China breaks records, Scientists discover Q-Silicon, and Switzerland's Quantum Data Center

The University of Science and Technology of China made a significant breakthrough in quantum computing by entangling 51 qubits. This is a major step towards post-NISQ (Noisy-Intermediate Scale Quantum) computing, which is the next generation of quantum computers. Led by researcher Xiao-bo Zhu, the study utilized Zuchongzhi, a quantum computer with 66 superconducting qubits. To make the qubits work simultaneously, the researchers cooled them to absolute zero and controlled their states using microwaves. This allowed the qubits to become interconnected, which is a fundamental requirement for quantum computing. The scientists organized the qubits into basic circuits called quantum logic gates, which perform simple operations in quantum computing. They successfully entangled 51 qubits in a linear arrangement and 30 qubits in a two-dimensional plane.

Researchers at North Carolina State University have discovered a new type of silicon that shows magnetic properties at room temperature. This new form of silicon, called Q-silicon, exhibits ferromagnetic properties, meaning it can be used to create spin-qubit quantum computers, which rely on controlling the spin of an electron. Traditionally, materials like carbon and silicon, which don’t have unpaired spins, were not considered suitable for magnetic properties on a large scale. However, the scientists found a way to create Q-silicon with ferromagnetic properties by using lasers to melt and rapidly cool silicon.

Q-silicon also exhibits hardness and superconductivity, helping build quantum computers that are more scalable and energy efficient in the future.

IonQ and QuantumBasel have partnered to establish a European quantum data center in Switzerland. QuantumBasel, Switzerland's first quantum hub, will house two advanced IonQ quantum computers, one with 35 algorithmic qubits and another with 64 algorithmic qubits. The project has received $500 million in private funding and aims to promote innovation and technology transfer. The collaboration is expected to benefit various industries, including logistics, finance, pharmaceuticals, chemistry, and AI. QuantumBasel also plans to provide workshops, training sessions, and access to quantum systems for researchers and the public. This partnership positions Switzerland to catch up with other European countries in the field of quantum research and technology.