Practical Quantum Computing

Researchers in Japan have developed new circuit technology touted to be the vital next step towards the realization of a practical quantum computer. A collaborative effort between the Japan Science and Technology Agency, the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN) and electronics vendor NEC Corp., the technology is said to be the world’s first quantum bit (qubit) circuit that can control the strength of coupling between qubits.

Current electronics rely on the manipulation of binary bits between two states — on and off, or one and zero — to store information. In quantum computing, information is stored in qubits, which can exist in a much larger range of states.