In a significant advancement in quantum information preservation, scientists have devised a way to convert electrical quantum states into sound and back again by using phonons.
Just as traditional computing systems need a way to store information, so too does quantum computing. In the computer you’re currently operating, everything, from dog pictures to reminders or browser inputs, must be stored somewhere. Quantum computing, a relatively emerging field, continues to investigate the methods and locations for storing quantum information.
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A Cutting-edge Technique for Storing Quantum Information
Mohammad Mirhosseini, an assistant professor of electrical engineering and applied physics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), recently presented in the journal Nature Physics a novel method his laboratory created to efficiently convert electrical quantum states into sound and back. This transformation might facilitate the storage of quantum information developed by prospective quantum computers, which will probably be constructed using electrical circuits.
Mirhosseini and his team have put forth an ingenious way to store quantum information by transforming electrical quantum states into sound. This new approach employs phonons and prevents the energy dissipation seen in earlier methods. It paves the way for extended storage times and symbolizes a major step forward in quantum computing technology. Credit: Maayan Illustration
This procedure relies on phonons, the sound counterpart to photons, which are particles of light. (It’s key to note that in quantum mechanics, waves and particles are interchangeable.) The research centers on using phonons to store quantum data, as it’s relatively simple to create compact devices that can contain these mechanical waves.
Utilizing Sound Waves for Information Storage
Imagine an echoing room to grasp how sound waves can store information. If you need to remember a shopping list, you could shout it into the room, and later hear the echo of your own voice repeating it. In essence, you’ve stored information using sound waves.
Of course, in reality, such an echo wouldn’t persist, and utilizing an entire room for storing minimal data would be absurd. The researchers’ answer is a minuscule gadget made of pliable plates vibrated by sound waves at extremely high frequencies. When electrified, these plates can engage with electrical signals bearing quantum information, enabling storage and retrieval—akin to the echoing room metaphor.
Past Investigations and Current Innovations
Mohammad Mirhosseini explains that previous research explored special materials called piezoelectrics for transforming mechanical energy into electrical energy in quantum contexts. But these materials often lead to energy loss, which is detrimental in quantum applications. Mirhosseini’s team’s new method avoids this issue, making it compatible with existing quantum devices that are microwave-based.
Conclusion: Progress and Obstacles
Building efficient storage units with small dimensions has been another tangible obstacle for researchers in the quantum realm, remarks Alkim Bozkurt, a graduate student in Mirhosseini’s team and the paper’s lead author.
“Our method allows quantum information storage from electrical circuits for durations significantly longer than other compact mechanical devices,” he further notes.
Reference: “A quantum electromechanical interface for long-lived phonons” by Alkim Bozkurt et al., published on 22 June 2023 in Nature Physics.
DOI: 10.1038/s41567-023-02080-w
The paper’s co-authors include postdoctoral researchers in electrical engineering and applied physics, and scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, managed by Caltech for NASA. Partial funding was provided by the KNI-Wheatley Scholars program.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about fokus keyword: quantum information storage
What method have researchers developed for quantum information storage?
Researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have developed a novel method to store quantum information by translating electrical quantum states into sound and vice versa, utilizing phonons. This transformation allows for the efficient storage of quantum data and represents a significant advancement in the field of quantum computing.
How does this new method of storing quantum information work?
The method makes use of phonons, the sound equivalent of a light particle called a photon. A tiny device consisting of flexible plates vibrates by sound waves at extremely high frequencies. When an electric charge is placed on those plates, they can interact with electrical signals carrying quantum information, allowing the information to be stored and later retrieved.
What makes this method different from previous techniques?
The new method avoids the energy loss associated with previous techniques that utilized special materials known as piezoelectrics. It enables longer storage durations and is compatible with established quantum devices, unlike earlier methods that were dependent on the properties of specific materials.
Who led the research on this new method of quantum information storage?
The research was led by Mohammad Mirhosseini, an assistant professor of electrical engineering and applied physics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
Can this method of storing information using sound waves be applied in the real world?
While the concept is similar to shouting into an echoey room to store information as an echo, the real-world application is more complex. The research team’s solution involves a tiny device that vibrates at high frequencies to interact with electrical signals carrying quantum information. It’s a significant development in quantum computing but is not a simple real-world application like an echoing room.
How does this research contribute to the field of quantum computing?
This innovative method to store quantum information represents a major step forward in quantum computing. It utilizes phonons to enable longer storage durations and avoids energy loss, making it a more efficient and practical solution for storing quantum information prepared by future quantum computers.
5 comments
the future of technology is here! using sound waves is genius. think about the possibilities, this could change everything!
This is huge for quantum computing, right? cant wait to see where this takes us, phonons, sound waves. Fascinating stuff.
Wow, quantum states into sound?! Science is amazing! i think I read about this in another article but this one explains it much beter.
I’m not a scientist, but this sounds like a big deal. Can anyone explain how this would effect our daily life? its beyond me but love to learn.
What’s the real-world application for this. Sounds cool, but how do we know it’ll actually work outside of the lab.