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Quantum computer, the future of IT: microwave technology could replace laser systems with voluminous

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Scientists presented on Wednesday a series of innovations that have the ability to simplify the appearance of a new generation of quantum computers in the future that will be able to "manipulate" atoms using microwave rather than using complex lasers.

At micron scale, atoms and other particles acquire properties surprising, described by quantum physics, that physicists hope to use them to create new types of computers that will have phenomenal speed computing.

In a classical computer, a bit value is either 1 or 0. A quantum bit (qubit) contains both values ​​at the same time, because an atom can be found "suspended" between two "states" as possible. This should allow performing multiple calculations in parallel.

Even more bizarre than this: it is even possible to associate so closely two atoms - that is "intertwined" - so any action taken on one of them to transmit information instantly to "twin", irrespective of distance that separates them.

Physicists have succeeded for the first time "intertwined" two ions (atoms electric charge carriers), rather than the usual microwave manipulate laser beams, according to a study published Wednesday in the British scientific journal Nature.

For future quantum computers, "a miniaturized microwave technology, similar to that used in smart phones," could replace voluminous and expensive laser equipment, says the communique issued by researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the authors study.

With microwaves, will be "easier to build systems that combines thousands of ions to make a computation and quantum simulation," added the representatives of this agency, which is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce (United States Department of Commerce) .

"It is even possible that future quantum computers a modest size can look like a smart phone combined with an object like a laser pen and more sophisticated machines may have a size comparable to a desktop," said physicist Dietrich Leibfried, one of the authors.

Thanks to microwave beams, American scientists could, in 76% of cases, "intertwined" ion pair, trapped in an electric field over a square with sides of 7.4 millimeters gold, fueled by three electrodes.

With lasers, the rate of success achieved so far reached 99.3%, researchers have recognized, which means that their technique needs some improvement.