First quantum computer

2010/01/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

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NIST researchers create a programmable quantum computer capable of performing 160 operations. A few months ago the same team prepared the computer processor, based on two qubits of beryllium atoms, and now they have developed the technology necessary to program this processor, which have joined to form the first quantum computer.

From a computer point of view, they have developed a very basic tool: the processor can perform 15 basic operations that combined only allow 160 complex operations. But this is the first time it has been done on a quantum computer. Qubits have more capacity than normal bits, as they not only have the ability to take values 0 and 1, but can simultaneously take values 0 and 1, which greatly expands the calculation options.

The greatest difficulty in performing qubits has been its control. On the one hand, regulators have controlled ultra-fast beryllium ions by laser pulses and, on the other hand, have had to add electric fields to interact with ions, that is, so that they can exchange information.

Through this technology the first simple quantum computer has been manufactured, but still has great working limitations. For example, experts at the NIST institute say that the computer works correctly in 79% of the time. One of the next goals is to improve this percentage.