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Politics : Formerly About Applied Materials -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Proud_Infidel who wrote (34582)	3/16/2000 11:36:00 AM
From: Proud_Infidel	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 70976

U.S. scientists closer to making new type of supercomputer By Reuters Special to CNET News.com March 15, 2000, 1:55 p.m. PT LONDON--U.S. scientists moved a step closer to developing a super-computer after looking at a branch of physics that researches the physics of particles invisible to the human eye. "In the language of quantum information science, we have realized a four-quantum-bit logic gate. This system is relevant for the future development of quantum information technology," the scientists said in the journal Nature. Conventional computers are based on binary "switches," or bits, which can either be switched on or off. Computers carry out calculations utilizing these switches. Quantum theory holds that entities such as atoms do not decide whether they exist in an on or off state until they are measured or interact with something. When they are not interacting, the atoms exist in both states at once--a quantum superposition--said Christopher Monroe, a researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Computers based on quantum physics would therefore be able to have switches or "qbits" that exist in both on and off states simultaneously. A string of these quantum bits would consequently offer every possible on-off combination and could carry out every calculation a computer needed simultaneously, hugely increasing the computer's power and memory. But maintaining several superpositions--an entanglement--is difficult. So far it had only been maintained in systems of two or three qbits, until US researchers at NIST entangled four quantum particles, Rainer Blatt of the University of Innsbruck said in the Nature article. Although many more particles would have to be "entangled" for a quantum computer to become a reality, the researchers were confident the technique could be used to create larger entanglements. "Our technique is scalable to a lot more atoms. If we get to that level, we'll not only bring the strangest feature of quantum mechanics closer to the macroscopic world (the world visible to the naked eye), but we may also have a quantum computer," Monroe said in a statement. The new U.S. technique allows many-particle entanglement with "comparatively little effort" and will be invaluable to further quantum state engineering, Blatt said. Story Copyright ¸ 2000 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.