Incoming links: Quantum error correction
A "quantum computer operating system". Or in English, control system + quantum error correction.
uknqt.ukri.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/UKNQTP-Strategic-Intent-2020.pdf page 24 mentions UKNQTP investment and gives an overview of some layers.
Era of quantum computing before we reach physical errors small enough to do perfect quantum error correction as demonstrated by the quantum threshold theorem.
Uses photons!
The key experiment/phenomena that sets the basis for photonic quantum computing is the two photon interference experiment.
The physical representation of the information encoding is very easy to understand:
- input: we choose to put or not photons into certain wires or no
- interaction: two wires pass very nearby at some point, and photons travelling on either of them can jump to the other one and interact with the other photons
- output: the probabilities that photos photons will go out through one wire or another
Jeremy O'Brien: "Quantum Technologies" by GoogleTechTalks (2014)
Source. This is a good introduction to a photonic quantum computer. Highly recommended.- youtube.com/watch?v=7wCBkAQYBZA&t=1285 shows an experimental curve for a two photon interference experiment by Hong, Ou, Mandel (1987)
- youtube.com/watch?v=7wCBkAQYBZA&t=1440 shows a KLM CNOT gate
- youtube.com/watch?v=7wCBkAQYBZA&t=2831 discusses the quantum error correction scheme for photonic QC based on the idea of the "Raussendorf unit cell"
From the 2020/2021 Oxford physics course handbooks we can determine the following structure:
- Year 1 (CP, "Coure Preliminaries", "Prelims"). Take all of:
- CP1 Classical mechanics, Special relativity
- CP2 Electromagnetism, circuit theory and optics
- CP3 Mathematical methods 1. Complex Numbers and Ordinary Differential Equations. Vectors and Matrices.
- CP4 Mathematical methods 2. Multiple Integrals and Vector Calculus. Normal Modes, Wave Motion and the Wave Equation.
- Year 2 (Part A). Take all of:
- A1 Thermal physics. Kinetic Theory, Heat Transport, Thermodynamics.
- A2 Electromagnetism and optics
- A3 Quantum physics. Quantum Mechanics and Further Quantum Mechanics.
- Short options: at least one of:
- Mathematical Methods
- Probability and Statistics
- S01 Functions of a Complex Variable
- S07 Classical Mechanics
- S10 Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy
- S13 Teaching and Learning Physics in Schools
- S14 History of Physics
- S20 History of Science
- S21 Philosophy of Science
- S22 Language Options
- S25 Climate Physics
- S27 Philosophy of Space-Time
- S29 Exploring Solar Systems
- S33 Entrepreneurship for Physicists
- Year 3 (Part B). Take all of:
- Michaelmas term
- Hilary term
- B1 Fluids
- B3 Atomic and laser physics
- B5 General relativity
- B7 Classical Mechanics (for MPhysPhil only?)
- B8 Computational Project
- B9 Experimental Project
- Year 4 (MPhys). Select two from:
- C1 Astrophysics
- C2 Laser Science and Quantum Information Processing
- C3 Condensed Matter Physics
- C4 Particle Physics
- C5 Physics of Atmospheres and Oceans
- C6 Theoretical Physics
- C7 Biological Physics
Trinity term, the third and final term of each year, contains mostly revision from the previous two terms, after which students take their final exams, which basically account for their entire grade. Trinity is therefore a very tense part of the year for the students. After that they have summer holidays, until coming back for the next year of madness.
The official external course landing page: www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/course-listing/physics. 2021 archive: web.archive.org/web/20221208212856/https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/courses/course-listing/physics) In those pages we see the rough structure, except that it does not have the course codes "A1" etc., and some courses are missing.
At web.archive.org/web/20221229021312/https://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2011-06-03/course_v3_pdf_80151.pdf page 11 we can see the global course structure giving the two options, 3 year BA or 4 year Oxford physics masters:
Year 1
(Prelims)
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|
v
Year 2
(Part A)
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+-----------+
| |
v v
Year 3 BA Year 3 (MPhys)
(Part B) (Part B)
| |
| |
v v
BA Year 4
(Part C)
|
|
v
MPhysPractical courses notes: www-teaching.physics.ox.ac.uk/
Some others with lecture notes:
- Andrew Steane users.physics.ox.ac.uk/~Steane/teaching/lecture_course.html also books. No license. Cute HTML quantum error correction one: users.physics.ox.ac.uk/~Steane/qec/QECtute.html
Some people call it "operating System".
The main parts of those systems are:
- sending multiple signals at very precise times to the system
- reading out some quantum error correction bits and sending error correcting signals back in a control loop
When you fail a HR interview, then you know you've reached rock bottom.
Investments:
- 2024: 75m GBP
- 2023-04: 15m GBP: www.uktech.news/deep-tech/riverlane-series-b-20230424 At 100 employeed on LinkedIn, this should keep them going for two more years.
- 2022 500k GBP: www.uktech.news/deep-tech/riverlane-rigetti-quantum-innovate-uk-20220628 by Innovate UK for joing project with Rigetti Computing to work on quantum error correction
The Operating System for Quantum Computing by Steve Brierley (2021)
Source. Founding CEO. He seems nice. You might as well just start watching at: youtu.be/ugzWnw1LTBE?t=1166 where more specific things start to come out.