They promise incredible calculation speeds for certain problems, but they’re extremely finicky.
The slightest bit of heat or electromagnetic disturbance can disrupt their delicate quantum states.
Quantum computersrun at temperatures just a hair above absolute zero.
And keeping them humming along at these temps requires massive, multi-million dollar cooling systems known as dilution refrigerators.
Electrical signals in these computers travel through wires, which generate heat due to resistance.
Fiber optics are effectively heat-free and have other advantages, such as higher bandwidth and less electromagnetic interference.
However, there’s a catch: qubits can’t directly process optical signals.
The technology removes a lot of performance-limiting electronics, too.
That said, this new method is still just a prototype with lots of room for improvement.
But it represents a critical first step toward quantum systems that don’t require super-cooling every component.
That could make them vastly more practical and affordable to build and operate at serious scales.
Masthead credit:ISTA
