Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[NIST researchers store two images in a cloud of gas, open new possibilities for quantum memory]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/10/nist-gas-memory-storage/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/10/nist-gas-memory-storage/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/10/nist-gas-memory-storage/#comments Image

Physicists have already been able to store a single image in a cloud of rubidium gas, but researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Maryland have now made a new breakthrough that could open up some new possibilities for quantum memory. As Technology Review's Physics arXiv blog reports, they've managed to store two sequential images in the cloud (not to be confused with "the cloud") and retrieve (or view) them at different times with about 90 percent accuracy -- something that could technically be called a movie. That was done using much the same technique that allows a single image to be stored in the gas, although storing multiple images apparently has the side effect of causing them to be retrieved in the reverse order of how they went in. As TR notes, however, even with that quirk, this new method could give rubidium gas a leg up over something like holographic storage, which has only been able to store and retrieve multiple images at the same time.

NIST researchers store two images in a cloud of gas, open new possibilities for quantum memory originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 May 2012 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloudgasNational Institute of Standards and TechnologyNationalInstituteOfStandardsAndTechnologyNISTquantumquantum computingquantum memoryQuantumComputingQuantumMemoryrubidiumThu, 10 May 2012 18:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Scientists create the first universal quantum network, are scared to restart the router]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/12/scientists-create-the-first-universal-quantum-network/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/12/scientists-create-the-first-universal-quantum-network/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/12/scientists-create-the-first-universal-quantum-network/#commentsScientists create the first universal quantum network, are scared to restart the routerWe all know that most networks are, well, just not "quantumy" enough. Good news, then, that German boffins at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics have created the first "universal quantum network." We've been hearing about plain old quantum computing since the first qubit was sent, but now we have to get our tiny minds around the idea of a quantum internet too. Data was sent using single rubidium atoms in reflective optical cavities and single photons emitted over optical fiber. Given that data was only successfully transmitted 0.2% of the time, and the network spanned just 21 meters, a complex LAN with multiple nodes is a way off just yet, but the proof of concept is there. If that concept is the early '90s internet that is.

Scientists create the first universal quantum network, are scared to restart the router originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Max Planck Institute of Quantum OpticsMaxPlanckInstituteOfQuantumOpticsquantum computingquantum internetquantum networkQuantumComputingQuantumInternetQuantumNetworkqubitscienceuniversal quantum networkUniversalQuantumNetworkThu, 12 Apr 2012 18:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Flawed diamonds are perfect ingredients for quantum computing, just add time travel]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/07/flawed-diamonds-are-perfect-ingredients-for-quantum-computing-j/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/07/flawed-diamonds-are-perfect-ingredients-for-quantum-computing-j/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/07/flawed-diamonds-are-perfect-ingredients-for-quantum-computing-j/#comments Flawed diamonds are perfect ingredients for quantum computing, just add time travelReady to suspend your brain cells in a superposition of disbelief? Good, because the latest news published in Nature is that diamonds are a quantum computer's best friend -- particularly if they're flawed. An international team of scientists sought out sub-atomic impurities in a 1mm-thick fragment of over-priced carbon and used these as qubits to perform successful calculations. A "rogue" nitrogen nucleus provided one qubit, while a free electron became a second. Unlike previous attempts at solid-state quantum computing, this new effort used an extra technique to protect the system from decoherence errors: microwave pulses were fired at the electron qubit to "time-reverse" inconsistencies in its spinning motion. Don't fully get it? Us neither. In any case, it probably won't stop jewellers tut-tutting to themselves.

Flawed diamonds are perfect ingredients for quantum computing, just add time travel originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 06:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atomcarbondiamondelectronphysicsquantumquantum computerquantum computingquantum mechanicsquantum physicsQuantumComputerQuantumComputingQuantumMechanicsQuantumPhysicsqubitsolid-state quantum computingSolid-stateQuantumComputingsub-atomicUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversityOfSouthernCaliforniaUSCSat, 07 Apr 2012 06:08:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM: We're on the cusp of the Quantum Computing revolution (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/28/ibm-quantum-computing/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/28/ibm-quantum-computing/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/28/ibm-quantum-computing/#comments Technology's holy grail is the development of a "perfect" Quantum Computer. Traditional computers recognize information as bits: binary information representing "On" or "Off" states. A quantum computer uses qubits: operating in superposition, a qubit exists in all states simultaneously -- not just "On" or "Off," but every possible state in-between. It would theoretically be able to instantly access every piece of information at the same time, meaning that a 250 qubit computer would contain more data than there are particles in the universe. IBM thinks it's closer than ever to realizing this dream and if you want to know more, we have the full details after the break.

Gallery: IBM Superconducting QBit Setup

Continue reading IBM: We're on the cusp of the Quantum Computing revolution (video)

IBM: We're on the cusp of the Quantum Computing revolution (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>American Physical SocietyAmericanPhysicalSocietyComplete universal quantum gate set approaching fault-tolerant tCompleteUniversalQuantumGateSetApproachingFault-tolerantThresholCopenhagen Interpretation of Quantum PhysicsCopenhagenInterpretationOfQuantumPhysicsDavid DiVincenzoDavidDivincenzoHard ScienceHardScienceIBMIBM ResearchIbmResearchMark KetchenMarkKetchenMatthias SteffenMatthiasSteffenPhysicsQuantum Computingquantum decoherenceQuantum PhysicsQuantumComputingQuantumDecoherenceQuantumPhysicsQubitSuperconducting qubit in waveguide cavity with coherence time apSuperconductingQubitInWaveguideCavityWithCoherenceTimeApproachinSuperpositionvideoYale UniversityYaleUniversityTue, 28 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Single atom transistors point to the future of quantum computers, death of Moore's law]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/21/single-atom-transistors-point-to-the-future-of-quantum-computers/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/21/single-atom-transistors-point-to-the-future-of-quantum-computers/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/21/single-atom-transistors-point-to-the-future-of-quantum-computers/#comments Single Atom TransistorTransistors -- the basic building block of the complex electronic devices around you. Literally billions of them make up that Core i7 in your gaming rig and Moore's law says that number will double every 18 months as they get smaller and smaller. Researchers at the University of New South Wales may have found the limit of this basic computational rule however, by creating the world's first single atom transistor. A single phosphorus atom was placed into a silicon lattice and read with a pair of extremely tiny silicon leads that allowed them to observe both its transistor behavior and its quantum state. Presumably this spells the end of the road for Moore's Law, as it would seem all but impossible to shrink transistors any farther. But, it could also points to a future featuring miniaturized solid-state quantum computers.

Single atom transistors point to the future of quantum computers, death of Moore's law originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>moores lawMooresLawphosphorusquantum computingQuantumComputingtransistortransistorsUniversity of New South WalesUniversityOfNewSouthWalesTue, 21 Feb 2012 08:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Yale Physicists develop quantum computing error correction, are a qubit pleased with themselves]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/15/yale-physicists-develop-quantum-computing-error-correction-are/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/15/yale-physicists-develop-quantum-computing-error-correction-are/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/15/yale-physicists-develop-quantum-computing-error-correction-are/#comments We're big fans of quantum computing, and hopefully it's about to get a lot more reliable. Researchers at Yale have demonstrated quantum error correction in a solid state system for the first time. Quantum bits were created from "artificial" atoms using superconducting circuits, these qubits are then given either of the typical bit states of "1" or "0," or the quantum state of both simultaneously. The researchers developed a technique that identifies each qubit's initial state, so any erroneous changes can be reversed on the fly. Until now, errors have been a barrier in quantum computing, accumulating and ultimately causing computational failure. A reliable means of fixing these state changes is essential to developing a computer with an exponential speed-up, and fully realizing the quantum dream. The team at Yale hopes that this research might mean its platform of superconducting circuits becomes the one upon which quantum computing is ultimately built. We, on the other hand, just want our parallel universe.

Yale Physicists develop quantum computing error correction, are a qubit pleased with themselves originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>error correctionErrorCorrectionquantum bitsquantum computerquantum computingQuantumBitsQuantumComputerQuantumComputingqubitresearchsciencestudyyaleyale universityYaleUniversityWed, 15 Feb 2012 21:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Quantum speed limits within reach, present moves ever closer to future]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/29/quantum-speed-limits-research-computing/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/29/quantum-speed-limits-research-computing/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/29/quantum-speed-limits-research-computing/#commentsGot your wire-rimmed spectacles on? Had a full night's rest? Eager to get those synapses firing? Here's hoping, because Marc Cheneau and co. are doing everything they can to stretch the sheer meaning of quantum understanding. The aforesaid scientists recently published an article that details a method for measuring quantum particle interaction in a way that has previously been considered impossible. Put simply (or, as simply as possible), the famed Lieb-Robinson bound was "quantified experimentally for the first time, using a real quantum gas." The technobabble rolls on quite severely from there, but the key here is realize just how much of an impact this has on the study of quantum entanglement, and in turn, quantum computing. For those interested in seeing what lives in a world beyond silicon, dig into the links below. You may never escape, though -- just sayin'.

Quantum speed limits within reach, present moves ever closer to future originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>experimentMarc CheneauMarcCheneaunature magazineNatureMagazineoptical latticeOpticalLatticequantumquantum computingquantum gasquantum particlesQuantumComputingQuantumGasQuantumParticlessciencespeed limitSpeedLimitSun, 29 Jan 2012 17:28:00 EST<![CDATA[This electric wire is four atoms thick, and you thought speaker cable was fiddly (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/06/this-electric-wire-is-four-atoms-thick-and-you-thought-speaker/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/06/this-electric-wire-is-four-atoms-thick-and-you-thought-speaker/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/06/this-electric-wire-is-four-atoms-thick-and-you-thought-speaker/#comments This should come as a great relief to anyone planning a quantum computer self-build: wires still conduct electricity and obey key laws of classical physics even when they're built at the nanoscale. Researchers at Purdue and Melbourne universities used chains of phosphorus atoms inside a silicon crystal to create a wire that's just four atoms wide and a single atom high -- 20 times smaller than the previous record-holder and infinitely narrower than anything you'd find at Newegg. The video after the break almost explains how they did it.

Continue reading This electric wire is four atoms thick, and you thought speaker cable was fiddly (video)

This electric wire is four atoms thick, and you thought speaker cable was fiddly (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atomatomicatomselectricityMelbourneMelbourne UniversityMelbourneUniversitynanoscalenanotechnologynanowirenbcohms lawOhmsLawphosphorusPurduePurdue UniversityPurdueUniversityquantumquantum computingQuantumComputingresistanceresistivityvideowireFri, 06 Jan 2012 14:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Air Force planning holographic quantum computers to help Sam Beckett leap home]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/air-force-planning-holographic-quantum-computers-to-help-sam-bec/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/air-force-planning-holographic-quantum-computers-to-help-sam-bec/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/air-force-planning-holographic-quantum-computers-to-help-sam-bec/#comments
Did you know that light is a better transmitter of quantum computer information than any sort of cabling? Because it isn't altered by electric and magnetic fields, it would be perfect for carrying data if photons would stop being so snobby and interact with one another. Only highly-sensitive interferometers can overcome that problem, and they're so fussy that a mild sneeze near to one would wreck its calibration. Air Force researcher Jonathan McDonald thinks he's got a solution: project holographic interferometers onto glass where it'll "freeze" and become much more stable. There are only two downsides: you can't edit the programming, nor would it scale very well, because you'd need physical space to set up the individual glass plates. On the other hand, the materials required to build one are all commercially available, and we're sure the Air Force has a hangar or two going spare, so perhaps we could see holographic quantum computers in the near future -- or at least a very decent laser light-show.

Air Force planning holographic quantum computers to help Sam Beckett leap home originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Johnathan McDonaldJohnathanMcdonaldMITQuantum ComputingQuantumComputingTue, 20 Dec 2011 13:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Groundbreaking photonic chip could spark Quantum Computing revolution]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/groundbreaking-photonic-chip-could-spark-quantum-computing-revol/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/groundbreaking-photonic-chip-could-spark-quantum-computing-revol/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/groundbreaking-photonic-chip-could-spark-quantum-computing-revol/#comments
Quantum Computers already exist, but not in the "universal" form that would truly revolutionize computing. That's why the latest innovation from Bristol University has so much promise: a team from its center for Quantum Photonics has built a reprogrammable quantum chip. The 70mm x 3mm box is capable of measuring and manipulating entanglement and mixture -- fundamental elements of the mythical "universal" chip. It's taken the team six years to reach this point, but now it'll concentrate on scaling up the technology to create more complex systems, hopefully in time for our next smartphone purchase.

Continue reading Groundbreaking photonic chip could spark Quantum Computing revolution

Groundbreaking photonic chip could spark Quantum Computing revolution originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Center for Quantum PhotonicsCenterForQuantumPhotonicsQuantum ComputingQuantumComputingUniversity of BristolUniversityOfBristolMon, 12 Dec 2011 17:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Scientists manipulate electron, this time everyone wins]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/23/scientists-manipulate-electron-this-time-everyone-wins/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/23/scientists-manipulate-electron-this-time-everyone-wins/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/23/scientists-manipulate-electron-this-time-everyone-wins/#comments
Notoriously difficult to pin down, electrons have always been free spirits -- until now that is. According to a paper published by science journal Nature, folk at Cambridge University much cleverer than we have tamed single electrons, succeeding in coaxing them directly from point-to-point. The technique involves creating a small hole in gallium arsenide, called a "quantum dot," then creating a channel of energy higher than the neighboring electrons to shuttle cargo off to another empty "dot." Why should you care? Well, while you might not see this technology in the next smartphone, it should give quantum computing a bit of a nudge forward, smoothing the rate of information transfer. If the concept works out, it'll improve the way qubits move around those sub-atomic circuits, where jumping around like a frog in a sock is generally considered bad form.

[Image courtesy of the io9]

Scientists manipulate electron, this time everyone wins originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cambridgecambridge universityCambridgeUniversityElectronelectronsquantum computingQuantumComputingqubitsresearchsciencesub atomicSubAtomicFri, 23 Sep 2011 13:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers wed quantum processor with quantum memory, quaziness ensues]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/02/researchers-wed-quantum-processor-with-quantum-memory-quaziness/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/02/researchers-wed-quantum-processor-with-quantum-memory-quaziness/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/02/researchers-wed-quantum-processor-with-quantum-memory-quaziness/#commentsQuantum computing has a long way to go before becoming truly mainstream, but that certainly hasn't stopped us from indulging in dreams of a qubit-based existence. The latest bit of fantasy fodder comes from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where researchers have become the first to combine a quantum processor with memory mechanisms on a single chip. To do this, Matteo Mariantoni and his team of scientists connected two qubits with a quantum bus and linked each of them to a memory element, capable of storing their current values in the same way that RAM stores data on conventional computers. These qubit-memory links also contained arrays of resonators -- jagged, yet easily controlled circuits that can store values for shorter periods of time. The qubits, meanwhile, were constructed using superconducting circuits, allowing the UCSB team to nestle their qubits even closer together, in accordance with the von Neumann architecture that governs most commercial computers. Once everything was in place, the researchers used their system to run complex algorithms and operations that could be eventually used to decode data encryption. The next step, of course, is to scale up the design, though Mariantoni says that shouldn't be too much of a problem, thanks to his system's resonators -- which, according to him, "represent the future of quantum computing with integrated circuits."

Researchers wed quantum processor with quantum memory, quaziness ensues originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 22:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>architecturecircuitrycircuitscomputingdataMatteo MariantoniMatteoMariantonimemoryprocessorquantumquantum computerquantum computingQuantumComputerQuantumComputingqubitRAMresearchresonatorstoragesuperconductingukUniversity of California Santa BarbaraUniversityOfCaliforniaSantaBarbaravon neumannvon neumann architectureVonNeumannVonNeumannArchitectureFri, 02 Sep 2011 22:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Ultra-pure material lets electrons discover each other on the quantum dance floor]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/28/ultra-pure-material-helps-electrons-discover-each-other-on-the-q/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/28/ultra-pure-material-helps-electrons-discover-each-other-on-the-q/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/28/ultra-pure-material-helps-electrons-discover-each-other-on-the-q/#comments These guys aren't Purdue University professors, they're DJs. That thing on the left? It isn't a high-mobility gallium-arsenide molecular beam epitaxy system, it's their decks. It creates an ultra-pure material so perfectly latticed that it traps electrons between its layers and stops them bouncing around like drunken fools at the high school prom. By squeezing them ever so tightly, it lulls the particles into an "exotic" slow dance, at which point they become "aware" of each other and start performing correlated motions that are essential for quantum computing. That's a still a long way off, but if one day we find ourselves affixing gallium arsenide swabs to our quantum motherboards, we'll raise our lighters in the air. Informative PR after the break.

Continue reading Ultra-pure material lets electrons discover each other on the quantum dance floor

Ultra-pure material lets electrons discover each other on the quantum dance floor originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danceelectronelectronsgalliumgallium arsenideGalliumArsenidehdphysicsPurduePurdue UniversityPurdueUniversityquantumquantum computingQuantumComputingThu, 28 Jul 2011 16:31:00 EST<![CDATA[D-Wave sells first commercial quantum computer to Lockheed Martin]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/29/d-wave-sells-first-commercial-quantum-computer-to-lockheed-marti/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/29/d-wave-sells-first-commercial-quantum-computer-to-lockheed-marti/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/29/d-wave-sells-first-commercial-quantum-computer-to-lockheed-marti/#comments http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/18/d-wave-one-claims-mantle-of-first-commercial-quantum-computer/ Who found ten million dollars to drop on the first commercially available quantum computer? Lockheed Martin, it seems, as the aerospace defense contractor has just begun a "multi-year contract" with the quantum annealing experts at D-Wave to develop... nothing that they're ready or willing to publicly discuss at this time. This "strategic relationship" marks the second major vote of confidence in D-Wave's technology, after Google built image detection algorithms for the company's processors a couple years back. Or, perhaps Lockheed Martin just wants a new shiny black toy for the Skunk Works labs. PR after the break.

Continue reading D-Wave sells first commercial quantum computer to Lockheed Martin

D-Wave sells first commercial quantum computer to Lockheed Martin originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 May 2011 02:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>annealingD-WaveLockheedlockheed martinLockheedMartinquantumquantum annealingquantum computingQuantumAnnealingQuantumComputingSun, 29 May 2011 02:02:00 EST<![CDATA[D-Wave One claims mantle of first commercial quantum computer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/18/d-wave-one-claims-mantle-of-first-commercial-quantum-computer/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/18/d-wave-one-claims-mantle-of-first-commercial-quantum-computer/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/18/d-wave-one-claims-mantle-of-first-commercial-quantum-computer/#comments http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/18/d-wave-one-claims-mantle-of-first-commercial-quantum-computer/ Whether or not D-Wave has actually built a quantum computer is still a matter of debate (though, a study authored by the company and published in Nature claims to prove its success) but, whatever it is these crafty Canadians have created, you can order one now and start crunching qubits with abandon. The D-Wave One is the first commercially available quantum computer and, while its 128-qubit processor can only handle very specific tasks and is easily outperformed by traditional CPUs, it could represent a revolution in the field of supercomputing. As D-Wave scales up to thousands or tens-of-thousands of qubits, complex number theory problems and advanced cryptographic systems could crumble before the mighty power of quantum annealing... or at least give us faster Google searches. Just out of curiosity, we contacted D-Wave to see how much we'd have to cough up for a quantum desktop of our own, but we've yet to hear back.

Update: Joseph passed along an e-mail from the company with a little more information, including a price: $10,000,000. Yep, ten large, and we're not sure that includes the liquid helium required to keep it cooled.

D-Wave One claims mantle of first commercial quantum computer originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 May 2011 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commercial quantum computerCommercialQuantumComputerD-WaveD-Wave OneD-waveOnedebutdwaveentanglementlaunchnaturenow availableNowAvailableOn SaleOnSaleprocessorQuantumquantum annealingquantum computerquantum computingquantum entanglementQuantumAnnealingQuantumComputerQuantumComputingQuantumEntanglementqubitWed, 18 May 2011 16:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers show off scalable architecture for quantum computing, expand our minds]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/25/researchers-show-off-scalable-architecture-for-quantum-computing/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/25/researchers-show-off-scalable-architecture-for-quantum-computing/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/25/researchers-show-off-scalable-architecture-for-quantum-computing/#comments Okay, so we might be chasing the flying unicorn of modern technology here -- and, no, we're not talking about the white iPhone 4 -- but as you've probably noticed, our hunger for a quantum computer is basically insatiable. Lucky for us, some folks who actually know something about producing qubits are similarly persistent -- a team of researchers recently presented a scalable quantum chip at a meeting of the American Physical Society in good old Texas. The 6 x 6-cm processor sports four qubits, the basic units of quantum computing, and its creators say it has the potential to be scaled up to support 10 of the things within the year. So what does that mean for our quest for the ultimate super computer? Well, it means we're closer than we used to be... and the dream lives on.

Researchers show off scalable architecture for quantum computing, expand our minds originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 21:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chipcinematical+reviewscomputercomputer chipComputerChipentanglementfour qubitFourQubitprocessorquantumquantum chipquantum chipsquantum computerquantum computingquantum entanglementQuantumChipQuantumChipsQuantumComputerQuantumComputingQuantumEntanglementqubitqubitsscalablescalable qubit chipScalableQubitChipuniversity of santa barbaraUniversityOfSantaBarbaraFri, 25 Mar 2011 21:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Scientists create 10 billion qubits in silicon, get us closer than ever to quantum computing]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/21/scientists-create-10-billion-qubits-in-silicon-get-us-closer-th/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/21/scientists-create-10-billion-qubits-in-silicon-get-us-closer-th/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/21/scientists-create-10-billion-qubits-in-silicon-get-us-closer-th/#commentsqubits We are totally ready for a quantum computer. Browse the dusty Engadget archives and you'll find many posts about the things, each charting another step along the way to our supposed quantum future. Here's another step, one that we think is a pretty big one. An international team of scientists has managed to generate 10 billion quantum entangled bits, the basic building block of a quantum computer, and embed them all in silicon which is, of course, the basic building block of a boring computer. It sounds like there's still some work to be done to enable the team to actually modify and read the states of those qubits, and probably a decade's worth of thumb-twiddling before they let any of us try to run Crysis on it, but yet another step has been made.

[Image credit: Smite-Meister]

Scientists create 10 billion qubits in silicon, get us closer than ever to quantum computing originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>John MortonJohnMortonoxford universityOxfordUniversityquantumquantum computerquantum computingquantum entanglementQuantumComputerQuantumComputingQuantumEntanglementqubitFri, 21 Jan 2011 09:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Caltech research could lead to quantum hard drives, networks, parallel universes]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/27/caltech-research-could-lead-to-quantum-hard-drives-networks-pa/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/27/caltech-research-could-lead-to-quantum-hard-drives-networks-pa/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/27/caltech-research-could-lead-to-quantum-hard-drives-networks-pa/#commentsQuantum anything has typically fallen into our oft-used category of 'awesome things that'll never happen,' but if a crew of researchers at the California Institute of Technology have anything to say about it, they'll soon be changing the fortunes of that segment. The team has recently demonstrated quantum entanglement for a quantum state stored in four spatially distinct atomic memories, and while that probably just blew your mind a little bit, the breakdown is fairly interesting. Essentially, they've uncovered a quantum interface between the atomic memories, which is said to "represent something akin to a computer hard drive for entanglement." If extended, it could pave the way toward quantum networks, and in turn, massive webs of quantum computers. We're obviously decades out from understanding what this all means for the common computer user, but just remember this: "for an entangled quantum system, there exists no objective physical reality for the system's properties." And you thought The Matrix was deep.

Caltech research could lead to quantum hard drives, networks, parallel universes originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 11:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>California Institute of TechnologyCaliforniaInstituteOfTechnologyCaltechmemoryphysicsquantumquantum computerquantum computingQuantum Memoryquantum networkquantum simulatorQuantumComputerQuantumComputingQuantumNetworkQuantumSimulatorramresearchstorageuniversitySat, 27 Nov 2010 11:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers develop means to reliably read an electron's spin, take us one step closer to the quantum zone]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/30/researchers-develop-means-to-reliably-read-an-electrons-spin-t/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/30/researchers-develop-means-to-reliably-read-an-electrons-spin-t/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/30/researchers-develop-means-to-reliably-read-an-electrons-spin-t/#commentsResearchers develop means to reliably read an electron's spin, take us one step closer to the quantum zone Another day, another step bringing us closer to the next big revolution in the world of computing: replacing your transistory bits with qubits. Researchers at Australia's Universities of New South Wales and of Melbourne, along with Finland's Aalto University, have achieved the impossibly tiny goal of reliably reading the spin of a single electron. That may not sound like much, but let's just see you do it quickly without affecting said spin. This particular implementation relies on single atoms of phosphorus embedded in silicon. Yes, silicon, meaning this type of qubit is rather more conventional than others we've read about. Of course, proper quantum computers depend on reading and writing the spin of individual electrons, so as of now we effectively have quantum ROM. When will that be quantum RAM? They're still working on that bit.

Researchers develop means to reliably read an electron's spin, take us one step closer to the quantum zone originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aalto universityAaltoUniversityaustraliaelectron readerElectronReaderfinlandquantumquantum computerquantum computingQuantumComputerQuantumComputingqubitsiliconuniversity of melbourneuniversity of New South WalesUniversityOfMelbourneUniversityOfNewSouthWalesThu, 30 Sep 2010 13:41:00 EST<![CDATA[UK research team brings quantum computing closer than ever... or so they say]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/19/uk-research-team-brings-quantum-computing-closer-than-ever-or/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/19/uk-research-team-brings-quantum-computing-closer-than-ever-or/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/19/uk-research-team-brings-quantum-computing-closer-than-ever-or/#comments You know the drill -- some quirky research team whips up some phenomenal discovery in the middle of nowhere, gloats about it, gets it published in a journal you've never heard of it, and then it all vanishes into the ether, leaving your soul hurt and wondering why you ever got your hopes up in the first place. The Foundations wrote a little tune about this very situation back in 1968, but a UK team from the Center for Quantum Photonics led by Jeremy O'Brien are claiming that their latest discovery is no joke. According to him, most people have believed that a functional quantum computer wouldn't be a reality for at least another score, but he's saying "with real confidence that, using [his] new technique, a quantum computer could, within five years, be performing calculations that are outside the capabilities of conventional computers." The center of this bold claim is a new photonic chip that works on light rather than traditional electricity, and those who built it say that it could "pull important information out of the biggest databases almost instantaneously." Of course, this stuff would hit the Department of Defense long before it hits your basement, but it's on you to keep tabs on the progress. Wouldn't be let down again, now would we?

UK research team brings quantum computing closer than ever... or so they say originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 19 Sep 2010 09:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>computingcpuenergylightphotonicprocessorquantumquantum computingQuantumComputingresearchSun, 19 Sep 2010 09:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Quantum refrigerator could cool your quantum computer, allow for quantum overclocking]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/03/quantum-refrigerator-could-cool-your-quantum-computer-allow-for/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/03/quantum-refrigerator-could-cool-your-quantum-computer-allow-for/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/03/quantum-refrigerator-could-cool-your-quantum-computer-allow-for/#commentsQuantum refrigerator could cool your quantum computer, allow for quantum overclocking The quantum computer is still ranking pretty high up there on the vaporware charts, somewhere between Duke Nukem Forever and a Steorn in-home power generator. Eventually we'll get there, and theoretical physicists at the University of Bristol are helping with a quantum cooling system. It is effectively a means for two qubits to cool a third, with the outer two cooled by lasers and absorbing energy from the third, which is heated to its excited state. Unsurprisingly this is all rather theoretical at this point, but the team does plan to actually build such a quantum refrigerator in the not too distant future. Then, we figure, they'll host the first quantum kegger.

Quantum refrigerator could cool your quantum computer, allow for quantum overclocking originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>quantumquantum computerquantum computingquantum refrigeratorQuantumComputerQuantumComputingQuantumRefrigeratorqubitresearchukunited kingdomUnitedKingdomuniversity of BristolUniversityOfBristolFri, 03 Sep 2010 01:52:00 EST<![CDATA[German physicists working on quantum interface between light and atoms]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/06/german-physicists-working-on-quantum-interface-between-light-and/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/06/german-physicists-working-on-quantum-interface-between-light-and/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/06/german-physicists-working-on-quantum-interface-between-light-and/#comments
Physicists at Johannes Gutenberg University in Germany are developing something which they call the Mainz interface, and which could eventually lead to a quantum computer -- a whole new way of communicating information. For now, though the Mainz interface is seeking to use laser light traveling through a tapered glass fiber, trapping cesium atoms at the thin center. This center of the fiber is actually thinner than the wavelength of light, meaning that it protrudes into the space surrounding the fiber, "coupling" with the atoms trapped there. Sounds pretty complicated, right? Well, it is, but the researchers are moving along toward the goal of quantum computing. We'll keep you updated on their progress.

German physicists working on quantum interface between light and atoms originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Jun 2010 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altatomgermnyinterfacemainz interfaceMainzInterfacephysicsquantum computingQuantumComputingscienceSun, 06 Jun 2010 09:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Google working with D-Wave on what may or may not be quantum computing]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/16/google-working-with-d-wave-on-what-may-or-may-not-be-quantum-com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/16/google-working-with-d-wave-on-what-may-or-may-not-be-quantum-com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/16/google-working-with-d-wave-on-what-may-or-may-not-be-quantum-com/#commentsGoogle working with D-Wave on what may or may not be quantum computing When we first mentioned D-Wave way back in early 2007 we immediately compared it to Steorn -- less than optimal beginnings. The company was promising quantum computing for the masses and, while it did demonstrate a machine that exhibited qubit-like behavior, the company never really silenced critics who believed the underpinnings of the machine were rather more binary in nature. Those disbelievers are surely shutting up now, with word hitting the street that Google has signed on, building new image search algorithms that run on D-Wave's C4 Chimera chip. The first task was to learn to spot automobiles in pictures, something that the quantum machine apparently learned to do simply by looking at other pictures of cars. It all sounds rather neural-networkish to us, but don't let our fuzzy logic cloud your excitement over the prospect of honest to gosh commercial quantum computing.

Google working with D-Wave on what may or may not be quantum computing originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 06:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>d-wavegoogleimage searchImageSearchquantumquantum computingQuantumComputingqubitWed, 16 Dec 2009 06:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Quantum computer chips get infinitesimally closer to happening]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/16/quantum-computer-chips-get-infinitesimally-closer-to-happening/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/16/quantum-computer-chips-get-infinitesimally-closer-to-happening/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/16/quantum-computer-chips-get-infinitesimally-closer-to-happening/#commentsWe've already seen at least one (sort of) functional quantum processor, and one breakthrough after the other in quantum computing, but it looks like some researchers at Ohio State University have now made a breakthrough of their own that could possibly speed things up considerably. The big news there is that they've apparently found a way to fabricate a quantum device called a resonant interband tunneling diode (or RITD) using a chip-making technique called "vapor desposition," which is commonly used today for traditional chips. While there's still quite a bit of perfecting to be done on the device itself, lead researcher Paul Berger says the RTIDs could be used for ultra-low-power computer chips that operate with small voltages and produce less excess heat, and may even allow for ultra high-resolution imaging devices that can "operate at wavelengths beyond the human eye" -- opening up possibilities for everything from advanced medical imaging to the ability to see through rain, snow, fog and dust storms.

[Via Physorg]

Filed under:

Quantum computer chips get infinitesimally closer to happening originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ohio stateohio state universityOhioStateOhioStateUniversityquantumquantum chipsquantum computerquantum computer chipsquantum computingQuantumChipsQuantumComputerQuantumComputerChipsQuantumComputingFri, 16 Oct 2009 15:37:00 EST<![CDATA[First functional quantum processor created, lasted slightly longer than your last Xbox 360]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/first-functional-quantum-processor-created-lasted-slightly-long/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/first-functional-quantum-processor-created-lasted-slightly-long/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/29/first-functional-quantum-processor-created-lasted-slightly-long/#commentsFirst functional quantum processor created, lasted slightly longer than your last Xbox 360
UK researchers said they were getting close earlier this year, but in one brilliant fraction of a second a gaggle of Yalies beat those limeys to the punch, with a team led by Robert Schoelkopf, a professor of Applied Physics at Yale, creating what's being hailed as the first quantum processor to actually perform calculations. It's composed of aluminum atoms grouped together to form two quantum bits, communicating over an unimaginatively named named quantum bus that enables one to change the (wait for it) quantum state of the other. This first qubit shifter was able to maintain state for 1,000 times longer than any previous qubit ever produced -- but since its predecessors could only manage a nanosecond's worth of cognition we're still only talking a microsecond here. In other words: there's still a long way to go before you'll be slotting one of these into your gaming rig.

Filed under:

First functional quantum processor created, lasted slightly longer than your last Xbox 360 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>qbitquantumquantum busquantum computingquantum gateQuantumBusQuantumComputingQuantumGaterobert schoelkopfRobertSchoelkopfyaleyale universityYaleUniversityMon, 29 Jun 2009 08:58:00 EST<![CDATA[UK researchers take us one step closer to quantum computing]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/21/uk-researchers-take-us-one-step-closer-to-quantum-computing/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/21/uk-researchers-take-us-one-step-closer-to-quantum-computing/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/21/uk-researchers-take-us-one-step-closer-to-quantum-computing/#commentsYou know, at some point we're going to grow tired of just getting closer and demand that we arrive, but thankfully for a smattering of UK-based researchers, we're not yet to that point. Reportedly, brainiacs from Edinburgh and Manchester University have created a molecular machine that could be used to develop quantum computers for making "intricate calculations" far more quickly than current supercomputers. Essentially, these gurus relied on molecular scale technology instead of silicon chips; more specifically, they achieved the so-called breakthrough by "combining tiny magnets with molecular machines that can shuttle between two locations without the use of external force." Not surprisingly, there's still more work to be done, with Professor David Leigh of Edinburgh University noting that "the major challenges we face now are to bring many of these qubits together to build a device that could perform calculations, and to discover how to communicate between them." In other words, check back in 2012.

UK researchers take us one step closer to quantum computing originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Mar 2009 23:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Manchesterquantumquantum computerquantum computingQuantumComputerQuantumComputingsciencescotlandspeedstudyuniversitySat, 21 Mar 2009 23:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Another breakthrough purportedly brings us closer to quantum computing]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/19/another-breakthrough-purportedly-brings-us-closer-to-quantum-com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/19/another-breakthrough-purportedly-brings-us-closer-to-quantum-com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/19/another-breakthrough-purportedly-brings-us-closer-to-quantum-com/#comments
In reality, quite a bit of time has passed since we've heard of the next great leap in the (seemingly) never-ending journey towards quantum computing, but we're incredibly relieved to learn that at least someone is still out there, somewhere, pressing on. An international team of researchers have reportedly shown that they can "control the quantum state of a single electron in a silicon transistor, even putting the electron in two places at once." Essentially, the team is using tiny semiconductor transistors to "control the state of a quantum system," but there is still a long ways to go before any of this is meaningful. The crew managed to discover a few things by chance, yet to create a quantum computer, they would need to "position atoms of arsenic (or some other material) in the transistors more reliably." For those of you way too geeked out, fret not -- we'll let you know when all of this technobabble finally amounts to something.

[Thanks, Chris]

Filed under: ,

Another breakthrough purportedly brings us closer to quantum computing originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Jul 2008 23:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>circuitcircuitryelectronquantumquantum computingQuantumComputingresearchsciencesiliconsilicon circuitSiliconCircuitspectroscopytransistorSat, 19 Jul 2008 23:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers create light-based quantum circuit that does math]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/17/researchers-create-light-based-quantum-circuit-that-does-math/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/17/researchers-create-light-based-quantum-circuit-that-does-math/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/17/researchers-create-light-based-quantum-circuit-that-does-math/#commentsIt looks like quantum computing could now be one step closer to some form of practicality, as a team of researchers from the University of Queensland have announced that they've created a light-based quantum circuit that's capable of performing basic calculations. According to ZDNET Australia, that was done by using a laser to send "entangled" photons through a linear optical circuit, which allowed them to create a circuit consisting of four "qubits," (or quantum bits, pictured at right), which in turn allowed them to calculate the prime roots of fifteen, three and five. Somewhat interestingly, the university's research is funded in part by none other than DARPA, which the researchers themselves admit may be due to the technology's potential for cracking otherwise uncrackable codes.

[Via Slashdot, image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons]

Filed under:

Researchers create light-based quantum circuit that does math originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>darpadefensequantumquantum computingQuantumComputingqubitsuniversity of queenslandUniversityOfQueenslandMon, 17 Dec 2007 11:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers develop semiconductor for manipulating electron spin]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/17/researchers-develop-semiconductor-for-manipulating-electron-spin/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/17/researchers-develop-semiconductor-for-manipulating-electron-spin/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/17/researchers-develop-semiconductor-for-manipulating-electron-spin/#comments
Quantum computing isn't exactly synonymous with mainstream (yet), but a team of engineers at the University at Buffalo are looking to overcome some of the most prominent hurdles "that have prevented progress toward spintronics and spin-based quantum computing." Apparently, these gurus have conjured up a semiconductor that "provides a novel way to trap, detect and manipulate electron spin," the latter of which is the most notable. Essentially, the UB group's scheme could open up "new paradigms of nanoelectronics," and it manages to stand out from prior efforts by requiring fewer logic gates and promising to operate in much warmer (20-degrees Kelvin versus 1-degree Kelvin) conditions. Now that they've figured out how to dictate single spin, the subsequent step would be to "trap and detect two or more spins that can communicate with each other" -- you know, a vital precondition for quantum computing.

[Thanks, Jordan]

Filed under:

Researchers develop semiconductor for manipulating electron spin originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Oct 2007 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electronsnanotechnologyquantumquantum computingQuantumComputingsciencespinspin-basedspin-based quantum computingSpin-basedQuantumComputingspintronicsuniversityWed, 17 Oct 2007 07:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers using pulses of light to quickly decipher codes]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/17/researchers-using-pulses-of-light-to-quickly-decipher-codes/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/17/researchers-using-pulses-of-light-to-quickly-decipher-codes/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/17/researchers-using-pulses-of-light-to-quickly-decipher-codes/#commentsWhile we imagine most Wolverines are focusing their efforts on gathering up the requisite tailgating gear for the onset of fall, a team of researchers at the University of Michigan are busy finding ways to decipher encryption codes "within seconds." The crew has apparently discovered that by "using pulses of light to dramatically accelerate quantum computers," these systems could not only crack "highly encrypted codes" in moments versus years, but it could also "lead to tougher protection of [sensitive] information." Additionally, the findings rely on "quantum dots and readily available, relatively inexpensive optical telecommunications technology to drive quantum computers," which could lead to quicker implementation of quantum level applications. Hackers, meet your dream machine.

[Via TGDaily, image courtesy of Technovelgy]

Filed under:

Researchers using pulses of light to quickly decipher codes originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Aug 2007 19:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lightquantum computingquantum dotQuantumComputingQuantumDotresearchsciencesecurityuniversityUniversity of MichiganUniversityOfMichiganFri, 17 Aug 2007 19:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Scientists take first step in ceramic-based quantum computers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/30/scientists-take-first-step-in-ceramic-based-quantum-computers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/30/scientists-take-first-step-in-ceramic-based-quantum-computers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/30/scientists-take-first-step-in-ceramic-based-quantum-computers/#commentsOne of the many challenges facing quantum computing is finding a practical material from which to process the quantum information -- the material must not be so exotic such that it becomes too prohibitive and expensive to use for mass calculations. That's why a recently discovered hidden magnetic "quantum order" in ceramic has scientists in such a tizzy. By heating or doping the material with a variety of impurities, scientists from the London Center for Nanotechnology have found a way to propagate magnetic excitations over long chains of atoms in the otherwise magnetically disordered material. Armed then, with the ability to break the chains into independent sub-chains, each with it's own hidden order, scientists have taken the first step towards engineering spin-based quantum states from ceramics. Right, the quantum analogy to those good ol' 1 and 0 state changes used by today's not-so-super computers.

[Thanks, Scott S.]

Filed under:

Scientists take first step in ceramic-based quantum computers originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Jul 2007 08:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ceramicLondon Center for NanotechnologyLondonCenterForNanotechnologymageticquantumquantum computerquantum computingQuantumComputerQuantumComputingMon, 30 Jul 2007 08:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Scientists perform quantum computer simulation on vanilla PC]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/scientists-perform-quantum-computer-simulation-on-vanilla-pc/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/scientists-perform-quantum-computer-simulation-on-vanilla-pc/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/29/scientists-perform-quantum-computer-simulation-on-vanilla-pc/#comments
We've seen what (little) a quantum computer can do, but a pair of curious scientists flipped the equation around and sent a humdrum PC to do a supercomputer's work. Professor Peter Drummond and Dr. Piotr Deuar were able to "successfully simulate a collision of two laser beams from an atom laser using an everyday desktop computer," which would typically only be attempted on a substantially more powerful machine. Notably, the achievement wasn't entirely without flaw, as the purported randomness in the testing eventually "swamped everything" and forced the simulation to be halted in order to gather any useful data whatsoever. Unfortunately, we're all left to wonder exactly what kind of machine was used to chew through such grueling calculations (Compubeaver, perhaps?), but feel free to throw out your suggestions below.

[Via Physorg, image courtesy of ACQAO]

Filed under:

Scientists perform quantum computer simulation on vanilla PC originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jun 2007 23:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atom laserAtomLaseratomsAustraliaAustralianopticsquantumquantum computingQuantumComputingqueenslandresearchsimulationsupercomputeruniversityFri, 29 Jun 2007 23:40:00 EST<![CDATA[NEC wires up a quantum circuit]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/08/nec-wires-up-a-quantum-circuit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/08/nec-wires-up-a-quantum-circuit/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/08/nec-wires-up-a-quantum-circuit/#comments
The quantum computing train keeps rumblin' on as researchers at NEC have managed to develop a "tunable coupler," enabling them to wire up what they're saying is the world's first quantum "circuit." The coupler connects two qubits, quantum bits that can be set to either 1, 0, or "both" (that's where the power of quantum computing lies), but unlike previous coupling attempts, does not significantly shorten the useable lifetime of the qubit. NEC says the microwave-controlled circuit is theoretically capable of scaling up to a system comprising enough qubits to outperform most modern supercomputers, but further development in preserving qubit lifetimes is necessary to make the tech viable. Better hurry up, guys -- D-Wave is already solving Sudoku.

Filed under:

NEC wires up a quantum circuit originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2007 03:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>necquantumquantum computingQuantumComputingqubitTue, 08 May 2007 03:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers create single-photon server]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/19/researchers-create-single-photon-server/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/19/researchers-create-single-photon-server/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/19/researchers-create-single-photon-server/#commentsResearchers at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics look to be doing their namesake proud, creating a single-photon server that could eventually lead to some significant advancements in quantum computing. The server was created by trapping a single Rubidium atom in a vacuum chamber and applying a laser pulse to it, which caused it to spit out one photon at a time. The key bit, it seems, is that the photons generated are of much higher quality than those derived using other methods, meaning that can essentially be made indistinguishable from one another -- a key requirement for quantum computing. With that considerable feat under their belt, the team, led by Professor Gerhard Rempe, have now set their sights on even less easily understandable experiments, including the case of the deterministic atom-photon and those always problematic atom-atom entanglements.

[Via Slashdot]

Filed under:

Researchers create single-photon server originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Mar 2007 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>max planck institute of quantum opticsMaxPlanckInstituteOfQuantumOpticsquantum computationquantum computingQuantumComputationQuantumComputingsingle-photon serverSingle-photonServerMon, 19 Mar 2007 11:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Quantum computer to debut next Tuesday?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/08/quantum-computer-to-debut-next-tuesday/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/08/quantum-computer-to-debut-next-tuesday/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/08/quantum-computer-to-debut-next-tuesday/#comments
Remember where you were when you heard about Steorn? Us neither. (Yet.) Kind of the same with D-Wave, which, as you may recall, claims to be the first and only "commercial" quantum computing venture; despite a low hanging cloud of skeptical academics, D-Wave is claiming next Tuesday it'll finally debut the first quantum computer: a 16 qubit processor capable of 64,000 simultaneous calculations in quantum space(s). What's a qubit? Why, it's the quantum computer measurement equivalent of a conventional computer's bit (i.e. more (qu)bits = more data and processes), but we're not even going to insult your intelligence by pretending to understand how a many-hundreds qubit quantum computer could supposedly solve more operations than the universe has atoms. We just know that a quantum computer has yet to be built, has the potential to revolutionize the way we understand and use computation -- and with any luck D-Wave's supposed machine will be promptly put to work analyzing weather patterns so we'll know the exact climate this time next year and not buy the wrong things when this year's fall lines come out. That is, if it doesn't open up a black hole, or something.

[Via Slashdot]

Filed under:

Quantum computer to debut next Tuesday? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Feb 2007 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>d-wavequantum computingQuantumComputingThu, 08 Feb 2007 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Danish scientists achieve advanced quantum teleportation]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/05/danish-scientists-achieve-advanced-quantum-teleportation/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/05/danish-scientists-achieve-advanced-quantum-teleportation/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/05/danish-scientists-achieve-advanced-quantum-teleportation/#commentsAs you can imagine, here at Engadget, we love it when science fiction becomes more science and less fiction. With that in mind, we're pleased to pass along the news that Danish scientists at Copenhagen University have made a breakthrough in the wacky world of quantum teleportation by transporting quantum information over a distance of half a meter (1.6 feet). In order to achieve this, Dr. Eugene Polzik and his team shined a strong laser beam into a cloud of room-temperature cesium atoms that shared the same directional spin. As Scientific American reports: "The laser became entangled with the collective spin of the cloud, meaning that the quantum states of laser and gas shared the same amplitude but had opposite phases. The goal was to transfer, or teleport, the quantum state of a second light beam onto the cloud." (It should be noted that this process is more akin to duplication than actual teleportation, i.e. using this method on a human being would result in the formation of a doppelganger and not a magical Star Trek-like movement of matter). To achieve this goal, Polzik and other scientists added a second weaker laser pulse and split the two beams into separate branches in order to measure the difference between the quantum phases; through that measurement the scientists were then able to transfer the information of the spin state of the weak laser to the combination of the cesium atoms and the strong laser, without disturbing the quantum entanglement between the laser and the cesium. Umm, so the short of it is: one small step for a cesium atom, but one giant leap for quantum computing research and the advancement of teleportation theory.

[Thanks, Josh H. and Eric M.]

Read - Reuters
Read - Scientific American

Filed under: , ,

Danish scientists achieve advanced quantum teleportation originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Oct 2006 11:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>copenhagen universityCopenhagenUniversitydenmarkeugene polzikEugenePolzikniels bohr instituteNielsBohrInstitutequantum computingquantum entanglementquantum physicsQuantumComputingQuantumEntanglementQuantumPhysicsThu, 05 Oct 2006 11:17:00 EST