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Researchers Find a Way to Reduce the Size of Quantum Computer Components
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Posted by Okachinepa on 12/04/2024 @
Courtesy of SynEvol
Credit: NTU Singapore
Researchers have found a way to reduce the size of quantum computing, possibly reducing the equipment needed and downsizing key components by a factor of 1,000.
A new kind of quantum computers is based on light particles called photons, which are made in pairs and are referred to be "entangled" in quantum physics. These photons can be created, for example, by shining a laser on millimeter-thick crystals and using optical equipment to make sure the photons link. The fact that it is too large to fit inside a computer chip is a disadvantage of this strategy.
Scientists at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have now discovered a solution to the issue with this method by creating linked pairs of photons using materials that are 80 times thinner than a hair strand, or only 1.2 micrometers thick. Additionally, they accomplished this without requiring extra optical equipment to keep the connection between the photon pairs, which simplified the setup process overall.
Courtesy of SynEvol
Credit: NTU Singapore
According to Prof. Gao Weibo of NTU, who lead the team, "our novel method to create entangled photon pairs paves the way for making quantum optical entanglement sources much smaller, which will be critical for applications in quantum information and photonic quantum computing."
Since many of these devices now require enormous, bulky optical equipment that is difficult to align before they can function, he added, the technology could reduce the size of devices for quantum applications.
By doing intricate calculations and swiftly identifying patterns in massive data sets, quantum computers are predicted to completely transform how we tackle a variety of problems, from improving our understanding of climate change to accelerating the discovery of novel medications. For example, quantum computers could do computations in minutes that would take today's supercomputers millions of years to complete.
Since quantum computers execute multiple computations at once rather than one at a time like conventional computers do, this is to be expected.
Courtesy of SynEvol
Credit: NTU Singapore
This is possible because quantum computers use microscopic switches known as quantum bits, or qubits, that may be in both the on and off positions at the same time to execute computations. The spinning coin is in a stage between heads and tails, much like when you flip a coin in the air. Standard computers, on the other hand, have switches that can only be turned on or off at any given moment.
Because photons can be in both on and off states simultaneously, they can be employed as qubits in quantum computers to speed up computations. However, being in two states at the same time only occurs when two photons are created, one of which is entangled with the other. The synchronized vibrations of the paired photons are a crucial prerequisite for entanglement.
The ability to create and entangle photons at ambient temperature is one benefit of employing them as qubits. Therefore, relying on photons can be simpler, less expensive, and more useful than employing other particles, such as electrons, which require extremely low temperatures that are similar to those found in space in order to be used for quantum computing.
Courtesy of SynEvol
Credit: NTU Singapore
In order to incorporate connected pairs of photons into computer processors, researchers have been looking for smaller materials. One problem, though, is that materials produce photons at a considerably lower rate as they go thinner, making them unsuitable for computing.
Recent developments demonstrated that, despite its thinness, niobium oxide dichloride, a potential new crystalline material with special optical and electrical properties, can efficiently create pairs of photons. However, since these photon pairs are not entangled when they are created, they are of no service to quantum computers.
Together with Prof. Liu Zheng from the School of Materials Science & Engineering, NTU experts lead by Prof. Gao from the University's School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering and School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences came up with a solution.
An established technique for producing entangled pairs of photons with bulkier and thicker crystalline materials was reported in 1999 and served as the model for Prof. Gao's approach. Two thick crystal flakes are stacked together, and the crystalline grains of each flakes are oriented perpendicular to one another.
However, because of the way photons move through the thick crystals after they are formed, the vibrations of a pair of photons may still be out of sync. In order to preserve the connection between the light particles, additional optical equipment is required to synchronize the photon pairs.
According to Prof. Gao's theory, the connected photons might be produced without the need for additional optical equipment by using a comparable two-crystal setup with two thin crystal flakes of niobium oxide dichloride, which have a combined thickness of 1.2 micrometers.
Since the flakes utilized are significantly smaller than the heavier crystals from previous research, he anticipated this to occur. As a result, the pairs of photons produced travel a smaller distance within the niobium oxide dichloride flakes, so the light particles remain in sync with each other. Experiments by the NTU Singapore team proved that his hunch was correct.
Entangled photons are similar to synchronized clocks that display the same time regardless of their distance from one another, allowing for instant communication, according to Prof. Sun Zhipei of Finland's Aalto University, a photonics expert who was not involved in NTU's study.
The technique used by the NTU team to produce quantum entangled photons "is a major advancement, potentially enabling the miniaturization and integration of quantum technologies," he continued.
According to Prof. Sun, a co-principal investigator at the Research Council of Finland's Center of Excellence in Quantum Technology, "this development has potential to advance quantum computing and secure communication, as it allows for more compact, scalable, and efficient quantum systems."
In order to produce even more linked pairs of photons than are now feasible, the NTU team intends to further improve the setup.
One possibility is to investigate whether adding minute grooves and patterns to the surface of flakes of niobium oxide dichloride can boost the quantity of photon pairs generated. Another will investigate whether photon production may be increased by stacking the flakes of niobium oxide dichloride with other materials.
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