You’ve Come a Long Way Baby: First Quantum Processor Created

New Haven Conn. –A group of researchers at Yale University announced that they have taken a major step toward building the first quantum computer.  The team developed a device that resembles a traditional microprocessor but is completely solid-state and contains Aluminum atoms which form the artificial, quantum bits or qbits for short.  Qbits are the elements that give quantum computing it’s astounding potential because instead of the conventional bit, only providing an ‘on’ and ‘off’ state, the qbit can exist in both states in the same time.  Adding an additional qbit to the formula can exponentially increase the processing capabilities.  In this case, the Yale team developed a two-qbit system.  According to Robert Schoelkoph, a professor of Applied Physics & Physics, “Our processor can perform only a few very simple quantum tasks, which have been demonstrated before with single nuclei, atoms and photons.”

Regardless of the processor’s simplicity, this is the first time qbits have been applied in this solid-state form where they existed in their states long enough for information to be computed.  Past attempts have proven challenging as simple calculations require a qbits state to remain in tact for no less than a microsecond in order to complete simple algorithms.  The process when qbits expire is called quantum decoherence.  The ideal calculation cycle time for a quantum processor is 10,000 times faster than the breakdown time of the decoherence.  Obviously, this can be slowed down be decreasing the operating temperature of the processing environment however the goal of Professor Schoelkoph and his team is to keep their processor operating efficiently in typical room conditions.