Fast-charging quantum battery built inside a quantum computer - New Scientist

mustafaU/Getty Images A quantum battery has been built within a quantum computer, a first step in determining whether such batteries could play a role in powering future quantum technologies. Conventional batteries store energy because their components undergo electrochemical reactions, but quantum batteries rely on quantum bits, or qubits, which undergo changes in their quantum states. Some studies have shown that harnessing quantumness in this way can result in faster charging, but the practicality and usefulness of quantum batteries remain open questions. Read moreQuantum computers have finally arrived, but will they ever be useful? “Many future quantum technologies will need their quantum versions of batteries,” says Dian Tan at Hefei National Laboratory in China. “While significant progress has been made in the development of quantum computation, communication and sensing, the energy-storage mechanisms for these quantum systems have not been fully explored.” Advertisement Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.