NEC wires up a quantum circuit
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.
