This breakthrough could shrink quantum computers to a size you won’t believe - Futura, le média qui explore le monde

The Big Problem: Quantum Computers Are Still Huge, Clunky Beasts Up to now, available quantum computing technology has remained stubbornly bulky, overly complex, and way too unwieldy for any sort of industrial mass production. Forget about portability. Why? Mostly because quantum computers rely on optical systems that require the integration of high-precision lasers for proper operation, and let’s just say you can’t exactly stroll through airport security with one of those under your arm. Designing quantum hardware that’s miniaturized, easy to use, and scalable isn’t just a wishlist item—it’s a crucial stage for speeding up the development of quantum computing as a field, shifting towards industrial production, and rolling out new applications you’ve only dreamed about. Quantum computing is revolutionizing the field. © The Blob Inside Every Quantum Computer: Lasers and Trapped Ions Quantum computers’ optical clocks currently use high-precision lasers to measure time. This is done by counting oscillations in visible light and checking their frequency via the atomic transitions of trapped ions. Make no mistake: these systems are both the bulkiest and the most critical components. Trapped ion setups become “qubits”—the quantum units that store and process information, a bit like traditional computer bits, but with their own quantum twist. It’s no wonder quantum machines have mostly been stuck in the back rooms of research laboratories. But—plot twist—things are finally changing as the field enters a pre-industrialization phase, and businesses are starting to see real-world use cases emerge. The Breakthrough: Photonic Chips the Size of a Deck of Cards For the first time, researchers at UMass Amherst and UC Santa Barbara have demonstrated that those enormous, high-precision lasers can be replaced with tiny photonic chips—picture something no bigger than a deck of playing cards. These components, known as PICs (Photonic Integrated Circuits), are the optical equivalent of integrated circuits and can generate, guide, modulate, process, and detect light in order to transmit information. This new photonic technology, operational despite its compact size, can control trapped ions to manipulate both qubits and the clock with a very high level of fidelity—a fact that’s been experimentally verified. In other words, this isn’t just a cool proof-of-concept; it works, and it works accurately. Here’s why that’s a big deal: PICs make it possible to shrink the bulk of quantum computers. They keep performance sharp, opening the door to portable, scalable quantum machines. In future, it could mean cramming millions of qubits onto a single chip—one smaller than the average external hard drive! Additionally, thanks to on-chip photonic miniaturization, optical clocks could soon become much more compact and robust, ready to be used in entirely new environments, even in space. (Star Trek, eat your heart out.) Researchers have found a way to drastically reduce the size of quantum computers. © AP, ChatGPT The Race Is On: Quantum’s Second Revolution It’s wild to think that almost three decades ago, quantum computers were pure science fiction—even if some theorists and tinkerers were already giving it serious thought. Today, several quantum machines exist, and there’s hope that upcoming generations will outperform classical supercomputers, solving problems in optimization and simulation across a dizzying array of processes and materials. France’s quantum physics scene, along with startups it’s inspired—like Quandela—are right at the front of this global race. As recent reporting has highlighted, these companies are already marketing photonic quantum computers, riding the wave of what’s now universally being called the “second quantum revolution.” Let’s not forget: about 45 years ago, Nobel prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman launched the concept of the quantum computer. Thirty years ago, skepticism about these machines was the default setting in tech circles. But now? The revolution seems almost within reach. Innovative startups, in Europe and around the world, are determined to win the race for these promising new technologies—especially for the discovery of what might just be miracle materials and drugs. From Room-Sized Machines to Pocket-Sized Powerhouses This evolution in quantum tech echoes what happened with traditional computers. Constant progress in shrinking microprocessors and electronic components turned room-sized beasts into sleek, ultrathin devices we carry everywhere. 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