AUSTRALIAN QUANTUM COMPUTER ON THE HORIZON

Australian scientists are at the forefront of the development of a quantum computer chip that has the potential to revolutionise computer technology.

The UNSW-led Centre for Quantum Computer Technology has lodged patents on a "blueprint" for the basic building block of the quantum computer chip.

A quantum computer chip, which operates at the level of single atoms, offers the potential of awesome computing capability compared to today's technology.

Director of the Centre, Professor Robert Clark, said that four of the patents related to different parts of the fabrication process to produce the basic building block of a silicon-based quantum computer chip. "If our work goes according to plan, I believe that by the end of this year, or early next year, we will have fabricated that building block ready for testing," he said.

Professor Clark described this as "one of the most important milestones" in the project. "The bulk of our research effort is involved here. But I'm confident with our innovative strategies, techniques and hardware that we will reach this goal," he said.

The fabrication would then be followed by a period of measuring the quantum device to check critical aspects of its operation.

Professor Clark recently presented an update of the Centre's work to a meeting in the USA of the world's leading researchers in quantum computer technology. "I believe we are at the forefront of activity in this area internationally. What we're planning to do was, only a few years ago, thought to be impossible, but we are on the way to proving it can be done," he said.

The Centre for Quantum Computer Technology comprises teams from UNSW and the Universities of Melbourne and Queensland, with formal links to Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Laboratory for Physical Sciences, University of Maryland in the USA. The Centre is funded by both Australian and US government agencies.

The Centre's University of Queensland staff have additionally filed two patents for a new way of doing quantum computation using light. Deputy Director of the Centre, Professor Gerard Milburn, said the process uses laser pulses in much the same way as they are used in modern optical communication networks.

"Our key discovery shows how to turn optical communication networks into scalable quantum computers. Significant technical challenges will need to be overcome, as in all quantum computer schemes, but we have established a clear technological path to achieving all optical quantum computers. The UQ experimental quantum optics team will develop an experimental program to define this path," he said.

CONTACT DETAILS: Professor Robert Clark, Director, Centre for Quantum Computer Technology, mob. 0411 763 048, tel. (02) 9385 4574, web site www.qcaustralia.org; Amanda Hainsworth, UNSW Public Affairs and Development, tel. (02) 9385 2873.

Date issued:25 September 2001