Companies are racing to develop the first useful quantum computer—ultracold neutral atoms could be the key

The race to build the first useful quantum computer is activated and can revolutionize the world with new capacities, from medicine to freight logistics.

Technological companies all want to take the crown, with Microsoft announcing the first quantum chip in February, just a few days before Google’s breakthrough on the correction of quantum errors.

While the race warms up, companies are turning to a new ultra -cold solution – neutral atoms – that the University of Technology of Swinburne has explored and has been discovering for two decades.

Professor Associate Expert Swinburne Quantum Tapio Simula explains what neutral atoms are and what makes it a key player in our quantum future.

What are neutral atoms?

The atoms underpin all the chemistry, because they form the basis of the elements and their interactions. A neutral atom is an atom where the number of protons (particles loaded positively) is equal to the number of electrons (negative charged particles). This balance leads to a global electrical load, which makes the atom electrically neutral.

For our quantum future, neutral atoms have great opportunities and are the most useful when cooled to ultra -flow temperatures.

“A typical cold atoms experience has a small cloud of neutral atoms – millions of times thinner than air – and levite in an empty room using optics and magnetic fields”, explains the associate professor simulated.

“Then, the laser beams are fired on the atoms for, contraindicating, cool the atoms incredibly near Absolute Zero. At this stage, they can no longer be described using classic Newtonian physics.

“From here, the laws of quantum mechanics open up a world of new opportunities, with experimenters using these ultra -color neutral atoms to study the fundamental laws of physics.”

What can neutral atoms in the cold?

Ultracold neutral atoms are used to build revolutionary technologies, including the most specific atomic clocks in the world, ultra-sensitive quantum sensors and cutting-edge quantum computers.

Within the Optical Sciences Center of the University of Technology in Swinburne, there are three research laboratories on cold atoms dedicated to experimental studies.

There, the research of the associate teacher simulated has proven to be promising in the physics of quantum whirlwinds in the superfluous – fluids which can carry out transport without loss of energy.

“These tiny quantum cyclones have deep ties with a diversity of phenomena ranging from high temperature superconductivity to the physics of rotary neutron stars.

“Some of them could even be used as quantum bits of information in a quantum computer, like the one Microsoft works.”

Why are neutral atoms important?

Neutral atoms are the new player in the city which could be the key to our dreams of quantum calculation, with large technological companies, in particular Google, IBM and Microsoft, now partner with Quantum Atom Neutral IT developers.

The quantum future of the world will be unlocked with a combination of quantum calculation, detection and communication, explains the associate professor simulated.

“All these developers are spin-off companies which are distributed in research laboratories on cold atoms similar to those housed in Swinburne where the revolutionary research of ultra-color atoms has already been carried out for two decades.”

“Although quantum computers exist, they are still in their infancy. But they promise enormous potential to transform logistics, Medtech and more.”