New Ion Trap May Lead to Large Quantum Computers

User rating: 4.6 / 5 after 40 vote(s)

False-color images of 1 2 3 6 and 12 magnesium ions loaded into NISTacutes new planar ion trap. Red indicates areas of highest fluorescence or the centers of the ions. As more ions are loaded in the trap they squeeze closer together until the 12-ion ...
False-color images of 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 magnesium ions loaded into NIST's new planar ion trap. Red indicates areas of highest fluorescence, or the centers of the ions. As more ions are loaded in the trap, they squeeze closer together, until the 12-ion string falls into a zig-zag formation. Credit: Signe Seidelin and John Chiaverini/NIST

Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have designed and built a novel electromagnetic trap for ions that could be easily mass produced to potentially make quantum computers large enough for practical use. The new trap, described in the June 30 issue of Physical Review Letters, may help scientists surmount what is currently the most significant barrier to building a working quantum computer—scaling up components and processes that have been successfully demonstrated individually.


Full story »
All News summaries from Physics news
All News summaries for July 06, 2006
Goto Archive PhysOrg Forum Goto Archive Video Goto Archive Editorials Goto Archive Free Magazines Goto Archive Newsletter

News Archive