Future of Engineering
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Smallest Optical Controlled NOT Gate - Photon Control on Silicon Chip Spurs Quantum Computing
A team of physicists and engineers has demonstrated exquisite control of single particles of light -- photons -- on a silicon chip to make a major advance towards the long sought after goal of a super-powerful quantum computer.
Dr Jeremy O'Brien, his PhD student Alberto Politi, and their colleagues at Bristol University have demonstrated the world's smallest optical controlled-NOT gate -- the building block of a quantum computer.
The team were able to fabricate their controlled-NOT gate from silica wave-guides on a silicon chip, resulting in a miniaturised device and high-performance operation.
Quantum technologies aim to exploit the unique properties of quantum mechanics, the physics theory that explains how the world works at very small scales.
Photons are an excellent choice for quantum technologies because they are relatively noise free; information can be moved around quickly -- at the speed of light; and manipulating single photons is easy.
More from hereDr Jeremy O'Brien, his PhD student Alberto Politi, and their colleagues at Bristol University have demonstrated the world's smallest optical controlled-NOT gate -- the building block of a quantum computer.
The team were able to fabricate their controlled-NOT gate from silica wave-guides on a silicon chip, resulting in a miniaturised device and high-performance operation.
Quantum technologies aim to exploit the unique properties of quantum mechanics, the physics theory that explains how the world works at very small scales.
Photons are an excellent choice for quantum technologies because they are relatively noise free; information can be moved around quickly -- at the speed of light; and manipulating single photons is easy.
Labels: Computer-Science, Physics
PermaLink - Smallest Optical Controlled NOT Gate - Photon Control on Silicon Chip Spurs Quantum Computing posted by Ecacofonix : 9:57 PM
