New Scientist: Last month, engineers at Google published a paper revealing a plan to develop the first quantum computer capable of performing operations that classical computers cannot. Google engineers have chosen the task of simulating the behavior of a random arrangement of quantum circuits. They performed one such calculation on Edison, a classical supercomputer at the US National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, and found that calculating the possible behaviors of a 6 × 7 grid of qubits required 70 TB of memory. Google's team believes that it can accomplish the feat with a 50-qubit quantum computer in significantly less time. Outside analysts say Google is the company most likely to make a step forward. The company has already demonstrated a 9-qubit computer, so a 50-qubit machine is not considered out of reach.
Skip Nav Destination
© 2016 American Institute of Physics

Google may be leading the way in quantum computing Free
1 September 2016
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/PT.5.0210078
Content License:FreeView
EISSN:1945-0699
Q&A: Tam O’Shaughnessy honors Sally Ride’s courage and character
Jenessa Duncombe
Ballooning in Albuquerque: What’s so special?
Michael Anand
Comments on early space controversies
W. David Cummings; Louis J. Lanzerotti