The world’s smallest quantum computer

The research team led by professor Chuu Chih-sung from the Department of Physics and Center for Quantum Science and Technology of National Tsinghua University (NTHU) developed the world’s smallest quantum computer, using only a single photon, Taipei Times reported on October 17. New research published in the journal Physical Review Applied.

Chuu said they have solved the main obstacles in developing quantum computers, including high energy costs and ultra-low temperature operating environments. Photons are the smallest particles of electromagnetic energy, and the team found a way to encode information in 32 time-bins, or dimensions, of a single photon.

Photons can be kept in a stable quantum state even at room temperature, according to Chuu. Quantum computers are often susceptible to information loss and calculation errors due to vibrations or magnetic fields. However, photons have a wider transmission range and are less susceptible to interference, providing a unique advantage when developing commercial quantum computers.

Traditional computers perform calculations on circuit boards, while quantum computers transmit information through photons and calculate using quantum physics. The smallest unit of digital information in traditional computers is the binary digit or bit, which can only represent 0 or 1.

However, quantum bits, or qubits, can handle both 0s and 1s. This property is called quantum superposition. Superposition allows quantum computers to handle complex mathematical operations, such as factoring a number into prime numbers or searching for large data, up to 100 million times faster than traditional computers.

Kao Wei-yuan, president of NTHU, commented that the new research is an important milestone for quantum computers because the device is compact and can operate at room temperature. Unlike the computers in America’s leading quantum computing lab, he noted, the new small photon-based device does not require a massive cooling system, a notable advance in the technology field. quantum.

Photon quantum computers will eventually have a wide variety of applications, including drug development, logistics optimization, data security and artificial intelligence (AI), according to professor Mou Chung-yu, director of the School Science belongs to NTHU.