SCIENTIFIC EDUCATIONAL CENTER science idea

Russian scientists have proposed a superconducting logic cell, which can be both an integral part of a quantum computer and a component of a neural network — an artificial neuron. In the future, it will be used to design elements for neuromorphic information processing in quantum processors — in fact, "quantum" neural networks. The results of the study, supported by a grant from the Presidential Program of the Russian Science Foundation (RNF), are published in the Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology.

Modern achievements in the field of information and telecommunication technologies contribute to the active development of artificial intelligence systems. However, despite the tremendous progress and the introduction of neural networks in almost all spheres of human activity, scientists are still looking for the optimal element base of artificial neural networks that would consume a minimum of energy resources and at the same time work with an extremely large amount of data. This problem can be solved by combining the ideas of quantum computing and neurotechnologies based on a superconducting element base.

Scientists from the Lobachevsky National Research Nizhny Novgorod State University (Nizhny Novgorod) and Lomonosov Moscow State University (Moscow) have proposed a model of a superconducting logic cell, which can be both a unit of information in a quantum computer — a qubit — and a basic element of a neural network — a neuron. Such a cell turned out to be an interferometer, a device that changes the magnetic field according to a law set by scientists.

"We set up the cell so that it stopped responding to minor changes in the magnetic field coming at it. However, if the magnetic flux at the inlet turned out to be strong enough, a fixed magnetic flux was formed at the outlet. In fact, in this way we demonstrated the mode of operation of a quantum cell (quantum neuron), completely similar to those known for classical neural networks. On the other hand, by changing the parameters of the inductance of the cell and the external flow, we were able to use it as an auxiliary qubit, abandoning the highly stable reference generator and complex mixers of ultrahigh frequency signals, which are necessary in traditional technology," says Nikolai Klenov, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor of the Department, a participant in the project supported by the RNF grant atomic physics, plasma physics and microelectronics of Lomonosov Moscow State University.

In addition, the researchers determined that the proposed cell will operate at temperatures from 0.03 Kelvin (about -273.12 OC) to 1 Kelvin (-272.15 OC), which confirms the possibility of using it in practice to create neural networks working with quantum information. The authors note that maintaining such conditions does not cause difficulties.

"Currently, systems combining quantum computing and artificial intelligence are especially relevant. Our work is a small step towards the development of neural processors (basic cells — neurons) working with quantum information. In the future, we plan to study the transmission and processing of quantum information in the simplest quantum superconducting network," says Marina Bastrakova, head of the project supported by an RNF grant, head of the Laboratory of Nanostructure Theory at Nizhny Novgorod State University named after N.I. Lobachevsky.

Information and photos provided by the press service of the Russian Science Foundation Information taken from the portal "Scientific Russia" (https://scientificrussia.ru /)