A superconducting chip developed at IBM demonstrates an important step needed for the creation of computer processors that crunch numbers by exploiting the weirdness of quantum physics. If successfully developed, quantum computers could effectively take shortcuts through many calculations that are difficult for today's computers.
IBM's new chip is the first to integrate the basic devices needed to build a quantum computer, known as qubits, into a 2-D grid. Researchers think one of the best routes to making a practical quantum computer would involve creating grids of hundreds or thousands of qubits working together. The circuits of IBM's chip are made from metals that become superconducting when cooled to extremely low temperatures. The chip operates at only a fraction of a degree above absolute zero.
IBM's chip contains only the simplest grid possible, four qubits in a two-by-two array. But previously researchers had only shown they could operate qubits together when arranged in a line. Unlike conventional binary bits, a qubit can enter a "superposition state" where it is effectively both 0 and 1 at the same time. When qubits in this state work together, they can cut through complex calculations in ways impossible for conventional hardware. Google, NASA, Microsoft, IBM, and the U.S. government are all working on the technology.
Nature Communications: Demonstration of a quantum error detection code using a square lattice of four superconducting qubits
(Score: 1) by gallondr00nk on Friday May 01 2015, @05:44PM
Windows programs have been doing that for decades.
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Friday May 01 2015, @05:47PM
Current memory technology seems to have the same capability.
(Score: 2) by rts008 on Saturday May 02 2015, @12:08AM
Well, to be fair, Windows can also neither 0 and/or 1 at the same time.
It's worse than Schroedinger's cat, or not.
I don't think any of my Windows PC's have had a cat in the box though, every time I have thrown one out the window in frustration, not once did any of them land on their feet.