Here’s a discovery that could boost quantum computers

Between dream and reality, there is a big challenge. Whoever wants the quirky quantum scientist, more specifically the famous “qubits”: it is for future computers what “bits” are for good old computers.

As a reminder, every operation of a classic computer (for example, viewing a video file) consists of pushing an enormous series of bits – each one equal to either 0 or 1 through logic gates – these are millions of tiny transistors that make all the power of the processors – in order to get Desired result (here a new series of 0 and 1 represents the final image on the screen). Faced with this monotonous world of binary calculus, a quantum computer promises great prospects for algebraic and probabilistic computations – as if, in front of a maze, the only way out is by crossing all the paths simultaneously and in the blink of an eye, rather than diligently exploring each path. How ? By using the register of a qubit – a qubit is a quantum entity like an atom or a group of atoms, which we will deal with with the help of electromagnetic waves (like logic gates that deal with bits). One of the quantum properties, for example the spin of electrons. to me Provided that these qubits are in a state called hypothesis.

Physically, for an electron spin, for example, this means that it is directed “down” and “up”. The qubit is 0 (low) and 1 (high) – otherwise it would be a bit tacky … otherwise This qubit state is unstable : The entire universe is trying to destroy it », Says physicist Silvan Bartenta of the Institute for Fine Materials for Nanoelectronics in Provence (CNRS, Aix-Marseille University, read below).

This is why most quantum computer prototypes protect precious qubit’s jealousy, especially from thermal induction, by cooling them to temperatures near absolute zero – energy-consuming solutions! Even then, these bits only last for a fraction of a second. However, Sylvain Bartina and colleagues at Lille, the Dutch, and Americans discovered an alternative: an electromagnetic shield! By “wrapping” the qubits firmly with the light waves emitted in the microwave field, The qubit only sees this wave, and the outside world disappears »Rejoice. This “shield” isn’t eternal, but it lasts long enough to extend the life of a qubit by up to a million times. It remains to be proven now that it can isolate an entire record of qubits, not just one of them. If so, this discovery could accelerate the emergence of the quantum computer.