Quantum Computing Using Atom Traps

Bottomquark writes "Scientific American has an article about using an atomic conveyer belt to actively transport atoms in a quantum computer from one logic gate to another. Atoms travel passively, propelled by their thermal motions, along 10-micron-wide wires made by etching a gold layer atop a gallium arsenide substrate. A square-tooth pattern of wires on each side breaks up the magnetic tube into a chain of 0.5-millimeter-long atom traps. Varying the electric currents moves the traps along the guide, carrying their atoms with them.""

Comments

Van de Graaf

[The Cunctator]

Not as cool as van de Graaff generators, invented by Robert Jemison van de Graaff, which use actual conveyor belts to carry electrons up to the collection sphere. The original atom-smasher, the largest is at the Boston Museum of Science, and generates 5 million volts of electricity. Some might argue that they're not as cool as Van der Graaf Generator, but I'll leave that argument to the ages. Prog rock vs. electrostatics. Hmmm.

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Great book on this topic

[CokeBear]

If you're interested in this stuff, read Engines of Creation by Eric Drexler. Published in 1986, he predicted all this, and more. And he lays out where we're headed. Nanotechnology has the potential to be mankinds greatest invention... or worst nightmare.