Scientists Found A New Way To Use Photons As Memory

Scientists at Yale University have made another discovery which brings us closer to quantum computing. They’ve found a new to use microwave signals something as equivalent of a memory kit in your computer. Quantum computers work similarly to a regular computer which has the ability to store, transmit and process information.

But due to the nature of quantum information, its fragile by nature. Therefore, the biggest obstacle in quantum computing is the ability of storage data without any form degrade or destruction of it.

This is where the revolutionary discovery equivalent of a RAM for quantum computing steps in. This process involves the use of photons, the smallest units of microwave signals. Photons have the ability to hold quantum information for a very long time . They’re a suitable choice as a storage unit as they interact weakly with our current form of media which requires coaxial cables, wires and even air. It because of the weakness it gets prevented being absorbed by the medium of transmitting data, therefore preserves the information from quantum computing.

There is also a report which shows that researchers also found a way for photos to repel photons, therefore assuring more efficient, non-destructive and manipulation of the quantum data.

Gerhard Kirchmair, a postdoctoral research at Yale University and the research paper’s lead author said,””Our experiment has shown that we can create a medium that on the one hand enables us to manipulate the photon state, and on the other hand does not absorb the photons, which would destroy the quantum information stored in them. This creates a source for novel quantum states without the need for complicated control techniques and could simplify certain quantum computation algorithms. In the long run it could be used as one of the many resources required to build a quantum computer.”

The medium uses qubit coupled to a microwave cavity resonator.

Source: Phys