Dutch University to Build First Quantum Computer

As soon as you start talking about Quantum Mechanics, you enter a Looking-Glass world where particles can simultaneously be in two apparently contradictory states, or can exchange information over vast distances instantly, apparently faster than the speed of light.

But Professor Leo Kouwenhoven at the physics department at Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands wants to exploit these and other quantum properties to build the world’s first true quantum computer. The university has announced the founding of the Qutech Centre, which it hopes will open in January 2016 and will host an academic staff of 60 and 40 students.

“Our scientific know-how is now approaching the point where we can prove that we can really build such a computer,” he said.

Speaking on the 100th anniversary of the Niels Bohr model of the atom, which gave birth to the theory of quantum mechanics, Mr. Kouwenhoven said the computer would allow them to tackle topics that are way beyond the processing ability of conventional digital computers.

“We will be able to do calculations on materials that are incalculable now, such as understanding materials that would allow us to make room-temperature super-conductors.” Super-conductors are materials that conduct electricity with no resistance. Typically the effect is only seen at exceptionally low temperatures, a few degrees above absolute zero.

Quantum computers have also been talked about for use in cracking codes that rely on the use of very large prime numbers, or in dramatically improving the accuracy of weather predictions, which rely on vast calculations.

Canadian company D-Wave Systems has already claimed to have built a quantum computer, but some academics remain skeptical. “At the moment, it’s not clear to my eyes that D-Wave device is what we would call a quantum computer,” computer scientist Wim van Dam from the University of California, Santa Barbara told Wired magazine.

Vern Brownell, President and CEO of D-Wave Systems, in an email statement, said: “Quantum mechanics is integral to how the D-Wave system performs its calculations. This has been supported by the work of outside scientists, including a peer-reviewed paper by USC scientists published in Nature Communications earlier this year.”

Conventional digital computers use a single bit which can exist in one of two states, a 1 or 0. But in quantum computers, the equivalent, the “qubit”, can exist in both states simultaneously, a phenomenon called “super position.”

This enables the computer to rapidly solve mathematical problems with extremely large numbers of variables. These mathematical problems are common in daily life, for example in the models that predict the weather, in performing calculations on materials with extraordinary properties, or in accurately determining the effects of medicines in a cell.

The other bizarre property of quantum mechanics is called “entanglement.” According to Mr. Kouwenhoven if two particles interact with each other, even if they are then separated, changes in one can be seen in the other.

If none of this makes any sense, don’t worry too much. Even Mr. Kouwenhoven admitted it all appeared very strange indeed. How these effects happen isn’t clear, but that they happen allows scientists to use them. That may be why the most common phrase (wrongly attributed to American theoretical physicist Richard Feynman) about quantum mechanics is “Shut up and calculate.”

Updated 18.15 4 Oct. 2013: Included comment from D-Wave CEO

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    • It might seem like pure fantasy now, but with quantum computers we will be able to eventually do some incredible things, like run computer simulated universes that are indistinguishable from our own "real" universe, even complete with simulated minds. There is a new book that talks about the implications of Rose's Law, D-Wave, and quantum computers in general (i.e., "On Computer Simulated Universes"). The author, Solomon, writes that if quantum computers can someday run simulated universes (which is a real possibility), then there must also must be a series of computer simulated universes contained within computer simulated universes. With many active simulations, there would be a range of physical properties differing from universe to universe. Universes with more positive physical traits to support life would produce better environments for more advanced civilizations to evolve to the point where they themselves would create their own computer simulated universes. And this process would continue. So over a long period of time, universes would evolve with the physics more favorable for life. He says that universes, over time, have been naturally selected for particular physical properties, with an end result of creating more and more habitable universes. In other words, this could explain how the laws of physics might actually evolve relying on a process similar to species evolution. Solomon also goes on to say that, from a determinism standpoint, there is no meaningful distinction between an individual or group of individuals running a simulated universe versus one simulated universe running another simulated universe.

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