Moving Atoms Slash Errors in Quantum Computers ⚡ экспресс
Scientists built a quantum computer from atoms that can be moved and linked on the spot—like moving pieces on a board and having them instantly understand each other. This resulted in 2–8 times fewer errors in three tests: factoring a number, chaining operations, and correcting errors. Might this approach lead to quantum machines as flexible as a regular computer?
Quantum computers suffer from errors driven by mounting entropy — like dancers in a complex routine gradually losing sync. To keep the dance from falling apart, it's copied across multiple performers — that's how a logical qubit is built from physical ones. Previously, to interact, atoms had to be pulled aside, disrupting the choreography. Now atoms move freely and entangle on the fly, like partners in a nimble tango swapping places without missing a beat. In an experiment with 114 atomic qubits, a simplified version of Peter Shor's algorithm halved the errors, operation chains improved 2–4 times, and a more complex [[16,4,4]] code delivered an 8-fold gain. Such progress became possible thanks to spectroscopy — the art of steering atoms with laser nudges. Interestingly, the chosen dancers aren't plain hydrogen but rubidium or strontium: their energy levels, like dance steps, are handier for such intricate moves.
🎯 Shor's algorithm, devised in 1994, can crack modern encryption, which is why quantum computers are of such keen interest to cryptographers.
🎬 In the film 'Transcendence', a quantum computer gains consciousness. Better error correction is a step toward truly powerful machines, though sentience is still far off.