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The expansion of fiber optics is progressing worldwide, which not only increases the bandwidth of conventional Internet connections, but also brings closer the realization of a global quantum Internet. The quantum internet can help to fully exploit the potential of certain technologies. These include much more powerful quantum computing through the linking of quantum processors and registers, more secure communication through quantum key distribution or more precise time measurements through the synchronization of atomic clocks.

However, the differences between the glass fiber standard of 1,550 nm and the system wavelengths of the various quantum bits (qubits) realized to date represent a hurdle, because those qubits are mostly in the visible or near-infrared spectral range. Researchers want to overcome this obstacle with the help of quantum frequency conversion, which can specifically change the frequencies of photons while retaining all other quantum properties. This enables conversion to the 1,550 nm telecom range for low-loss, long-range transmission of quantum states.

On November 30, 2022, Silicon Valley-based company OpenAI launched its artificial-intelligence-powered chatbot, ChatGPT. Overnight, AI transformed in the popular imagination from a science fiction trope to something anyone with an internet connection could try. ChatGPT was free to use, and it responded to typed prompts naturally enough to seem almost human. After the launch of the chatbot, worldwide Google searches for the term “AI” began a steep climb that still does not seem to have reached its peak.

Physicists were some of the earliest developers and adopters of technologies now welcomed under the wide umbrella term “AI.” Particle physicists and astrophysicists, with their enormous collections of data and the need to efficiently analyze it, are just the sort of people who benefit from the automation AI provides.

So we at Symmetry, an online magazine about particle physics and astrophysics, decided to explore the topic and publish a series on artificial intelligence. We looked at the many forms AI has taken; the ways the technology has helped shape the science (and vice versa); and the ways scientists use AI to advance experimental and theoretical physics, to improve the operation of particle accelerators and telescopes, and to train the next generation of physics students. You can expect to see the result of that exploration here in the coming weeks.

Researchers have developed a high-performance energy management unit (EMU) that significantly boosts the efficiency of electrostatic generators for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. This breakthrough addresses the challenge of high impedance mismatch between electrostatic generators and electronic devices, unlocking new possibilities for ambient energy harvesting.

Electrostatic generators have emerged as a promising solution for powering low-power devices in Internet of Things (IoT) networks, utilizing energy from environmental sources such as wind and human motion. Despite their potential, the effectiveness of these generators has been hampered by an impedance mismatch when connected to electronic devices, leading to low energy utilization efficiency.

A study published in the journal Microsystems & Nanoengineering introduces an efficient energy management unit (EMU) designed to significantly boost the power efficiency of electrostatic generators for IoT devices. This innovation addresses the longstanding challenge of impedance mismatch and propels forward the potential for using environmental energy harvesting within the IoT domain.

I found this on NewsBreak: Crucial connection for ‘quantum internet’ made for the first time.

However, this development is being held up because quantum information can be lost when transmitted over long distances. One way to overcome this barrier is to divide the network into smaller segments and link them all up with a shared quantum state.

To do this requires a means to store the quantum information and retrieve it again: that is, a quantum memory device. This must ‘talk’ to another device that allows the creation of quantum information in the first place.

Continue reading “Crucial connection for ‘quantum internet’ made for the first time” »

In a basement under the office at the University of Copenhagen, where Niels Bohr once conducted his research, the team toiled to demonstrate an innovative approach to storing quantum data – the quantum drum.

Made of ceramic, the small membrane of the drum has holes scattered around its edges in a neat pattern. When a laser light is incident on the membrane, it begins beating. The sonic vibrations of the drum can be stored and forwarded.

Through their previous work, the researchers know that the membrane stays in a fragile quantum state and can, therefore, receive and transmit data without losing it.

Professor Jeongho Kwak’s from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at DGIST has developed a learning model and resource optimization technology that combines accuracy and efficiency for 6G vision services. This technology is expected to be utilized to address the high levels of computing power and complex learning models required by 6G vision services.

6G mobile vision services are associated with innovative technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and autonomous driving, which are receiving significant attention in modern society. These services enable quick capturing of videos and images, and efficient understanding of their content through deep learning-based models.

However, this requires high-performance processors (GPUs) and accurate learning models. Previous technologies treated learning models and computing/networking resources as separate entities, failing to optimize performance and mobile device resource utilization.

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen’s Niels Bohr Institute have developed a new way to create quantum memory: A small drum can store data sent with light in its sonic vibrations, and then forward the data with new light sources when needed again. The results demonstrate that mechanical memory for quantum data could be the strategy that paves the way for an ultra-secure internet with incredible speeds.

In a promising step towards the evolution of next-generation electric vehicles (EV), Chinese car maker IM Motors has launched a car that features a version of solid-state batteries.

The battery pack, dubbed “Lightyear” by IM, is the primary power source for the company’s flagship L6 Lightyear Max, priced at approximately ¥330,000 (equivalent to US$45,600).

Continue reading “Chinese automaker launches world’s first EV with ‘semi-solid-state’ battery” »

“A crucial question we constantly face is how much we can curve the signal and over what distance,” acknowledges Mittleman. “We have initial estimations, but a more precise understanding is necessary.”

This research, supported by the National Science Foundation and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, represents a significant step towards a future powered by terahertz communication. By bending the limitations of current technologies, researchers are paving the way for a new era of seamless and high-bandwidth wireless connectivity.