Is quantum computing closer than we thought?

 It is no secret that silicon is reaching its limitations for use in microprocessors. So what kind of technologies can we expect to find in the future, and are they closer than we thought?

The largest topic you will hear about as regards to future processors and technological progression is quantum computing. Current processors use transistors to represent binary code consisting of 1’s and 0’s to follow instructions, encode, decode and perform calculations. The transistors work by modifying current, effectively acting like switches where been open represents the ‘1’, and closed been the ‘o’.

The theory of quantum computing is to manipulate the spin of electrons (quantum particles). An electron can move in either of two directions, as well as having indeterminate spin positions, known as quantum states. This allows an electron to represent either ‘1’ or ‘0’ at the same time, which is the basis for the potentially huge power a quantum computer could provide. When a quantum processor stores this information it does so in qubits, it can then arrange these simultaneously to acquire every possible outcome. The power a quantum processor could provide would not just benefit computers, but would greatly help us to make scientific and medical progress, as current silicon based processors lack the power, efficiency and accuracy to calculate the complexity of molecules. The possibilities and practical applications of quantum processors though, are of course endless. 

Scientists and researchers at the University of New South Wales have recently come closer than ever before in the development of quantum processing, by successfully placing a single electron on a silicon chip. This is the basis in forming a qubit which when combined with multiple other qubits, creates a quantum processor. Researchers are also currently experimenting with other solutions such as integrating multiple single electrons onto a single atom.

Another method in quantum computing is to use photons instead of electrons, also known as optical computing. By using packets of light directed by waveguides will the same indeterminate properties of electrons.  Researchers at the University of Bristol have devised a small silicon chip (around the size of penny) that uses photons to solve a common maths problem. To give you an idea of the amazing achievement this is, it should be noted that previous quantum computers are the size of laboratories, and despite been a very basic maths problem, it again provides possibilities and solutions that pave the way for the future of quantum technology.

In conclusion – it appears that quantum computing is indeed closer than we thought, despite having a long way to go. It is no longer a dream based far into the future, and has gone past the stage of being a simple idea. In fact researchers predict we could have a practical working quantum processor in as little as twenty years. One can only wonder…

Researched and written by JT. Weston