Quantum computer systems are extraordinarily costly to construct, typically costing tens of millions of {dollars} as a result of want for specialised supplies, elements, and tools comparable to cryogenic programs and superior electronics.
This is among the the explanation why scientists in just some developed elements of the world presently have entry to this superior computing know-how.
However, a brand new examine by researchers on the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Wits University) proposes a quantum pc made with odd tools.
This innovation has the potential to make highly effective quantum computing know-how extra inexpensive and accessible to all.
It might sound unbelievable, however the examine authors construct a quantum pc utilizing solely laser beams, digital shows (like these present in projectors), and easy lenses. When they ran checks, their pc efficiently carried out advanced duties and processed a number of ranges of knowledge past the capabilities of classical computer systems.
The uncanny energy of sunshine
The quantum pc constructed by the researchers is pushed by the properties of sunshine. They used a classically structured gentle, a sort of sunshine beam manipulated to have particular shapes, constructions, or phases, enabling them to hold advanced info.
By making use of quantum ideas, like state superposition (the place a system can exist in a number of states directly), the researchers carried out photonic matrix multiplication—a course of the place gentle patterns are used to carry out mathematical operations with matrices.
“The key was linking how gentle interacts with optical gadgets, comparable to digital shows and lenses, to the mathematical operations {that a} quantum operation in a quantum pc performs,” the examine authors word.
Once the classically structured gentle was efficiently built-in with the optical elements of the pc, the researchers examined their quantum system utilizing the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm.
This explicit algorithm addresses a selected downside; figuring out whether or not a operate is fixed (producing the identical output for all inputs) or balanced (giving totally different outputs for half of the inputs). It might sound easy however this algorithm reveals whether or not a system is quicker, higher, and extra environment friendly than a classical pc.
Analyzing the quantum pc’s efficiency
When the researchers examined their quantum pc, its efficiency stunned them as a result of, just like an costly quantum system, their innovation outperformed classical computer systems by a big margin.
While conventional computer systems work with solely 0 and 1, “We’ve proven that our system can work with 16 totally different ranges of knowledge,” highlighted Mwezi Koni, lead researcher and an M.Sc. candidate on the Wits University.
“In principle, we may increase this to deal with tens of millions of ranges, which might be a game-changer for processing advanced info,” Koni added.
Moreover, since this quantum pc makes use of gentle to course of info, the pace at which it may well clear up a number of advanced calculations concurrently is unmatchable.
“Traditional computer systems work like switchboards, processing info as easy sure or no selections. Our method makes use of laser beams to course of a number of potentialities concurrently, dramatically rising computing energy,” Isaac Nape, one of many examine authors and an skilled in quantum know-how at Wits, mentioned.
The Wits workforce is hopeful that their innovation will improve entry to quantum computer systems in labs and quantum analysis services positioned in nations that may’t afford costly quantum applied sciences.
The examine is revealed within the journal APL Photonics.
