weeding out companies that will be slow or resistant to innovation. This presents an opportunity for the discerning investor by capitalizing on companies that can’t keep up with the changing times.

Disruption isn’t relegated to startup companies taking an idea and simply building its core business model around it. It also affects existing companies whose outdated business models can no longer stem the tide of disruptive forces on revenue generation.

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>>> Investors Are Subdued About a Quantum-Computing ETF


Wall Street Journal

By Gerrard Cowan

12-8-19


https://www.wsj.com/articles/investors-are-subdued-about-a-quantum-computing-etf-11575860400


A quantum-computing breakthrough announced by Google in October illuminated the technology’s potential—and an investment opportunity.

So says Paul Dellaquila, president of Defiance ETFs. The firm’s Defiance Quantum ETF (QTUM) tracks the BlueStar Quantum Computing & Machine Learning Index, which is made up of companies involved in quantum computing, along with a number of closely related sectors such as big-data solutions used in machine learning. The $12.4 million fund was up more than 40% for the year to date through November.

In Google’s experiment, researchers claimed that the company’s quantum computer generated around one million random strings of numbers in about three minutes, far faster than traditional computers. Defiance ETFs says there are implications for this technology, notably its ability to enhance machine learning—that is, enabling computers to effectively learn with data without being explicitly programmed.

The technology is still in the early stages, Mr. Dellaquila says. “We’re a little far out before we really see companies’ bottom line being impacted, but once we get there, I think it’s going to accelerate very, very quickly,” he says.

QTUM’s relatively low assets under management—the fund was launched in September 2018—could be due to a lack of investor knowledge of the area, and the fact that real-world applications are many years away, says Neena Mishra, director of ETF research at Zacks Investment Research. And while the fund has performed impressively, it is slightly behind Vanguard Information Technology ETF (VGT) and Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK), broader and cheaper technology funds that could be more suitable for many individual investors.

However, Mr. Dellaquila says Defiance “does not benchmark our ETFs to broad-based tech; we focus more on providing targeted exposure to disruptive subsectors.”

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