World First: Calculations With 14 Quantum Bits

[n2doc]

ScienceDaily (Apr. 1, 2011) — Quantum physicists from the University of Innsbruck have set another world record: They have achieved controlled entanglement of 14 quantum bits (qubits) and, thus, realized the largest quantum register that has ever been produced. With this experiment the scientists have not only come closer to the realization of a quantum computer but they also show surprising results for the quantum mechanical phenomenon of entanglement.

The term entanglement was introduced by the Austrian Nobel laureate Erwin Schrödinger in 1935, and it describes a quantum mechanical phenomenon that while it can clearly be demonstrated experimentally, is not understood completely. Entangled particles cannot be defined as single particles with defined states but rather as a whole system. By entangling single quantum bits, a quantum computer will solve problems considerably faster than conventional computers. "It becomes even more difficult to understand entanglement when there are more than two particles involved," says Thomas Monz, junior scientist in the research group led by Rainer Blatt at the Institute for Experimental Physics at the University of Innsbruck. "And now our experiment with many particles provides us with new insights into this phenomenon," adds Blatt.

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http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110401085103.htm

[tridim]

1. What's to stop them from spreading those 14 bits out across the Earth?

Or across the Universe?

Would make for a killer high-speed Internet or Uninet.

[byronius]

2. You continue to be a massively educational resource, dude.

Can't tell you how many of your posts get reposted elsewhere, and work their way into the conversations of everyone I know.

Frickin' public servant, man. Thank you.

[n2doc]

3. Thanks! n/t

[AlecBGreen]

4. right on

n2doc is my DU hero. Thanks for all you do!

[WheelWalker]

9. No kidding. n2doc is a frigging Beast!

[jberryhill]

5. "entanglement was introduced by the Austrian Nobel laureate Erwin Schrödinger..."

...when he was found after hours with the department head's wife.

[progressoid]

6. Cool!

Will we get to ask the ultimate question soon?

[donquijoterocket]

7. yeahbut

Why? We already know the answer and it's a multiple of 14.Adams, as usual, was there and done that.

[roguevalley]

8. I don't understand a word but its bitchin'. Dropping my 2 cents

just in case. :-D

[jimlup]

10. Wow! I thought we were still just having registers of a couple of bits

This is cool. So much for safe encryption.