Scientists from NIST, MIT, and the University of Michigan have proposed a new design for a large-scale quantum computer. The proposed architecture uses interconnected ion traps to store and manipulate quantum information. This approach allows for scaling up to a large number of quantum bits (qubits) while leveraging existing techniques demonstrated on smaller scales.
The key innovation is using multiple small ion traps connected by electromagnetic fields. Ions can be shuttled between traps, allowing for both memory storage and logical processing. The team has already demonstrated efficient ion transport between two interconnected traps at NIST’s Boulder laboratories.
This scalable architecture represents a significant step towards practical quantum computing. It builds on existing ion trap technology and could enable quantum computers with thousands of qubits in the future. The next steps include further experimental validation and optimization of the ion transport and manipulation techniques.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2002/06/design-proposed-large-scale-quantum-computer
Keywords: quantum computer, ion traps, quantum bits, quantum state, scalable architecture
