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QUANTUM COMPUTING: OPENING THE DOOR TO UNPRECEDENTED POWER
by Tim Curns, Editor

For years, computer scientists have been working to create increasingly smaller and faster computers. Recent advances in quantum computing (which utilizes a new form of information processing via quantum mechanics as opposed to those of physics) are helping scientists bring technology to the smallest size possible - the atomic level.

Researchers hope to shed more light on an area where just about anything seems possible. If researchers can grasp the true nature of sub-atomic particles, they may be able to create an ultra-powerful quantum computer.

In a recent interview on NPR's "Science Friday" program, Raymond Laflamme, director of the Quantum Information Processing Program at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, shared his thoughts on the scientific endeavors in the field of quantum computing.

Recent scientific advancements in quantum computing have proven fruitful, says Laflamme. Researchers say they have controlled the entanglement of three atoms. Entanglement, which has proven difficult to quantify when two or more particles are involved, is a strong correlative property of a set of objects.

By linking two particles together, for instance, and observing the result of an interaction with one of the objects, scientists can estimate the state of the opposite particle. The entanglement holds even if the two objects are widely separated.

The researchers built upon previous photon work by using and controlling three atoms instead. The photons could not be disentangled or re-entangled, but the atom work showcased complete control. Once control of an atomic system is attained, the technological possibilities increase exponentially.

Laflamme, comparing conventional computing to quantum computing, stated, "Let's say we have a quantum computer with only 20 atoms... if you want to do the same calculation on a classical computer, you would need a memory of the order of about 2^20, which is about 1 MB...we have computers like this today."

"But don't forget that there's only 20 of those quantum bits, 20 atoms," he continued. "If we have 50 of them, it corresponds to a million gigabytes which is impossible, in fact, unimaginable today to have computers of that power."

Laflamme further emphasized his point by saying that 50 quantum atoms linked together could provide advances not possible with the most powerful machines currently in operation.

Quantum computing may also lead to the discovery of alternative energy sources. The shrinking of transistors will require smaller fans to cool operations, and scientists have encountered increasing difficulty combating this problem. A system that computes without extracting heat, potentially possible via quantum computing, would save vast amounts of energy.

To be sure, advances in quantum computing remain experimental and are not yet considered truly practical. Yet scientists are excited that the technology is present to control small systems of atoms. The hope is that scaling out to larger systems can become a reality.

"Every time human beings are being pulled to control new forces of nature, technological revolution follows. Think about when humans were able to control fire. People gathered together, they were able to make tools and then that led to agriculture and society changed because people could gather a lot more together."

Laflamme believes scientists are "at the boundary of the quantum world." While there is much still to be understood, the building blocks have been created to form a foundation for future advances in quantum computing. Though many breakthroughs could occur in the next 10 to 20 years, it is extremely difficult to predict for sure where the technology is heading.

Laflamme remains hopeful, however, and reminded listeners of how far technology has come in a short amount of time. Quoting a "Popular Mechanics" article from 1949, Laflamme recounted the article as saying, "'the ENIAC [computer] weighs 30 tons and has 15,000 vacuum tubes. Could we imagine the future, having a computer which would weigh only a ton and has 1,000 vacuum tubes?'"