A Quantum Leap

Mechanical Engineering, Jul 2004 by Thilmany, Jean

A NEW BREED OF FASTER, more powerful computers based on quantum mechanics may be a step closer to reality, say scientists from Purdue and Duke universities.

Researchers there have made transistors that make use of quantum dots. Future computers that use quantum dots to store and process digital information might far outperform today's computer circuits. To make the dots, the researchers linked a pair of tiny puddles made up of a few dozen electrons sandwiched inside a semiconductor.

"This is a very promising candidate for quantum computation," said Albert Chang, an adjunct professor of physics in the School of Science at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. "We believe this research will allow large numbers of quantum-dot switches to work together as a group, which will be necessary if they are ever to function as a computer's brain or memory."

Quantum computers also allow better encryption methods and heightened data security, he added.