Severini, the philosopher who guides the research on Qubit: « Going to Mars is optional, building a mandatory quantum computer »

«Going to Mars is an optional choice, building a quantum computer no: we have to do it, It doesn't matter the time it will take us». Simone Severini49 years of Sarteano (Siena), is head of the division of quantum computing by Amazon: graduated in philosophy, he was captured by the charm of quantum physics in Bristol, where he studied computer engineering with Richard Jozsa, student in turn of Roger Penrose, Nobel for physics in 2020. « We live in a room that is traditional physics, we now know it well in almost all its corners, » explains Severini. «In front of us there is another room, that of quantum physics: In that room there are the secrets As the deepest nature of reality is, it would have no sense not to want to enter.  » But to open the door, quantum computers are needed. And it is necessary that they are powerful and proof of error, the great theme that stops the development of quantum computing. To get there, it is still needed a long way, calculable in years. But In 2025, entitled by the UN as International year of science and quantum technology (it was 1925 when Heisenberg, Born and Jordan formulated the first version of the quantum mechanics), Amazon presented The first quantum chip developed at home: it's called ocelot, and the announcement follows one week the similar one Made by Microsoft for the majorana1.

The « game » between logical quibit and physical quibit

« There are several paths to design a quantum computer, » he explains to Courier Severini. «Let's say that the » zoology « of the qubit, the quantum bit that is the basic element as the bit is for traditional computer science, is vast: can be built differently. Our work goes in the direction of superconductivity ». Different approaches – Special materials and microwavesas in the case of Amazon, but also of Google And IBM, the use of light and laser in others – to solve the same problem, that of the error. The quantum computing It is based on quantum physics and therefore on what studies: the basic elements of reality – atoms, molecules, photons – to understand how to exploit them to create a completely new technology. If therefore bits can oscillate on two values ​​- 0 and 1 – and can be seen as a segment, the qubit are represented as A point on the surface of a sphere: The possibilities of oscillation, and therefore of loss of information, are infinitely superior. Because the logical qubit, the one who participates in computer processing, maintains its correct load, is needed redundancy, different physical quibit to « shit ». The greater the number of physical quibits to support, the lower the possibility of error. But in this way the system becomes enormous, too complex even if only to be designed.

The impact on scientific research

“With ocelot we have reduced by 90% the need for physical quibits»Says Severini, speaking of the work started in 2018 – the year of his landing in Seattle – and continued within theAWS Center for Quantum Computing hosted by the Caltech of Pasadena. «Only in this way can we imagine a scalability of the systems that can lead us to have quantum computers that can really be useful for solving important problems. And I'm not talking about commercial applications, we will see this later: the main impact will be on scientific research, on the possibility of studying reality in his deep « . Chemistry, physical materials, nuclear energy: the qualitative difference of performance lies in the Simulation of physical reality simulationprecisely because these machines are built with the same matter – the basis of everything around us – which are called to study.

Italian and Italian quantum computers of Amazon

Those developed in the center of Pasadena are called cat qubit, « cat » In honor of Schrödinger and its paradox (Ocelot is the name of the American crash, another feline). And they are Noise Biasthat is, built « by factory » because some « noises » do not make them oscillate and therefore fall into error. Therefore, a minor task force is needed to keep an eye on them. « This of simplification is a fundamental step To think of climbing the available qubit level, and therefore of the real calculation power of the computer ». Because there are already several of quantum computers in reality around the world. But these are prototypes, working machines but on such a reduced scale It can only be served for experimental purposes. «We are talking about machines with few qubit, it's as if they were old traditional computers capable of managing 10-20 bit: you do little, practical. We are at the dawn », explains Severini. “There are several startups that they are also planning in Italy: in Florence, in Pisa, in Naplesalso at the Technopolo of Bologna ». Amazon Braket For its part it makes it available Seven different types for AWS client companiesthe company's cloud service. Are startup projects open to experimentation, or already used to explore the quantum calculation for overcome small « bottlenecks » imposed by the limits of traditional computer science.

Do you want an example? Bacteria and ammonia

There has been talk of quantum IT for some time, but only today as Severini explains can we say that we are at the beginning of this adventure. But if the theory is already complex in itself, often there is no lack of narration – scientific and journalistic – a practical example that can illuminate us. We asked Severini. « To make ammonia on an industrial level, 2% of the total of CO2 on the planet is produced today. But we know that bacteria are able to produce ammonia without generating CO2: we would like to understand, and therefore simulate this natural process. Here, traditional computers are not capable of it, because in this process it is necessary to observe the behavior of 120 electrons and therefore a memory of 2 at 120 would be neededsomething that at the moment is not exactly possible physically, we would need – I exaggerate – a computer as big as a galaxy. A quantum machine with a relatively small quibit number of Qubit would be able to make this simulation, and therefore it would allow us – indeed, it will allow us – to – understand how to produce ammonia having a lower amount of CO2. And that same study process, scaled on an industrial level, will be the same that will actually be used in production ».

The « duties » on scientific discoveries must be avoided

We will be able to copy natural processes and their efficiency – the production and transport of energy by plants, for example – precisely because we will have an understanding of finally profound physical reality. In a historical period of commercial duties, so that this can happen – Severini warns – « we need to be maintained internationally the opening on the exchange of ideas and technologiesmy hope is that it is not also reached national stakes on scientific discoveries ».