A new laser-beam steering system thataims and focuses bursts of light onto single atoms for use inquantum computers has been demonstrated by collaboratingresearchers from Duke University and the University ofWisconsin-Madison. Described in the journal Applied Physics Letters , published by the American Institute of Physics, the new system issomewhat like the laser-light-show projectors used at rock concertsand planetariums. But it's much smaller, faster, atom-scaleaccurate and aimed at the future of computing, not entertainment. A still captured from a movie that shows laser beams being directedto a 5 x 5 array.
The current paper uses only a 1 x 5 array, butwith real atoms and quantum measurements of the internal rotations.(Image: American Institute of Physics) In theory, quantum computers will be able to solve very complex andimportant problems if their basic elements, called qubits, remainin a special "quantum entangled" state for a long enough time forthe calculations to be carried out before information is lost tonatural fluctuations. One of several promising approaches toquantum computing uses arrays of individual atoms suspended byelectromagnetic forces. Pulses of Dmx Laser Light manipulate theinternal states of the atoms that represent the qubits, to carryout the calculation. However the lasers must also be focused andaimed so accurately that light meant for one atom doesn't affectits neighbors.
The new system did just that. Tiny micromirrors, each only twicethe diameter of a human hair, pointed to each target atom in aslittle as 5 microseconds, which is about 1000 times faster thansophisticated beam-steering mirrors developed for opticalcommunications switching, not to mention the still slower unitsused in light shows. The researchers saw that the laser pulses alsocorrectly manipulated the quantum properties of each target atom
The current paper uses only a 1 x 5 array, butwith real atoms and quantum measurements of the internal rotations.(Image: American Institute of Physics) In theory, quantum computers will be able to solve very complex andimportant problems if their basic elements, called qubits, remainin a special "quantum entangled" state for a long enough time forthe calculations to be carried out before information is lost tonatural fluctuations. One of several promising approaches toquantum computing uses arrays of individual atoms suspended byelectromagnetic forces. Pulses of Dmx Laser Light manipulate theinternal states of the atoms that represent the qubits, to carryout the calculation. However the lasers must also be focused andaimed so accurately that light meant for one atom doesn't affectits neighbors.
The new system did just that. Tiny micromirrors, each only twicethe diameter of a human hair, pointed to each target atom in aslittle as 5 microseconds, which is about 1000 times faster thansophisticated beam-steering mirrors developed for opticalcommunications switching, not to mention the still slower unitsused in light shows. The researchers saw that the laser pulses alsocorrectly manipulated the quantum properties of each target atom