Amazon collaborates with The Hebrew University on quantum computing

Amazon has signed an agreement for a collaborative research project on quantum computing devices with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and sources at the Hebrew University have reported to the Globes. This is the first time that Amazon has conducted research to develop quantum computing with an academic institution in Israel. Quantum computers are believed to be able to solve computational problems, such as the integer factor, on which the RSA encryption is based, much faster than standard computers. The race to build the most powerful quantum computers is at its zenith, and all the tech giants are eager to develop the best computers or systems that connect to them for use by governments and very large organizations. Amazon plans to be able to sell access to quantum computers, in the same way it sells access to the cloud through its data centers. Amazon Web Services (AWS) has already selected key personnel to lead the collaboration with The Hebrew University. The theoretical analysis team will be led by Professor Alex Reitzker of the Racha Institute for Physics of the Hebrew University as the chief scientific researcher at AWS. The project will involve physics students at the Hebrew University who will strive to accelerate the development of devices and algorithms for quantum computing. Professor Retzker traveled to Amazon’s US offices to begin the project. Professor Reitzker said: “We are at a unique moment in the history of science. A moment in which abstract theoretical concepts may rapidly evolve and become practical technologies accessible through on-demand cloud services and this may greatly affect human society over the years. It is a great honor to be. Part of this process. ” About a decade ago, the Faculty of Physics at the Hebrew University began promoting quantum computing as a central field that justified the massive investment of resources. In 2011, the Hebrew University established the Quantitative Information Science Center (QISC) headed by Professor Nadav Katz of the Ratch Institute for Physics. Professor Katz told Globus that this collaboration, on this scale, is something in a different league. Professor Retzker has been appointed as one of the heads of the project and his work and group work is not in the industry at the moment – this is the ability to analyze quantitative resources and improve performance at the highest level. “Among the undergraduate academics participating in the project are Professor Elon Lindenstrauss of the Einstein Institute of Mathematics, the first Israeli ever to be awarded the prestigious Fields Medal in Mathematics, and the winner of the Israel Prize for Exact Sciences, Professor Raphael Levin of the Institute of Chemistry. Professor Katz added,“ Our goal is to promote Entrepreneurship, as well as basic research, in quantum technology and the work of the professor. Retzker and his students at the AWS Center for Quantum Computing are a great example of the collaboration that will take place in this area. This field has been focused on by the Hebrew University since the 1990s with researchers of all disciplines participating in this field and over the years we have recruited excellent people. In 2011, we realized that we needed a more formal forum and established the center, which is our leading center in this field. “The program is pushing the topic forward as much as possible and we are interested in support and participation in arranging to receive budgets on this topic. Professor Katz admits that Amazon got into the quantum computing battle a bit late, but adds, “They have the resources and engineering capacity in addition to the strategic vision. “Two years ago, the Israeli government unveiled a six-year national plan to spend NIS 1.2 billion on quantum computing through the Council of Higher Education, academic institutions, the Department of Defense for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure (MAFAT) and other agencies. .co.il – April 11, 2021 © Copyright Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2021