Scientists at NIST and the University of Maryland have developed a new method for storing visual images in a cloud of rubidium atoms, potentially paving the way for quantum computer memory. The technique involves firing a laser pulse through a magnetized vapor of rubidium atoms, which changes the energy levels of the atoms based on the pulse’s characteristics. By flipping the magnetic field, scientists can read out the stored image characteristics from the vapor.
While the current implementation can only store images for about 10 milliseconds and introduces too much noise to be practical, the research aims to gain insights into using rubidium atoms as quantum bits for future quantum computers. The ultimate goal is to develop solid-state systems for storing quantum information, which will be essential for building next-generation quantum computers.
Keywords: Rubidium, Quantum bits, Laser, Vapor, Quantum information
