First commercial quantum computer undergoing tests

Michał P. WYROSTKIEWICZ, Tomasz Kuczerski, D. Gibalski

This paper describes the process of creating and using a quantum computing environment. It also discusses the manner in which first quantum experiments using mathematical models, simulators or commercially available quantum computers may be conducted. In addition, it explains how the available quantum algorithms may be understood and applied. Finally, the role of real-time systems and their control in the architecture of a quantum computer is described.

Ireneusz J. Jóźwiak, Piotr Paweł Jóźwiak

Jacob Aron

The quantum revolution is still in the slow lane. The first head-to-head speed test of the D-Wave Two, the commercial quantum computer recently purchased by Google, suggests that the machine performs no better than an ordinary PC. In theory, quantum computers are capable of calculating answers to problems much faster than standard PCs. Instead of storing information in bits as either 0s or 1s, quantum machines use quantum bits, or qubits, that can be both 0 and 1 at the same time. So far, however, the quantum devices built in labs can only support a handful of qubits, which limits their speed. Now a team led by Matthias Troyer of ETH Zurich in Switzerland has tested a D-Wave Two computer against a conventional machine running an optimized algorithm and found no evidence of superior performance in the quantum device.

E. R. MacQuarrie, Christoph Simon, Stephanie Simmons +1 more

Edwin Cartlidge

Despite promises of completely security for banks and other organizations that need to transfer data, most research into cryptography has until recently been confined to the lab. Last month, however, physicists took a major step towards commercializing the technology by using quantum keys to transfer data securely in a commercial telecommunications network in Vienna, Austria.

Edwin Cartlidge