A team at Oxford University has achieved a significant breakthrough in quantum computing, demonstrating the ability to link two separate pieces of quantum hardware using quantum teleportation. This achievement, published in the journal Nature, paves the way for building larger, more powerful quantum computers.
The researchers successfully linked two quantum processors located approximately 2 meters apart, effectively treating them as a single unit. This feat allows for the execution of simple algorithms that span the distance between the two processors, showcasing the potential for creating larger quantum computers by linking multiple processors.
Quantum teleportation, unlike its science fiction counterpart, doesn't involve instantaneous transport of matter. Instead, it relies on the entanglement of quantum objects, where the state of one object is linked to the state of another, regardless of distance. By manipulating these entangled objects, researchers can effectively transfer the quantum state of one object to another, effectively teleporting the information.
This breakthrough holds immense promise for the future of quantum computing. By enabling the interconnection of multiple processors, researchers can overcome the limitations of current quantum hardware, which struggle to scale up to the number of qubits required for complex computations. This opens up exciting possibilities for tackling previously intractable problems in fields such as medicine, materials science, and artificial intelligence.