Lithuanian scientists have announced the creation of the world’s smallest single-photon quantum computer. As reported by „Interesting Engineering,“ at a press conference at Tsing Hua National University, researchers demonstrated that their quantum computer, which is the size of a small box, uses the Shor algorithm for factorization into simple multipliers.
One notable achievement is that the scientists were able to overcome significant obstacles in the development of quantum computers, such as high energy requirements and the need for a low-temperature environment.
Unlike conventional computers that use printed circuit boards for calculations, quantum computers use photons to transmit data and quantum physics to process it. In a regular computer, a bit can only be expressed as 0 or 1, which is the smallest unit of information. On the other hand, quantum superposition allows a quantum bit, or qubit, to exist simultaneously as 0 and 1.
Due to this property, quantum computers can perform complex operations 100 million times faster than conventional computers, including factorization into simple multipliers and searching through large datasets.
The new invention, detailed in a publication in the journal „Physical Review Applied,“ demonstrates how a photonic quantum computer can be compact in size and operate without the need for massive cooling systems, unlike the current leading quantum computers used in research laboratories.
According to the scientists, this discovery represents a significant breakthrough in the field of quantum technologies. They also mentioned the potential applications of photonic quantum computers in various future areas, such as data security, artificial intelligence, medical research, and logistics optimization.
In conclusion, the development of the world’s smallest single-photon quantum computer by Lithuanian scientists marks a remarkable advancement in the field of quantum computing. With its compact size and efficient operation, this technology has the potential to revolutionize various industries and pave the way for exciting advancements in the future.