IonQ quantum computing and Hyundai Motor Firm not too long ago introduced a partnership centered on utilizing quantum computing to check lithium compounds and battery chemistry. The partnership combines IonQ’s quantum computing experience with Hyundai’s lithium battery information.
To higher perceive the challenge, I spoke with Dr. Jungsang Kim, IonQ’s Chief Know-how Officer. Dr. Kim co-founded IonQ together with Dr. Christopher Monroe. They’re two of the world’s main quantum pc engineers. Dr. Kim is a Professor of Electrical and Pc Engineering, Physics, and Pc Science at Duke College and served as a member of the Nationwide Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee.
Groundbreaking chemical simulations aren’t new to IonQ. In 2019, Dr. Kim and a big crew of researchers carried out the primary quantum pc simulation of a water molecule. On the time, water was one of the vital advanced molecules to be simulated on a quantum pc. The outcomes approached the precision a pc mannequin wanted to make an correct chemical prediction, often known as chemical accuracy.
“We did the water molecule three years in the past with a fairly intensive principle of what it takes to simulate water,” Dr. Kim mentioned. “However again then, our quantum pc’s efficiency wasn’t excessive sufficient to do every part we specified by the paper.”
Since that experiment, IonQ’s trapped-ion quantum pc has considerably elevated its energy and computational capabilities with a lot of developments, together with a brand new structure that gives a future technique to scale as much as tens of millions of qubits.
Partnership targets
Batteries aren’t solely a major value part of electrical autos, however the units are additionally an vital differentiator for car vary within the client market. The partnership goals to create a sophisticated battery chemistry mannequin for quantum computer systems. Such a mannequin would require a sophisticated quantum pc outfitted with top quality logical qubits and able to working very deep quantum circuits. It additionally requires the usage of a quantum algorithm that makes looping calculations by means of a classical pc to optimize molecular power ranges.
Simulating the habits of matter on the atomic degree can even be an vital software for future fault-tolerant quantum computer systems to develop new kinds of materials and prescription drugs.
Over the previous few months, Dr. Kim mentioned there have been a number of discussions between IonQ and Hyundai to outline the kinds of issues that will probably be undertaken. Work has already begun on the challenge.
Hyundai believes that quantum chemistry simulation will assist uncover new methods to enhance the following technology of lithium batteries. Hyundai just isn’t alone in that perception. Volkswagen and Daimler-Benz are additionally experimenting with quantum computing and battery chemistry.
The IonQ-Hyundai crew plan to analysis battery cost and discharge cycles, sturdiness, capability, and security. Enhancements in these areas will lead to batteries with improved efficiency and security and an prolonged vary.
Peter Chapman, President and CEO of IonQ, is quoted on the joint press launch as saying: “Battery effectivity is likely one of the most promising rising areas the place quantum computing could make a distinction. We’re thrilled to be working with Hyundai Motor Firm on this challenge to make EVs a major mode of transportation throughout the globe.”
Hyundai goals
The Worldwide Vitality Company estimates that nearly 15 million electrical autos will probably be offered in 2025 rising to over 25 million gross sales in 2030.
Throughout that time-frame, Hyundai initiatives it’ll promote 560,000 electrical autos yearly and develop into one of many high three electrical car producers by 2025.
Quantum simulations
Quantum computing has made important progress with chemical simulations over the previous 5 years. Though right this moment’s quantum machines are nonetheless within the prototype part, it’s anticipated that future IonQ quantum computer systems can have the means to carry out scalable and correct battery simulations far past the aptitude of classical supercomputers.
At current, it’s tough to calculate molecular power on right this moment’s intermediate quantum computer systems as a result of they use error-prone, low constancy qubits. When errors happen in quantum circuits throughout computation, there are not any appropriate strategies to right them.
Decomposition of a molecule
Regardless of these limitations, quantum scientists have discovered a method to carry out chemical simulations on right this moment’s quantum computer systems utilizing a small variety of qubits, shallow quantum circuits, error mitigation, and classical computer systems.
Pc programmers know that a big downside is far tougher to unravel than a small one. By breaking a big downside into extra manageable sub-problems, the large downside turns into simpler to unravel.
Quantum scientists have demonstrated the same resolution on IonQ’s trapped-ion quantum pc known as “downside decomposition.” As a substitute of needing a quantum pc with 1000’s of qubits, decomposition reduces the quantity of quantum assets wanted to simulate giant molecular methods whereas nonetheless sustaining the wanted accuracy.
This enables giant molecular simulations to be run as small sub-problems on right this moment’s near-term quantum {hardware} that has restricted capabilities. In response to IonQ, downside decomposition reduces the variety of qubits wanted by tenfold.
“The approach we’re growing with Hyundai might be readily utilized to different molecules with comparable ranges of complexity,” Dr. Kim mentioned. “Over the approaching years, we’re excited to develop quantum computer systems that may deal with simulations of accelerating complexity, offering much more worth to our clients.”
So, what number of qubits would it not take to simulate a typical molecular compound with out breaking it into smaller issues? In response to a latest research paper such a computation would require over 2000 qubits.
Sadly, an error-corrected quantum pc of that dimension most likely received’t be accessible for one more 5 to 10 years. Within the meantime, as incremental quantum enhancements happen and error-corrected high-quality qubits develop into accessible, downside discount can nonetheless scale back qubit necessities for bigger chemistry simulations and proceed to increase the attain of quantum computation within the coming years.
Dr. Kim summed up quantum chemistry this fashion: “The holy grail of quantum chemistry will probably be reached once we start to carry out moderately advanced calculations that problem the aptitude of classical computer systems.”
Analyst notes:
- In October 2021, IonQ grew to become the primary pure play quantum firm to be listed on the New York Inventory Change. Its most up-to-date announcement was associated to a brand new and superior quantum structure that may ultimately permit its trapped-ion quantum pc to considerably scale up the variety of logical qubits.
- Right here is the hyperlink to the early 2019 paper describing how the NSF, Duke, UMD, and IonQ scientists calculated the power of the water molecule in its lowest state.
- It’s nonetheless early in quantum computing to choose a know-how that finally would be the greatest option to construct error-free quantum methods able to utilizing multi-millions of qubits to unravel world-changing issues. The know-how that finally performs at that degree might not even be in use right this moment.
- Scaling to tens of millions of logical qubits remains to be a few years away for all gate-based quantum computer systems.
- Quantum qubits are fragile and inclined to errors attributable to interplay with their surroundings. Error correction is a topic of great analysis by nearly each quantum firm. It is not going to be potential to scale quantum computer systems to giant numbers of qubits till workable error correction has been developed. I count on that important progress will probably be made in 2022.
Observe: Moor Insights & Technique writers and editors might have contributed to this text.
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