Of course, I could not resist using this title, which is a play on Mbappe’s tweet Nous reviendrons and the famous catchphrase (“I’ll be back” which is #37 on AFI’s 100 Top Movie Quotes) from:
The Terminator is a 1984 American science fiction action film directed by James Cameron. Defying low pre-release expectations, The Terminator topped the United States box office for two weeks, eventually grossing $78.3 million against a modest $6.4 million budget. It is credited with launching Cameron’s film career and solidifying Schwarzenegger’s status as a leading man.
You may have seen announcement (12/21/2022):
President Biden Signs Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act
Now for a nice Christmas present that Soummya Kar and I received the same day:
CMU Team,
Attached, please find the fully executed Agreement between BBN and CMU. Your Purchase Order number for this effort is # xxx.
Happy Holidays!
Kind regards,
Our DARPA project is called (see A Floquet Connection):
GLIMPSE: Globally Linked Ising Machine Platform with Superconducting Electronics
The technical article is:
A quantum annealer with fully programmable all-to-all coupling via Floquet engineering
Some of you have asked, what is this about? I wondered:
Can ChatGPT serve as a Physics Assistant?
How is Floquet Engineering used in Quantum Computing?
Floquet engineering is a technique that is used to modify the properties of a quantum system by applying a time-periodic drive, or a Floquet drive, to the system. This technique. can be used to control the dynamics of a quantum system and tune its behavior in a way that is not possible with static systems.
In the context of quantum computing, Floquet engineering can be used to design and control quantum systems for specific applications. For example, Floquet engineering can be used to design quantum gates, which are the basic building blocks of quantum circuits, or to control the interactions between qubits, which are the fundamental units of quantum information.
Floquet engineering can also be used to create new types of quantum states, such as Floquet topological states, which have special properties that make them resistant to noise and decoherence. These states can be used to encode and process quantum information in a more robust way, which is important for the development of practical quantum computing systems.
Overall, Floquet engineering is a powerful tool that is being actively explored in the field of quantum computing as a way to design and control quantum systems for specific applications.
Let me probe deeper, I thought. So I asked ChatGPT:
What is a Josephson Junction and how is it related to Ising model for computing?
A Josephson junction is a device that consists of two superconducting electrodes separated by a thin layer of non-superconducting material, called a tunnel barrier.Josephson junctions are named after the physicist Brian Josephson, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1973 for his theoretical predictions about their behavior.
Josephson junctions are used in a variety of applications, including SQUIDs (superconducting quantum interference devices), which are sensitive magnetometers used in scientific and medical research. They are also used in superconducting quantum computing systems, where they can be used as qubits, which are the fundamental units of quantum information.
In the context of quantum computing, Josephson junctions can be used to implement Ising models, which are mathematical models used to describe systems of interacting spins or particles that can only take on two possible values, such as “up” or “down.” These models are used to study a wide range of phenomena in physics and other fields, including ferromagnetism, spin glasses, and phase transitions.
By using Josephson junctions to implement Ising models, it is possible to study the behavior of these models and explore their potential applications in quantum computing. For example, it is possible to use Josephson junctions to control the interactions between the spins or particles in an Ising model, or to drive the system through a phase transition.
I’ll let my Physics colleagues judge and comment on these answers.
The purpose of any fundamental research is to improve understanding, powered by curiosity, and, eventually, increase capabilities, even if accidentally, of our civilization in some dimension. I am very excited about this exploration because it aims to tease out when – what are the problem structures that are currently out of classical computing abilities to tackle satisfactory that may benefit significantly – quantum computing can be really helpful (see Quantum Serenity), and relatedly, what is the best hybrid quantum-classical approach (see GAMA) to accomplish this. It is (a bit) futuristic, yes, but the journey to attain this understanding is pragmatic: we study various decompositions of the problem and how the algorithms would scale with increasing quantum capabilities.
One particular application (that is also futuristic) has to do with sustainability (see A Tale of Two Emails), which we have playfully named as MOBI-DiQ:
Optimizing energy by exploiting mobility of EVs using Decomposition-inspired Quantum Algorithms
I was feeling pretty pleased – smugly self-satisfied ☺️ – about this acronym until I saw this one (in a NAP Publication on Quantum Science Concepts with Applications for Biology):
FAST CARS: Femto-second Adaptive Spectroscopic Technique for Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering.
Well done!
What is this about? I asked my new Physics Assistant.
What is the Raman Effect and how can it be used in Quantum Sensing?
The Raman effect is a phenomenon in which the frequency of light scattered by a material is changed due to the interaction between the light and the material’s vibrational, rotational, or other types of energy levels. This effect is named after the Indian physicist Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for his pioneering work on the scattering of light.
The Raman effect can be used for a variety of purposes, including the identification of molecules and the study of the structural and dynamical properties of materials. It is also used in quantum sensing, which involves the use of quantum states to measure physical quantities with high sensitivity and precision.
In the context of quantum sensing, the Raman effect can be used to measure small changes in the vibrational or rotational states of a material, which can be induced by external perturbations such as temperature, pressure, or strain. This can be done by using lasers to excite the material and measuring the frequency shift of the scattered light using spectroscopic techniques.
One advantage of using the Raman effect for quantum sensing is that it is a non-invasive technique, as it does not require the material to be physically contacted or disturbed in any way. This makes it well-suited for the measurement of delicate or sensitive materials, such as biological samples or nanostructures.
Okay ChatGPT. Write a poem about Quantum Technologies.
Quantum technologies, so mysterious and grand,
Unleashing powers that few could understand,
Transcending limits of classical laws,
Bringing possibilities to explore.
From qubits and quantum computers,
To sensors and communication,
Quantum technologies open new doors,
To a future that we’ve never before.
With their potential to change the world,
Quantum technologies unfurl,
A realm of possibilities so vast,
Their impact on society is unsurpassed.
So let us embrace this quantum age,
And turn the page,
To a future filled with wonder,
Thanks to the power of quantum technologies thunder.
Physics and Poetry!
As I was wrapping up watching Season 3 of Jack Ryan (on Amazon Prime) – predictable, silly and not-at-all-worth-it, even less interesting than The Recruit on Netflix – I received another Christmas gift, this email forwarded by my colleague R. Ravi, from folks at McKinsey&Company (see Meditations on McKinsey):
Hi Prof Ravi,
Apologies for the delay on our side. Thank you again for sharing the potential avenues [of collaborating with Tepper]. From our view, we think it makes sense to explore the network optimization/network design aspects for a potential collaboration. Our colleague NF (cc’d) leads this work. We’d like to suggest that we set up time in the new year with Prof. Tayur…
I hope you have a wonderful year end and if you are in Pittsburgh, staying warm and dry!
All the best,
Hasta la vista, baby (#76).
