Brazilian Fernando Brandão, responsible for the development of the first quantum chip of Amazon, believes that the quantum computer It has the potential to profoundly transform society in areas such as encryption and material science. The researcher, who leads projects in the Amazon Web Services (AWS)it is one of the central figures in advancing this technology.
Brandão is director of applied science at AWS and has been ahead of the development of Ocelot, the quantum chip announced by Amazon in late February. The project took five years to complete and its main innovation is a new error correction system in QBits – the fundamental elements of quantum computing.
Born in Belo Horizonte, Brandão has been known in the scientific environment since participating in 2019 in the Google project that reached the so -called quantum supremacy – a milestone in which a quantum machine performs a calculation that would be impractical for conventional supercomputers.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF OCELOT
In Amazon, his work focused on developing a lower error rate chip, which is critical to making computers really useful out of laboratories. QuBits, unlike traditional bits (representing 0 or 1), operate in multiple states at the same time. However, they are highly unstable.
To circumvent this problem, Olalot uses a technique that involves the oscillation of photons between two mirrors. These photons create a more noise resistant qubit, which allows the application of error correction codes similar to those used in classical computing.
“What we were able to do was develop a Qbit that only suffers one type of error. This makes correction easier and reduces up to 10 times the amount of quibits needed.”explains Brandão.
This advance can allow the construction of more efficient and more accessible quantum computers in the future, accelerating discoveries in complex scientific areas and potentially revolutionizing whole sectors of the economy.
Amazon’s strategy with Ocelot differs from approaches from other big techs like Google, IBM and Microsoft. Instead of focusing on quibits, the company bet on quality, seeking an architecture that facilitates the scalability of technology.
“From the beginning, we knew that without error correction, quantum computers would not benefit society. Ocelot proves that a new approach to it is possible.”said the Brazilian, in an interview with Estadão.
The chip is just a prototype, but it already represents an important leap in the development of quantum computing. The phase now, according to Brandão, is to scale technology and continue to test new ways to make it more robust.
Academic trajectory and influence of Feynman
The son of two university professors – the father teaches literature and Greek, and the mother, philosophy – Brandão is currently a full professor at the Division of Physical Theory, Mathematical Physics and Astronomy of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), a position that was already held by none other than Richard Feynman, a physicist who launched the foundations of quantum computing.
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The moment of quantum computing
For the Brazilian, the current moment is strong acceleration in the area. “We are seeing a lot of discoveries. It’s a field under construction and each company is trying to different solutions. It’s good, because it drives innovation.”
Despite the optimism, he warns that the path is still long. “It’s not something that will happen in two or three years. But we are in an exponential growth curve. I see all the steps being taken, and perhaps progress accelerates even more in the coming years.”
Expected impacts on society
Brandão argues that continuous, public and private investment is essential for the quantum computer to reach its potential. “When we can build a computer that solves problems that are impossible today for classic machines, we will have a really transformative technology.”
Among the potential uses of quantum computing, he cites the development of new medicines, ultra -complex chemical simulations and advanced digital safety systems. “All of this can directly impact people’s lives. That’s why this effort is so much.”
The presentation of Ocelot marks not only Amazon’s entry into the quantum race, but also the protagonism of a Brazilian in one of the most challenging and promising areas of global technology.
Source: Estadão
Source: https://www.adrenaline.com.br/hardware/brasileiro-que-comanda-projeto-do-computador-quantico-da-amazon-preve-nova-era-digital/
