Quantum Logic Gate Created Using Excitons

Roland Piquepaille writes "In this article, PhysicsWeb reports that researchers in the U.S. "have taken another important step towards making a quantum computer. [They] have created a logic gate using two electron-hole pairs -- also known as "excitons" -- in a quantum dot." According to Wikipedia, "an exciton is a combination of an electron and a hole in a semiconductor or insulator in an excited state These physicists from the University of Michigan and other labs made a quantum dot by using a thin gallium arsenide layer stuck between two aluminium gallium arsenide barriers. And electrons trapped in the middle layer were excited by light to create a quantum logical gate with four states. The group says this could be useful "in other approaches to quantum computing based on the optical control of electron-spin qubits in quantum dots.." This summary contains more details."

Comments

Tech problems

[brejc8]

Many of todays (hoge comparetively) processes suffer from metal migration and huge static power dissapation. If the molecule sized transistors are going to take off they have to solve there problems first or these products will have a lifetime of a few hours.

What about..

[CausticWindow]

those guys who managed to factor "14" into 7 and 2 with Shors algorithm on an actual quantum computer implementation?

Heard anything more from them? I googled, but couldn't find anything.

In the future!

[Phishpin]

I know nothing about quantum computing except that it looks really hard, and I'm betting a lot of other people are in a similar situation. When traditional silicon (or other semiconductor) components have gotten as small and fast as feasibly possible, will quantum computers be anywhere near as usable as the desktops of today are? Meaning, will I be able to use a fast computer without a PhD?

Re:Not quite yet

[gfody]

you only need one instruction, everything else can be built from that. sure you could google up some interesting stuff if your interested