Quantum computing, although still in its infancy, will greatly increase
New research
Interdisciplinary research group underUCLA leadership, including Harvard University researchers, has developed a revolutionary new strategy for building quantum computers. While engineers now use circuits, semiconductors and other electrical engineering tools, a team of scientists has developed a plan based on the ability of chemists to design atomic building blocks. They control the properties of larger molecular structures when they come together.
The researchers' findings, published in the journal Nature Chemistry, will ultimately lead to a leap in quantum processing power.
Quantum functional groups of researchers (brightly colored spheres) connecting to larger molecules.
Image: Stephen Sullivan
"The idea is that instead of creatingquantum computer to allow chemists to build it for us,” explains Eric Hudson, a physics professor at UCLA and an author of the study. “We are all still learning the rules for this type of quantum technology.” Now this work is more like science fiction.”
How do qubits work?
Basic units of information in traditionalin computing are bits, each limited to one of two values. In contrast, a group of quantum bits—or qubits—can have a much wider range of values, exponentially increasing the computing power of a computer. It takes more than 1,000 ordinary ones to represent just 10 qubits bits, and 20 qubits require more than 1 million bits.
This characteristic, which underliesThe transformational potential of quantum computing depends on the paradoxical rules that apply when atoms interact. For example, when two particles interact, they can become bound or entangled, so that measuring the properties of one determines the properties of the other. Qubit entanglement is a requirement of quantum computing.
What is the problem?
However, this entanglement is fragile. When qubits encounter subtle changes in their environment, they lose their “quantumity,” which is necessary to implement quantum algorithms. This limits the most powerful quantum computers to fewer than 100 qubits, and requires too resources.
To put quantum computing into practice,engineers must increase their computing power. The study's authors have made progress on this issue: they have created molecules that protect quantum behavior.
There is a solution
Scientists have developed small moleculeswhich include calcium and oxygen atoms and act as qubits. Such calcium-oxygen structures form what chemists call a functional group. They can be connected to almost any other molecule, and also give it unusual properties.
The team showed that their functionalgroups maintain their desired structure even when attached to much larger molecules. Their chemical qubits even withstand laser cooling, a key requirement for quantum computing.
Where it leads?
If we associate a quantum functional groupwith a surface or some long molecule, then a large number of qubits can be controlled, the study authors explain. In addition, scaling will be very cheap. “The atom is one of the cheapest things in the universe. You can make as many of them as you want,” the scientists noted.
In addition, quantum functionalThe group will be useful for fundamental discoveries in chemistry and life sciences. For example, it will help scientists learn more about the structure and functions of various molecules and chemicals in the human body.
Also, qubits can be used ashighly sensitive measuring instruments. The main thing is to protect them so that they survive in difficult environments: for example, in biological systems. Then scientists will get a lot of new information about our world.
However, the development of a quantum computera chemical basis could realistically take decades and not necessarily be successful, the scientists conclude. The first step is to bind the qubits to larger molecules, make them interact like processors without unwanted signals, and entangle them so that they work as a system.
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