Quantum Computers
A major hurdle in the development of quantum computers has been overcome through the development of the world’s first programmable and scalable system. Researchers have learned how to control quantum particles with the precision necessary to run quantum algorithms on a small scale with just a few qubits.
Researchers at the University of Maryland in College Park have unveiled a five-qubit quantum computer module that can be programmed to run any quantum algorithm. They say their module can be linked to others to perform powerful quantum computations involving large numbers of qubits.
The study, 'Demonstration of a programmable quantum computer module', has been published online.
“This small quantum computer can be scaled to larger numbers of qubits within a single module, and can be further expanded by connecting many modules,” say Shantanu Debnath.
"This small quantum computer can be scaled to larger numbers of qubits within a single module, and can be further expanded by connecting many modules."
The new device builds on work over the last two decades on trapped ion quantum computers. The device uses five ytterbium ions lined up and trapped in an electromagnetic field. The electronic state of each ion can be controlled by engaging it with a laser. This allows each ion to store a bit of quantum information.Because they are charged, the ions exert a force on each other, and this causes them to vibrate at frequencies that can be precisely controlled and manipulated. These vibrations are quantum in nature and allow the ions to become entangled.
Wiht this method, the quantum bits, or quibits they hold can interact.
Controlling these interactions, the physicists can carry out quantum logic operations. Quantum algorithms are simply a series of these logic operations one after the other.
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Few of the quantum computers developed so far are capable of doing multiple operations; most have been designed to perform a only specific single quantum algorithm.The Maryland researchers have built a self-contained module capable of addressing each of the ions with a laser and reading out the results of the interaction between qubits. So far he team has put the device through many tests, implementing several different quantum algorithms:
“As examples, we implement the Deutsch-Jozsa, Bernstein-Vazirani, and quantum Fourier transform algorithms,” they say. “The algorithms presented here illustrate the computational flexibility provided by the ion trap quantum architecture.”
This impressive work is only the tip of the iceberg say the researchers. They also claim that their module is scalable—that several five-qubit modules can be connected together to form a much more powerful quantum computer.
"This small quantum computer can be scaled to larger numbers of qubits within a single module, and can be further expanded by connecting many modules through ion shuttling rr photonic quantum channels," write the researchers.
The team has not yet demonstrated this scalability, but it is their next logical step. What Debnath and his team need to do next is show how to connect these modules and how this increases the utility of the computations that are possible.
If successful, such a development would be a watershed moment for quantum computer progress.
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