Quantum computers are complex to build, difficult to scale up and harder yet to operate and maintain, requiring temperatures near absolute zero. These challenges have led researchers to explore the possibility of building photonic quantum computers: room-temperature quantum computers that use particles of light to carry information. While scientists have successfully created individual quantum logic gates for photons, it is challenging to construct larger numbers of gates with reliable connections; this is necessary to perform useful calculations.
The Stanford University team’s design uses a laser to manipulate a single atom that, in turn, can modify the state of the photons via quantum teleportation. The atom can be 'reset' and reused for many quantum gates, eliminating the need for many distinct physical gates and hugely reducing the complexity of building a quantum computer.
“Normally, if you wanted to build this type of quantum computer, you...