Latest news with #coherence
Gizmodo
09-07-2025
- Science
- Gizmodo
Record-Setting Qubit Performance Marks Important Step Toward Practical Quantum Computing
The promise of so-called 'quantum advantage' is simple. By harnessing the counterintuitive rules of quantum mechanics, quantum computers should be able to—in theory—surpass the computational potential of any classical supercomputer. But before quantum advantage drastically changes information technology as we know it, researchers have yet to address the many hurdles that are preventing quantum computers from entering into the mainstream. That said, quantum computing as a field has evolved dramatically over the last few years, and physicists are increasingly getting better at dealing with the extreme quirkiness of these potentially revolutionary systems. One such breakthrough concerns qubits—the smallest unit of information for quantum computers, much like a classical bit (0 or 1) on an ordinary computer. In a paper published Tuesday in Nature Communications, researchers announced a major milestone in improving the quality of qubits: a record-breaking coherence time for transmon qubits, a type of superconducting qubit. Their record—a maximum duration of 1 millisecond—far surpasses the previous time of 0.6 milliseconds, set by Fermilab last year. Scientists are interested in coherence time for a variety of reasons. Unlike classical binary bits, qubits can exist in superpositions of multiple states, much like different points on a sphere. This particularity of qubits allows quantum bits to carry and process an exponentially larger load of data on a scale that far outperforms any conventional supercomputer. Ironically, it's this exact quality that also makes qubits extremely sensitive to background noise, meaning they 'kind of pick up everything you also don't want,' explained Mikko Möttönen, the paper's senior author, during a video call with Gizmodo. When this happens, the qubits lose the valuable information they contain in a process called qubit decoherence. To accommodate for this data loss, scientists commonly apply a procedure called quantum error correction, in which they place single, physical qubits (like a transmon chip) into an intricate circuit collectively referred to as a 'logical qubit,' said Ioan Pop, a physicist at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, during a video call with Gizmodo. Although not involved in the study, Pop—a collaborator of Möttönen on a separate project—noted that such arrangements help quantum computers 'fight decoherence more effectively.' But quantum error correction can't completely recover the information lost from decoherence, prompting Möttönen and his team to investigate alternative approaches for fabricating the physical qubits themselves. The steps they took ranged from testing multiple wiring arrangements to simply making sure they had clean interfaces for the circuits. After multiple attempts, they stumbled upon a revision that resulted in a record-breaking coherence time of 1 millisecond. This might seem like an insignificantly small amount of time, but it's long enough for quantum computers to perform a tremendous number of complex operations, Möttönen explained (generally, qubits operate on a time of nanoseconds; one millisecond is equivalent to one thousand nanoseconds). Longer coherence time should reduce the amount of time and energy that goes into quantum error correction, Möttönen, a physicist at Aalto University in Finland, added. While there's no known way to completely eliminate qubit decoherence—a highly unlikely possibility—longer coherence times mean less frequent errors, especially when qubit numbers are scaled up, as is often the case with many existing quantum computers. For example, Google's Sycamore processor, which the company claimed had achieved quantum advantage in 2019, featured 53 qubits, whereas Quantinuum's processor, which supposedly outperformed Google's results, had 56 (to be clear, neither result, while impressive, actually achieved quantum advantage). 'I think the paper shows how much you can gain from being very careful with the fabrication,' said Pop. 'Am I surprised that clearing interfaces gives better qubits? I would say I'm not surprised. Am I impressed that they managed to do it? Yes—because it's not easy to control; it's basically like cooking, and it's very difficult to keep all parameters under control.' Having said that, the new result is more akin to one of 'probably a hundred or thousand more of these steps' to get to where we ultimately want quantum computers to go in terms of functionality, Pop added. 'I think what's super exciting is now that these quantum computers are already so accurate that you can do reasonable circuits,' Möttönen said. 'I think we just need them to be a little bit better [functionally], not just one random result but something more concrete. It will take a few years but not so long. It seems to be quite close.'
Forbes
05-06-2025
- Health
- Forbes
1 Unique Way To Be More Productive — According To A Psychologist
How do we understand and organize the daily events of our life? It appears we use mental templates or 'scripts' to form coherent narratives of these events. These scripts are like a library of patterns that help us predict and make sense of what's happening around us. For example, we know what usually happens in a restaurant, which is ordering from a menu, eating and paying for your food. Interestingly, a 2024 study published in Current Biology suggests that our brains can divide time into meaningful sections or 'chapters.' The change is not just mental — it reflects in our brain activity. So, our brains don't just passively respond to the world around us; they actively organize events based on what we're paying attention to and what we already know. This tendency can be harnessed to improve focus and manage everyday tasks more efficiently, reducing stress and helping you achieve a better work-life balance. Here are some practical strategies to use meaningful chapters to have more productive days. A 2018 study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin suggests that there are three significant aspects of what constitutes meaning in life and the ability to feel like we're part of something larger than ourselves. These aspects are significance, purpose and coherence. Researchers found that routines can play an important role in achieving coherence and meaning. They often align with important goals, such as daily exercise or completing tasks at work. Even though routines can feel monotonous, they can include a series of intentional actions that move you toward meaningful objectives. Structuring your day around meaningful personal goals can encourage you to make the time to manage stress more effectively, sleep better, eat nutrient-dense foods and be more active, all of which contribute to your well-being and sharpen your focus. Setting clear boundaries between work and rest periods, such as by allocating specific times for tasks reduces distractions and helps you concentrate on one thing at a time. This prevents multitasking, which for many, can reduce focus and productivity. One helpful way to do this is to journal or reflect on the day's chapters to get a sense of what your day already looks like, and then break it down into new, meaningful chapters on paper. Create a routine according to your individual needs, reflecting on what would truly benefit your personal evolution. You can also use time-blocking strategies like the Pomodoro technique to create natural 'chapters' in your day and avoid burnout. It's best to curate these time breaks according to how long it actually takes for you to feel rested and how long you find that you can focus completely. Reframing routine activities, like going for a walk or going grocery shopping, as intentional 'chapters' can boost motivation. For instance, your morning workout can be your 'wellness' chapter, and your grocery haul can be part of your 'self-nourishment' chapter. Additionally, research shows that incorporating simple, undemanding activities like folding clothes or doing laundry as 'breaks' in between demanding tasks can enhance creativity and problem-solving abilities. For those whose minds tend to wander, such tasks encourage mind wandering, which seems to help the brain unconsciously connect ideas and aid creativity. This is a great reminder that slowing down can be productive. Such activities can help creative individuals who find it difficult to structure their day, as mundane tasks become more meaningful for them. These chapters are times for their minds to roam freely, while completing chores that benefit them, but don't drain them further. Align your chapters with your natural energy cycles. Everyone has different levels of energy throughout the day and you need to find what works for you. For example, your energy level may be the highest in the early morning, so it may be best to get a workout in at the time. Schedule demanding tasks during energy peaks and use lows for lighter activities. It's also worth noting that men and women function on different hormonal cycles. While men have a 24-hour cycle with their testosterone peaking early in the day and slowing down in the evening, women have a 28 day reproductive hormone cycle. So, their energy levels can fluctuate depending on the time of the month. Research also shows that circadian rhythms can impact men and women differently, with women experiencing greater cognitive impairments at night. So, women may benefit from scheduling more cognitively demanding work earlier in the day. Defining your chapters provides a powerful framework for organizing your day, enhancing focus and reducing stress. Let each chapter of your day bring you closer to achieving your goals, one step at a time. Are you mindful about how you spend your time? Take this science-backed test to learn more: Mindful Attention Awareness Scale
