Related topics: physical review letters , quantum mechanics , qubit , magnetic field , quantum information



Quantum computer

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A quantum computer is a device for computation that makes direct use of quantum mechanical phenomena, such as superposition and entanglement, to perform operations on data. The basic principle behind quantum computation is that quantum properties can be used to represent data and perform operations on these data.

Although quantum computing is still in its infancy, experiments have been carried out in which quantum computational operations were executed on a very small number of qubits (quantum binary digits). Both practical and theoretical research continues with interest, and many national government and military funding agencies support quantum computing research to develop quantum computers for both civilian and national security purposes, such as cryptanalysis.

If large-scale quantum computers can be built, they will be able to solve certain problems much faster than any of our current classical computers (for example Shor's algorithm). Quantum computers are different from other computers such as DNA computers and traditional computers based on transistors. Some computing architectures such as optical computers may use classical superposition of electromagnetic waves. Without some specifically quantum mechanical resources such as entanglement, it is conjectured that an exponential advantage over classical computers is not possible.

For more information about Quantum computer, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.


News tagged with quantum computing

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Princeton scientist makes a leap in quantum computing

Scientist make a leap in quantum computing

Physics / Quantum Physics

created Feb 05, 2010 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (27) | comments 18 | with audio podcast

(PhysOrg.com) -- A major hurdle in the ambitious quest to design and construct a radically new kind of quantum computer has been finding a way to manipulate the single electrons that very likely will constitute ...


D-wave Quantum 2  (Image credit: D-Wave/M. Thom)

Google Has More Than Android On Its Platform

Technology / Hi Tech & Innovation

created Feb 05, 2010 | popularity 4.3 / 5 (12) | comments 3 | with audio podcast weblog

(PhysOrg.com) -- In the last several weeks, we've read a bit about how Google is getting restless just being the world’s largest search engine and a proud cloud computing parent. In fact, Googleland is growing ...


Decorated with Electric Current, Nanoribbons Align with Expectations

Decorated with Electric Current, Nanoribbons Align with Expectations

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

created Jan 27, 2010 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (30) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

(PhysOrg.com) -- A bizarre substance predicted to shrink electronics and give quantum physicists a new tabletop toy behaves pretty much as its designers expected.


Using degrees of freedom to get hyperentanglement

Physics / Quantum Physics

created Jan 27, 2010 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (18) | comments 2 | with audio podcast feature

(PhysOrg.com) -- One of the biggest challenges scientists are grappling with today is the creation of an efficient quantum computer. There are a number of models out there, and hundreds of scientists and researchers around ...


Turning down the noise in quantum data storage

Turning down the noise in quantum data storage

Physics / Quantum Physics

created Jan 19, 2010 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (4) | comments 0

Researchers who hope to create quantum computers are currently investigating various methods to store data. Nitrogen atoms embedded in diamond show promise for encoding quantum bits (qubits), but the process ...


A solid case of entanglement

A solid case of entanglement

Physics / Quantum Physics

created Jan 11, 2010 | popularity 4.3 / 5 (25) | comments 31 | with audio podcast

Physicists have finally managed to demonstrate quantum entanglement of spatially separated electrons in solid state circuitry.


Hydrogen Atom

Quantum computer calculates exact energy of molecular hydrogen

Physics / Quantum Physics

created Jan 10, 2010 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (30) | comments 7 | with audio podcast

In an important first for a promising new technology, scientists have used a quantum computer to calculate the precise energy of molecular hydrogen. This groundbreaking approach to molecular simulations could ...


Physicists Solve Difficult Classical Problem with One Quantum Bit

Physicists Solve Difficult Classical Problem with One Quantum Bit

Physics / Quantum Physics

created Jan 08, 2010 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (34) | comments 4 | with audio podcast feature

(PhysOrg.com) -- Quantum information algorithms have the potential to solve some problems exponentially faster than current classical methods. However, most research on quantum information systems has concentrated ...


Quantum age edges closer

Quantum age edges closer

Physics / General Physics

created Jan 05, 2010 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (31) | comments 8 | with audio podcast

(PhysOrg.com) -- The arrival of superfast quantum computing is closer following recent breakthroughs by an international team led by UNSW researchers.


Wizard at circuits, physics

Wizard at circuits, physics

Physics / General Physics

created Dec 03, 2009 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (16) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- Donhee Ham, Gordon McKay Professor of Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics, uses his personal energy and understanding of physics to design innovative integrated circuits.


Straightening messy correlations with a quantum comb

Straightening messy correlations with a quantum comb

Physics / Quantum Physics

created Nov 23, 2009 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (10) | comments 0

Quantum computing promises ultra-fast communication, computation and more powerful ways to encrypt sensitive information. But trying to use quantum states as carriers of information is an extremely delicate ...


Scientists demonstrate 'universal' programmable quantum processor

Scientists demonstrate 'universal' programmable quantum processor

Physics / Quantum Physics

created Nov 15, 2009 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (25) | comments 11

Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have demonstrated the first "universal" programmable quantum information processor able to run any program allowed by quantum mechanics -- th ...


Solving big problems

Solving big problems with new quantum algorithm

Physics / Quantum Physics

created Nov 09, 2009 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (35) | comments 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- In a recently published paper, Aram Harrow at the University of Bristol and colleagues from MIT in the United States have discovered a quantum algorithm that solves large problems much faster ...


Creating a six-qubit cluster state

Physics / Quantum Physics

created Nov 02, 2009 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (10) | comments 2 feature

(PhysOrg.com) -- Many scientists believe that quantum entanglement is required in order for effective quantum computing. Entanglement takes place when there is a connection that exists between two objects - even when they ...


Study Shows Time Traveling May Not Increase Computational Power

Physics / Quantum Physics

created Oct 22, 2009 | popularity 4.1 / 5 (26) | comments 5 feature

(PhysOrg.com) -- For more than 50 years, physicists have been intrigued by the concept of closed time-like curves (CTCs). Because a CTC returns to its starting point, it raises the possibility of traveling backward in time. ...