Scientists from the University of Maryland managed to create the world's first programmable and reprogrammable quantum computer. Scientists have been moving towards this goal for many years, because quantum computers can solve many problems that traditional computers cannot cope with, information inside which is transmitted using electric voltage. In theory, a quantum computer is capable of performing so many calculations simultaneously, the number of which is even difficult to imagine. But scientists always have to start small.
Quantum computers have been created in the past, but the achievement of researchers from Maryland is that now a computer can be reprogrammed without making changes to its physical architecture. The scientists published the results of their research in the prestigious journal Nature. The computer was developed by Dr. Shantanu Debnat. The device is a set of five interconnected qubits (quantum bits of information) based on ytterbium ions. Ytterbium is one of the most studied elements suitable for use in this kind of project.
Each qubit combines the roles of a memory cell and a computational module. It can simultaneously store logical zero and one in itself, thanks to the laws of quantum physics. It was possible to combine qubits with each other using lasers and magnetic fields. Scientists arranged five qubits in the form of a pentagram, and then began to control them using a conventional computer, creating new connections between them and destroying old ones.
Special software was written that transforms any mathematical algorithms into instructions that a quantum computer can understand. In the course of experiments on the created quantum computer, the algorithms of Deutsch-Jozy, Bernstein-Vazirani, as well as the algorithm of quantum Fourier transforms were launched. Scientists are especially proud of the fact that their computer is extremely reliable compared to previous attempts to create such a computer. Qubits fail only 2% of the time, which is a great achievement.
SERGEY GRAY