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Quantum Computing Using Traditional Transistors

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the reusing-old-hardware dept.

Ocean Consulting writes "UCLA is reporting progress on the quantum computing front by announcing success in controlling the spin of a single electron using an ordinary transistor." It's been a long road for the researchers involved, and even the project lead, Hong Wen Jiang admits, "...our initial theoretical calculations were very favorable, and gave us confidence to persevere."

9 of 323 comments (clear)

  1. Secure communications? by agm · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Quantum computing, which holds the promise of nearly unlimited processing power, secure communications and the ability to decode encrypted conversations by terrorists and others, is a significant step closer to becoming a reality today with new research published by a team of UCLA scientists in the journal Nature.

    So which is it, secure communications or communications that can be spied on? It can't be both.

    1. Re:Secure communications? by lenhap · · Score: 4, Informative

      It is secure and it allows encrypted communications to be spied on. What they don't tell you is that the encrypted comunications are encrypted using standard encryption methods around today. Things that can be cracked by exhaustive search.

      Using a quantum computer it can search every possible key simultaneously, cracking the encryption almost instantly. An example to understand this, you are in a building searching for your briefcase. Normal computers would go through every room one by one until they find it. A quantum computer would find the briefcase by existing in every room at the same time, finally settling (existance wise) in the room with the briefcase.

      They also mention quantum cryptography being uncrackable, this is true. If someone eaves drops on communication that is encrypted, it inherently destroys the data. The users will recognize intrusion and the eavesdropper cannot decrypt the message because the data has been destroyed.

      So yes, quantum computers can decrypt normal encryption that can be broken by exhaustive search and they can be used to provide quantum cryptograph which is a theoretically unbreakable form of communication.

    2. Re:Secure communications? by cephyn · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Here's what i never understood, maybe you or someone can help me out...

      if eavesdropping on the encrypted transmission destroys it, couldnt the eavesdropper do so on purpose everytime, effectively jamming all transmission? Little point in having a secure way to communicate if no message can ever get through.

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      Moo.
  2. That's weird by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    The article said something totally different brfore I clicked it.

  3. Hrmm... by Arcanix · · Score: 5, Funny

    I thought about reading the article but will it change if I look at it?

  4. Kind of misleading... by 7Ghent · · Score: 5, Informative

    They're actually using pulsed microwave bursts to manipulate the electron's spin, not the transistor itself, really.

  5. Tin Foil Hat Time... by CommanderData · · Score: 4, Insightful

    From the article:
    Quantum computing, which holds the promise of nearly unlimited processing power, secure communications and the ability to decode encrypted conversations by terrorists and others (emphasis mine)

    Take special note of the word others, which should be read as everyone. The government will be falling all over themselves to support this research and inherit a technology that makes encryption virtually useless.

    I'm all for advancing technology, and no doubt quantum computing will be a great leap forward. It's just a shame that our privacy will be sacrificed in the process.

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    Urge to post... fading... fading... RISING!... fading... fading... gone.
  6. Secure Communications ... by mdvlspwn99 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    is great. Until the technology becomes ubiquitous enough that even terrorists have access to it. Then what? It's secure...even from us.

    --
    If reality was like Slashdot, most people would be (-1) Redundant.
  7. I had a Quantum hard drive before by gphinch · · Score: 5, Funny

    "With 100 transistors, each containing one of these electrons, you could have the implicit information storage that corresponds to all of the hard disks made in the world this year, multiplied by the number of years the universe has been around," Yablonovitch said. "And why stop with 100 transistors?"

    I hope this drive lasts longer than the Quantumm Fireball I had.

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    in bed.