Researchers at Oxford University Physics have demonstrated the first quantum teleportation of logic gates, marking a significant step towards making quantum computing a reality.
The research team successfully connected two separate quantum computers through a photonic network to form a fully connected quantum computer. Quantum computers leverage quantum mechanics to store and process information. Unlike binary computers, where the basic unit of information or bits can occupy either an "on" or "off" state, quantum bits (qubits) utilize the property of superposition, where information can exist in multiple states simultaneously, to perform calculations at a much faster rate than today's supercomputers.
The superior computational capabilities of quantum computers hold the potential to revolutionize medical research, power climate change models, and solve optimization problems across various industries.
To address the challenge of building large-scale quantum processors that can process millions of qubits simultaneously, researchers at Oxford University Physics have devised a scalable architecture where modules can be interconnected to build a larger machine. Each module consists of a small number of trapped-ion qubits, which are then connected through optical fiber cables. Here, data is transmitted as photons instead of electrical signals, enabling the entanglement of qubits across modules.
A logic gate is a component of a computing device that can perform a logical function. Without logic gates, computers cannot perform calculations essential for their operation.
"In our study, we use quantum teleportation to create interactions between these distant systems," explained Dougal Main from Oxford University Physics, who was involved in the research.
The concept of such a quantum computer stems from a conventional supercomputing system where multiple smaller computers are connected to achieve greater computational power. For a quantum computer, this approach overcomes the scalability issue while providing the necessary environment for quantum-scale operations, which are prone to interference and errors.