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Future directions in computing

Silicon electronics are a staple of the computing industry, but researchers

are now exploring other techniques to deliver powerful computers.

A quantum computer is a theoretical device that would make use of the properties

of quantum mechanics, the realm of physics that deals with energy and matter at

atomic scales.

In a quantum computer data is not processed by electrons passing through

transistors, as is the case in today's computers, but by caged atoms known as

quantum bits or Qubits.

"It is a new paradigm for computation," said Professor Artur Ekert of the University

of Oxford. "It's doing computation differently."

A bit is a simple unit of information that is represented by a "1" or a "0" in a

conventional electronic computer.

A qubit can also represent a "1" or a "0" but crucially can be both at the same time

- known as a superposition.

This allows a quantum computer to work through many problems and arrive at their

solutions simultaneously.

"It is like massively parallel processing but in one piece of hardware," said

Professor Ekert.

'Complex systems'

This has significant advantages, particularly for solving problems with a large

amount of data or variables.

"With quantum computing you are able to attack some problems on the time scales

of seconds, which might take an almost infinite amount of time with classical

computers," Professor David Awschalom of the University of California, Santa

Barbara told the BBC News website recently.

In February 2007, the Canadian company D-Wave systems claimed to have

demonstrated a working quantum computer.At the time, Herb Martin, chief executive officer of the company said that the

display represented a "substantial step forward in solving commercial and scientific

problems which, until now, were considered intractable."

But many in the quantum computing world have remained sceptical, primarily

because the company released very little information about the machine.

The display also failed to impress.

"It was not quite what we understand as quantum computing," said Professor

Ekert. "The demonstrations they showed could have been solved by conventional

computers."

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However, Professor Ekert believes that quantum computing will eventually come of

age.

Then, he said, they will not be used in run-of-the-mill desktop applications but

specialist uses such as searching vast databases, creating uncrackable ciphers or

simulating the atomic structures of substances.

"The really killer application will probably be in designing new materials or complex

systems," he said.