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Cambridge, with its lengthy, unparalleled observe report of disruptive improvements, has lengthy been recognised as a metropolis of disruptors.
We live within the age of disruption – the Web of Issues to synthetic intelligence, cloud computing to 3D printing, autonomous automobiles to superior genomics… disruptive tech is throughout us, basically altering the way in which we reside our lives and the way in which by which our ecosystems function.
There’s one explicit disruption, nevertheless, that we’re all nonetheless ready to occur. The disruptor of all disruptors, quantum: a much-hyped ‘holy grail of kinds’, promising to supercharge machine studying and assist us lastly clear up a few of our biggest and most advanced challenges.
In accordance with a latest article within the Wall Avenue Journal, quantum computing will “pace up calculations associated to finance, drug and supplies discovery, synthetic intelligence and others, and crack lots of the defences used to safe the web”. And, in accordance with Enterprise Insider, quantum know-how goes to assist us “remedy most cancers, and even take steps to reverse local weather change”.
Certainly, we’ve been ready patiently for what looks like a long time now for the Quantum Age to daybreak, counting on little greater than a speculation to maintain us going, whereas scientists toil over the extremely advanced quantum mechanics of simply with the ability to preserve “superposition” and “entanglement” for lengthy sufficient to carry out a helpful calculation.
One of many many elementary issues lies within the technical complexities of producing single photons (a 3rd sort of mild technology, completely different to mild bulbs or lasers), which may unleash quantum supremacy, as it’s recognized, and ignite the true potential of quantum – whether or not by performing computations straight, or by enabling computer systems to be networked collectively. Most sources utilized in labs right this moment are extraordinarily inefficient or need to be extraordinarily chilly (on the temperature of liquid helium, about minus 270C), which requires massive and costly fridges.
Nonetheless, a Cambridge-based quantum photonics firm has developed a know-how platform capable of supply, manipulate, and detect single-photons at room temperature – making the distinctive properties of the third sort of mild not simply simpler to harness, however quantum photonics a really actual, integrable and scalable answer for a variety of markets.
In brief, this can be a game-changer, which is why Nu Quantum is being fêted left, proper and centre for holding the important thing to unlock the total potential of all issues quantum – and why the College of Cambridge spin-out is backed by a slew of main buyers (Amadeus Capital Companions, IQ Capital, Ahren Innovation Capital, Seraphim Capital, Martlet Capital); receives funding from the UK authorities, Innovate UK and Cambridge Enterprise; and has ongoing initiatives together with with BT Group and Airbus.
Nu Quantum is the brainchild of award-winning quantum physicist, Carmen Palacios-Berraquero. In 2018, she was awarded the Jocelyn Bell Burnell Medal and Prize (Institute of Physics) which recognises distinctive early profession contributions to physics by a feminine physicist. This was awarded for Carmen’s work on 2D supplies and quantum optics, and, most importantly, for locating and patenting the distinctive single-photon supply know-how which has since been commercialised by Nu Quantum.
Unsurprisingly, Carmen has gone on to win an array of accolades, together with being listed in Forbes journal as a ‘Founders Discussion board Rising Star 2021’. Most just lately, she was listed amongst the ‘Entrepreneurs to Watch’ within the newest version of Optics & Photonics Information journal.
It’s arduous to not get caught up within the hype surrounding quantum – by no means thoughts Nu Quantum’s development – however, as Carmen stoically reminds us: “Quantum, itself, isn’t but disruptive. That’s nonetheless a couple of years away – however there may be completely little question that quantum shall be vastly disruptive, and extra so than we’re even capable of predict at this stage. When it’s, Nu Quantum will present the photonic spine to assist quantum computer systems scale and talk past the horizons of present roadmaps.”
Initially printed on Cambridge Independent’s web site.
