I'd agree with you in premise, but this technology is real. It has been shown to do what they're claiming it can. Whether they can make it economical in the areas they're targeting is another matter, but it's useful! I'm particularly interested in their non-invasive functional semiconductor measurements.
Even if you ignore the quantum computing / quantum information parts of the article, I think it's clear the underlying technology has promise as a sensor.
The quantum sensing (not computing!) they're referring to is more likely related to capabilities such as this:
Room-Temperature Solid-State Maser Amplifier
[...] Here, we report on a continuous-wave solid-state maser amplifier operating at room temperature. We achieve this feat using a practical setup that includes an ensemble of nitrogen-vacancy center spins in a diamond crystal, a strong permanent magnet, and a simple laser diode. We describe important amplifier characteristics including gain, bandwidth, compression power, and noise temperature and discuss the prospects of realizing a room-temperature near-quantum-noise-limited amplifier with this system. Finally, we show that in a different mode of operation the spins can be used to reduce the microwave noise in an external circuit to cryogenic levels, all without the requirement for physical cooling.
The "near-quantum-noise-limited" aspect means that these systems might eliminate thermal noise assosciated with traditional electronic amplifiers & drastically improve the performance of radio receivers & detectors (among other things).
That's quantum computing news for you. The entire industry is designed to part VCs from their money through making promises on future applications of the most opaque technology to date.
This isn't a quantum computing article, it's quantum sensing.
Very different promise, level of investment, and current evidence.
For example, LIGO has been using squeezed light for increased sensitivity. Avalanche photodiodes are used in optical transceivers. I believe SQUIDs have been used in a number of medical applications.
In every case here, the quantum sensors have been used to improve science experiments before eventually making it to market. I would be surprised if this doesn't also hold true for these diamond vacancy centres.
Edit: To clarify, the article does mention quantum computers in it's introduction. But quantum sensors are then presented as almost an "opposite" to quantum computers.
The DoD wants in on that deal. I suspect the full-court PR press Microsoft is engaging in is, at least in part, designed to get a DARPA contract for their approach to quantum computing. It's also a potentially useful distraction in case the AI bubble pops.
It's not VCs who are mostly funding this boondoggle. It's the DoD and NSF (and equivalents in Europe and China).
I am half convinced that one of the main strategic benefits of PQC is the ability to stop funding quantum computing programs on the value of "what if this one works?"
Also, note that quantum sensors are not quantum computers, and actually have made real advances in the last 30 years. This article is light on that, though.
Holy cow does the word "could" do a lot of lifting in that title and article.
This reads like a nothing piece. Am I wrong?
I'd agree with you in premise, but this technology is real. It has been shown to do what they're claiming it can. Whether they can make it economical in the areas they're targeting is another matter, but it's useful! I'm particularly interested in their non-invasive functional semiconductor measurements.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen-vacancy_center#Applic...
It's a very short article, but I don't think the underlying technology is as underdeveloped as you think.
Here is a more substantial article: https://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology-glossary/nitrogen-va...
Even if you ignore the quantum computing / quantum information parts of the article, I think it's clear the underlying technology has promise as a sensor.
The quantum sensing (not computing!) they're referring to is more likely related to capabilities such as this:
Room-Temperature Solid-State Maser Amplifier
[...] Here, we report on a continuous-wave solid-state maser amplifier operating at room temperature. We achieve this feat using a practical setup that includes an ensemble of nitrogen-vacancy center spins in a diamond crystal, a strong permanent magnet, and a simple laser diode. We describe important amplifier characteristics including gain, bandwidth, compression power, and noise temperature and discuss the prospects of realizing a room-temperature near-quantum-noise-limited amplifier with this system. Finally, we show that in a different mode of operation the spins can be used to reduce the microwave noise in an external circuit to cryogenic levels, all without the requirement for physical cooling.
https://journals.aps.org/prx/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevX.14.04...
https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2024/12/Boosting_weak_...
The "near-quantum-noise-limited" aspect means that these systems might eliminate thermal noise assosciated with traditional electronic amplifiers & drastically improve the performance of radio receivers & detectors (among other things).
That's quantum computing news for you. The entire industry is designed to part VCs from their money through making promises on future applications of the most opaque technology to date.
This isn't a quantum computing article, it's quantum sensing.
Very different promise, level of investment, and current evidence.
For example, LIGO has been using squeezed light for increased sensitivity. Avalanche photodiodes are used in optical transceivers. I believe SQUIDs have been used in a number of medical applications.
In every case here, the quantum sensors have been used to improve science experiments before eventually making it to market. I would be surprised if this doesn't also hold true for these diamond vacancy centres.
Edit: To clarify, the article does mention quantum computers in it's introduction. But quantum sensors are then presented as almost an "opposite" to quantum computers.
The DoD wants in on that deal. I suspect the full-court PR press Microsoft is engaging in is, at least in part, designed to get a DARPA contract for their approach to quantum computing. It's also a potentially useful distraction in case the AI bubble pops.
It's not VCs who are mostly funding this boondoggle. It's the DoD and NSF (and equivalents in Europe and China).
I am half convinced that one of the main strategic benefits of PQC is the ability to stop funding quantum computing programs on the value of "what if this one works?"
Also, note that quantum sensors are not quantum computers, and actually have made real advances in the last 30 years. This article is light on that, though.
I love that the company is called Q-Cat. Reminds me of another hyped piece of tech: the CueCat [0].
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CueCat
That reminds me of Congo from Michael Crichton!