Advances in Technology Driven by Quantum Measurements

World-First Molecular Quantum Entanglement Achieved at Durham University In a groundbreaking achievement, scientists at Durham University in the UK have successfully demonstrated quantum entanglement of molecules with a record-breaking fidelity of 92%. This marks the first time entanglement has been achieved with molecules, advancing quantum mechanics research and opening doors to revolutionary technologies in communication, sensing, and computing. Key Highlights: 1. Quantum Entanglement Basics: Quantum entanglement links particles such that the state of one influences the other, regardless of distance. This phenomenon is a cornerstone for developing next-generation quantum technologies, enabling faster communication and enhanced computational power. 2. ‘Magic-Wavelength’ Optical Tweezers: The team utilized highly precise optical traps known as magic-wavelength optical tweezers to create environments supporting long-lasting molecular entanglement. These advanced tools allowed for stable control and manipulation of molecular states. 3. Applications: • Quantum Networking: Entanglement over existing fiber optic cables could accelerate the real-world deployment of quantum networks without requiring extensive new infrastructure. • Quantum Computing and Sensing: Molecules, with their complex internal structures, offer new dimensions for computation and precision sensing, potentially surpassing the capabilities of entangled atoms. 4. Major Milestone: While entanglement between atoms has been repeatedly demonstrated, molecules bring added complexity due to their additional internal structures. Achieving high-fidelity entanglement with molecules is a significant step forward in the field. Implications for the Future: This breakthrough could lead to advancements in secure communication, more powerful quantum computers, and sophisticated sensing technologies. As quantum entanglement becomes more applicable to real-world systems, innovations like this set the stage for transformative developments in science and technology.

ASML makes some of the most complex machines humans have ever built. Their extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems—used to print the most advanced microchips—are a synthesis of precision optics, nanometer-scale positioning, and ultrahigh vacuum engineering. Each EUV machine is so intricate and massive that shipping one involves four Boeing 747 freighters, each carrying modularized components that will later be reassembled on-site over several months. This level of technical choreography makes a fascinating company to watch. One way to track their strategic direction is through their patent filings, which often reveal the bleeding edge of where advanced manufacturing is heading. A recent example filed by ASML and automatically tracked on the The Quantum Insider platform offers a clear signal of where things are going. The patent (EP4589629A2) describes an assessment apparatus for semiconductor inspection that embeds quantum sensors—specifically nitrogen-vacancy (NV) diamond sensors and atomic vapor cells—within the electron-optical systems of scanning electron microscopes . In practical terms, these sensors are being used to measure local electromagnetic fields in real time inside the lithography tool. That’s critical: slight distortions in these fields can alter the trajectory of the electron beam used for defect inspection or metrology, compromising accuracy. By integrating quantum sensors—known for their high sensitivity and immunity to 1/f noise—ASML can dynamically detect and correct for these fluctuations, either during operation (feedback mode), in between scans (feedforward mode), or via post-processing to clean up the final image . So while most people still associate quantum tech with computing or cryptography, its real-world impact is already emerging in semiconductor yield enhancement, quietly embedded inside machines that build the digital future.

Breakthrough for the #quantum internet: For the first time a major telco provider has successfully conducted entangled photon experiments - on its own infrastructure. ➡️ 30 kilometers, 17 days, 99 per cent fidelity. Our teams at T-Labs have successfully transmitted entangled photons over a fiber-optic network. Over a distance comparable to travelling from Berlin to Potsdam. The system automatically compensated for changing environmental conditions in the network.   Together with our partner Qunnect we have demonstrated that quantum entanglement works reliably. The goal: a quantum internet that supports applications beyond secure point-to-point networks. Therefore, it is necessary to distribute the types of entangled photons. The so-called qubits, that are used for #QuantumComputing, sensors or memory. Polarization qubits, like the ones used for this test, are highly compatible with many quantum devices. But: they are difficult to stabilize in fibers.   From the lab to the streets of Berlin: This success is a decisive step towards the quantum internet. 🔬 It shows how existing telecommunications infrastructure can support the quantum technologies of tomorrow. This opens the door to new forms of communication.   Why does this matter for people and society?   🗨️ Improved communications: The quantum internet promises faster and more efficient long-distance communications. 🔐 Maximum security: Entanglement can be used in quantum key distribution protocols. Enabling ultra-secure communication links for enterprises and government institutions 💡Technological advancement: high-precision time synchronization for satellite networks and highly accurate sensing in industrial IoT environments will need entanglement.   Developing quantum technologies isn’t just a technical challenge. A #humancentered approach asks how these systems can be built to serve real needs and be part of everyday infrastructure. With 2025 designated as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, now is the time to move from research to readiness. Matheus Sena, Marc Geitz, Riccardo Pascotto, Dr. Oliver Holschke, Abdu Mudesir

Measurement-driven quantum advantages in shallow circuits This is a piece of work I am particularly happy with. It demonstrates that, using dynamical quantum circuits with mid-circuit measurements, one can achieve quantum advantages even with constant-depth quantum circuits. It thus establishes a separation in the computational power of short quantum circuits with and without measurements. https://lnkd.in/d5N3Xqyu In detail, #quantumadvantage schemes probe the boundary between classically simulatable quantum systems and those that computationally go beyond this realm. Here, we introduce a #constant-depth #measurement-driven approach for efficiently sampling from a broad class of dense instantaneous quantum polynomial-time circuits and associated #Hamiltonian phase states, previously requiring polynomial-depth unitary circuits. Leveraging measurement-adaptive fan-out staircases, our "dynamical circuits" circumvent light-cone constraints, enabling global entanglement with flexible auxiliary qubit usage on bounded-degree lattices. Generated Hamiltonian phase states exhibit statistical metrics indistinguishable from those of fully random architectures. Additionally, we demonstrate measurement-driven globally entangled feature maps capable of distinguishing phases of an extended SSH model from random eigenstates using a quantum reservoir-computing benchmark. Technologically, our results harness the power of mid-circuit measurements for realizing quantum advantages on hardware with a favorable topology. Conceptually, we highlight their power in achieving rigorous computational speedups. Warm thanks to Chenfeng Cao for this wonderful collaboration. And thanks to our funders, specifically the Bundesministerium für Forschung, Technologie und Raumfahrt (Quantensysteme), the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - German Research Foundation, BERLIN QUANTUM, the Munich Quantum Valley, QuantERA, the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie, and the European Research Council (ERC).