A
cavity containing a squeezed vacuum, developed at the California
Institute of Tech in separate research. The University of Calgary and
Tokyo Institute of Technology research uses a similar squeezed vaccum
to store "less than nothing". (Source: California Institute of Technology)
"Less than nothing" is the new zero
The world of quantum mechanics is filled with outlandish physical phenomena -- including everything from perpetual motion to teleportation. Scientists have sought, in recent years, to exploit these phenomena to create the ultimate computing machine. Such a computer, which would put even Intel or IBM's mightiest system to shame, holds the promise to solve certain types of very difficult, but very important problems.
Scientists have made large advances including creating cables for quantum computers, developing quantum encryption techniques, and the development of the first commercial quantum computer by D-Wave,
co-developed by NASA. Much of the research into quantum computing
involves using photons to store and convey information inside advanced
computer systems. However, light on an atomic scale behaves
rather "spooky."
On a silicon transistor scale, for the most part "on" or 1 means
charged, and "off" or 0 means no charge. On a quantum scale, on
still means a charge, but "off" or absence of light still produces a
lesser amount of atomic noise. In other words, even if a photon
is turned off, the quantum computer will still read a small amount of
noise, disrupting measurements.
Scientists, after puzzling over this complex problem have come up with
an outlandish solution -- creating a "squeezed vacuum" a space which
has less than nothing, less noise than a space with no light.
Scientists managed to store and retrieve this "perfect dark" quantum
zero. The special vacuum is created by a laser beam directed
through special crystals. Squeezed vacuums have previously been
created but not stored. Typical uses are gravity wave
detection.
Teams of physicists at the University of Calgary and the Tokyo Institute of Technology independently demonstrated that a squeezed vacuum can be stored
in a collection of rubidium atoms and retrieved when necessary.
The work appears in today's edition of the physics journal Physical Review Letters. In it the researchers detail how they verified that the space remained squeezed when retrieved, compared to no light.
Alexander Lvovsky, professor in the Department of Physics and
Astronomy, Canada Research Chair and leader of the University of
Calgary's Quantum
Information Technology research group, stated, "Memory for light has
been a big challenge in physics for many years and
I am very pleased we have been able to bring it one step further.
It is important not only for quantum computers, but may also provide
new ways to make unbreakable codes for transmitting sensitive
information."
The team's research followed Harvard-Smithsonian scientists' 2001 work
that slowed light to a stop and physicist Alexander Kuzmich of the
Georgia Institute of Technology's work, which led to a successful 2006
effort to store and retrieve a photon. Kuzmich was enthusiastic
about the new developments and said that the ability to squeeze space
closer to an absolute zero in terms of noise promises to significantly
aid in the development of quantum networks. He marveled at the
work and said of the progress, "It's a real technical achievement."
Lvovsky’s team next hopes to develop storage methods for more complex
forms of light, such as entangled light, which can lead to exotic new
uses and improvements in quantum computing.
“And I don't know why [Apple is] acting like it’s superior. I don't
even get it. What are they trying to say?” -- Bill Gates on the Mac ads
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