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quantum computing Last modified: Tuesday, June 11, 2002
First proposed in the 1970s, quantum computing relies on quantum physics by taking advantage of certain quantum physics properties of atoms or nuclei that allow them to work together as quantum bits, or qubits, to be the computer's processor and memory. By interacting with each other while being isolated from the external environment, qubits can perform certain calculations exponentially faster than conventional computers. Qubits do not rely on the traditional binary nature of computing. While traditional computers encode information into bits using binary numbers, either a 0 or 1, and can only do calculations on one set of numbers at once, quantum computers encode information as a series of quantum-mechanical states such as spin directions of electrons or polarization orientations of a photon that might represent a 1 or a 0, might represent a combination of the two or might represent a number expressing that the state of the qubit is somewhere between 1 and 0, or a superposition of many different numbers at once. A quantum computer can do an arbitrary reversible classical computation on all the numbers simultaneously, which a binary system cannot do, and also has some ability to produce interference between various different numbers. By doing a computation on many different numbers at once, then interfering the results to get a single answer, a quantum computer has the potential to be much more powerful than a classical computer of the same size. In using only a single processing unit, a quantum computer can naturally perform myriad operations in parallel. Quantum computing is not well suited for tasks such as word processing and email, but it is ideal for tasks such as cryptography and modeling and indexing very large databases.
Quantum Computing With Molecules  By taking advantage of nuclear magnetic resonance, scientists can coax the molecules in some ordinary liquids to serve as an extraordinary type of computer. Subatomic Logic  Researchers nudge closer to the goal of quantum computing. Centre for Quantum Computing Part of the University of Oxford, it conducts theoretical and experimental research into all aspects of quantum information processing, and into the implications of the quantum theory of computation for physics itself. Mighty Small Dots New quantum phenomena yields some extraordinary bonuses. Quantum Dots Could Form Basis of New Computers Scientists at Purdue University are helping researchers take a quantum leap in computer technology. Scientists Activate Neurons With Quantum Dots By using the molecular-recognition capabilities of living cells, scientists have made selective electrical contacts to neurons. The University of Queensland Quantum computer technology research, publications and links. What's a Qubit, and Do You Want One? Quantum computers promise unprecedented speed increases.	Related Categories Computer Science Nanotechnology Types of Computers Related Terms binary bit nanocomputer quantum dot qubit