Quantum exchange or swap gates are an important part of quantum computers with a large number of qubits. Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a swap gate for qubits made of neutral atoms that is based on a particular physical effect: the state of the particles switches depending on the path they take and is independent of external disturbances. These so-called geometric phases make the system much less susceptible to experimental noise or imperfections. This novel swap gate works with a precision of more than 99,9 percent and can be applied to 17,000 qubits simultaneously.

A shutdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) could trigger a substantial release of stored ocean carbon into the atmosphere over hundreds of years, according to a new study that simulated such a collapse under stable climate conditions. This would add 0.2°C of extra global warming. The new paper from researchers at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), published in Nature’s Communications Earth & Environment, highlights the AMOC’s role as a key regulator of the global climate.