The full power of next-generation quantum computing could soon be harnessed by millions of individuals and companies, thanks to a breakthrough by scientists at Oxford University Physics guaranteeing security and privacy.
This advance promises to unlock the transformative potential of cloud-based quantum computing and is detailed in a new study published in the influential U.S. scientific journal Physical Review Letters.
Quantum computing is developing rapidly, paving the way for new applications which could transform services in many areas like healthcare and financial services.
It works in a fundamentally different way to conventional computing and is potentially far more powerful.
It currently requires controlled conditions to remain stable and there are concerns around data authenticity and the effectiveness of current security and encryption systems.
Several leading providers of cloud-based services, like Google, Amazon, and IBM, already separately offer some elements of quantum computing.
Safeguarding the privacy and security of customer data is a vital precursor to scaling up and expending its use, and for the development of new applications as the technology advances.
The new study by researchers at Oxford University Physics addresses these challenges.
Importantly, their new methods could be scaled up to large quantum computations.
The researchers created a system comprising a fibre network link between a quantum computing server and a simple device detecting photons, or particles of light, at an independent computer remotely accessing its cloud services.
This allows so-called blind quantum computing over a network.
Every computation incurs a correction which must be applied to all that follow and needs real-time information to comply with the algorithm.
The researchers used a unique combination of quantum memory and photons to achieve this.
The results could ultimately lead to commercial development of devices to plug into laptops, to safeguard data when people are using quantum cloud computing services.
Researchers exploring quantum computing and technologies at Oxford University Physics have access to the state-of-the-art Beecroft laboratory facility, specially constructed to create stable and secure conditions including eliminating vibration.
Funding for the research came from the UK Quantum Computing and Simulation Hub, with scientists from the UK National Quantum Computing Centre, the Paris-Sorbonne University, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of Maryland, collaborating on the work.
This Cyber News was published on www.sciencedaily.com. Publication date: Thu, 11 Apr 2024 22:43:04 +0000