IBM Receives US IARPA LogiQ Program Grant to Advance Quantum Computers

Summary: IBM receives US IARPA LogiQ Program grant to advance quantum computers for super-fast data processing, according to IBM's Dec. 8 news release.

Schematic of IBM's groundbreak four-qubit lattice circuit design for quantum computers; alternating square tiles of X- (yellow) and Z- (green) plaquettes detect phase-flip (Z) and bit-flip (X) errors, respectively; Bell states are four entangled states for two qubits, where quantum states for each particle occur as a whole, not individually; "Demonstration of a quantum error detection code using a square lattice of four superconducting qubits," Nature Communications, vol. 6, article number 6979 (published April 29, 2015), Figure 1 Surface code implementation and error detection quantum circuit: A.D. Córcoles et al., CC BY 4.0 International, via Nature Communications

IBM issued a news release Dec. 8, 2015, to announce the global computer giant’s receipt of a five-year grant from the U.S. Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) to continue cutting-edge research toward successfully building quantum computers for IARPA’s new LogiQ Program.

Since the 1970s, scientists have been grappling persistently with the notion of developing a quantum computer, a supercomputer based on quantum physics. Quantum computers offer the tantalizing promise of super-fast processing of massive amounts of data through superconducting quantum bits, known as qubits. Classical computers are based on a series of 0s and 1s, known as bits. Quantum computers call for qubits, which are characterized by the phenomenon of superposition.

Unlike bits, qubits are capable of representing more than one state. A qubit may represent 00, 01, 10, and 11 simultaneously. The total number of potential states doubles with each additional qubit.

The challenges of quantum physics-driven computers lie in the extreme fragility of quantum information. Storage systems for qubits are sensitive to heat and electromagnetic radiation. To minimize errors, qubits require cooling near absolute zero temperature and shielding from electromagnetic radiation. The enormous contrasts with classical computing’s stable, serial mixes of 0s and 1s calls for a complete re-imagining and re-engineering of the entire computing infrastructure as scientists seek to overcome the challenges of building quantum computers.

“Still, the challenges haven’t stopped physicists and computer scientists from trying, and an enormous amount of progress is being made. In fact, I believe we’re entering what will come to be seen as the golden age of quantum computing research,” Mark Ritter, a distinguished research staff member in IBM Research, notes April 29, 2015, on Building A Smarter Planet, IBM's blog platform for Smarter Planet initiatives.

Ritter’s hopeful words coincide with the same-day, online publication of a groundbreaking paper in Nature Communications by seven scientists at IBM’s T.J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, New York. The article, entitled "Demonstration of a Quantum Error Detection Code Using a Square Lattice of Four Superconducting Qubits," presents two critical advances toward making quantum computers a reality. A four-qubit square lattice circuit design, roughly one-quarter-inch square, for combining qubits on computer chips simultaneously detects bit-flip and phase-flip, two types of quantum errors. The design provides a physical architecture that is scalable to the larger dimensions that quantum computers require.

As the research arm of the United States’ intelligence agencies, IARPA aims to revolutionize data processing through the agency’s new quantum computing Logical Qubits (LogiQ) Program. The start date for LogiQ is scheduled for Feb. 1, 2016. IBM’s five-year LogiQ grant is slated to end on Jan. 31, 2021. Program success will mark a quantum leap in 21st century computing.

“We are at a turning point where quantum computing is moving beyond theory and experimentation to include engineering and applications,” explains Arvind Krishna, senior vice president and director of IBM Research. “Quantum computing promises to deliver exponentially more speed and power not achievable by today’s most powerful computers with the potential to impact business needs on a global scale. Investments and collaboration by government, industry and academia such as this IARPA program are necessary to help overcome some of the challenges towards building a universal quantum computer.”

IBM infographic of three types of quantum computing (IBM Research, CC BY ND 2.0 Generic, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/ibm_research_zurich/22963781794): IBM Research @IBMResearch, via Twitter Dec. 8, 2015

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Schematic of IBM's groundbreak four-qubit lattice circuit design for quantum computers; alternating square tiles of X- (yellow) and Z- (green) plaquettes detect phase-flip (Z) and bit-flip (X) errors, respectively; Bell states are four entangled states for two qubits, where quantum states for each particle occur as a whole, not individually; "Demonstration of a quantum error detection code using a square lattice of four superconducting qubits," Nature Communications, vol. 6, article number 6979 (published April 29, 2015), Figure 1 Surface code implementation and error detection quantum circuit: A.D. Córcoles et al., CC BY 4.0 International, via Nature Communications @ http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2015/150429/ncomms7979/fig_tab/ncomms7979_F1.html

IBM infographic of three types of quantum computing (IBM Research, CC BY ND 2.0 Generic, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/ibm_research_zurich/22963781794): IBM Research @IBMResearch, via Twitter Dec. 8, 2015, @ https://twitter.com/IBMResearch/status/674279764136361984

For further information:

Aron, Jacob. "IBM to develop hardware to wipe out errors in quantum computing." New Scientist > Daily News. Dec. 8, 2015.
Available @ https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn28636-ibm-to-develop-hardware-to-wipe-out-errors-in-quantum-computing/

Byrne, Ciara. "The Golden Age Of Quantum Computing Is Upon Us (Once We Solve These Tiny Problems)." Fast Company > 8 Minute Read > Technology. May 13, 2015.
Available @ http://www.fastcompany.com/3045708/big-tiny-problems-for-quantum-computing

Córcoles, A.D., et al. "Demonstration of a quantum error detection code using a square lattice of four superconducting qubits." Nature Communications, vol. 6: 6979. Published April 29, 2015. DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7979
Available @ http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2015/150429/ncomms7979/full/ncomms7979.html

"IBM Awarded IARPA Grant to Advance Research Towards a Universal Quantum Computer." IBM > News room > News releases. Dec. 8, 2015.
Available @ https://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/48258.wss

IBM Research @IBMResearch. ".@IARPAnews awards #IBM grant towards building a #quantumcomputer." Twitter. Dec. 8, 2015.
Available @ https://twitter.com/IBMResearch/status/674279764136361984

IBM Social Media. "Golden Age of Quantum Computing Research." YouTube. Dec. 12, 2014.
Available @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEgWr2n14uI

Murphy, Mike. "The US government wants IBM to build quantum computers for it." Quartz. Dec. 9, 2015.
Available via Quartz @ http://qz.com/569012/the-us-government-wants-ibm-to-build-the-worlds-first-true-quantum-computer/
Available via Nextgov @ http://www.nextgov.com/cio-briefing/2015/12/us-government-wants-ibm-build-quantum-computers-it/124340/

Ritter, Mark. "We're Entering a Golden Era of Quantum Computing Research." Building A Smarter Planet. April 29, 2015.
Available @ http://asmarterplanet.com/blog/2015/04/golden-era-quantum-computing.html