Taking the Next Quantum Leap in Computing with Fredkin Gate

There are many obstacles that mar quantum computers. But thanks to the recent scientific development, that list just became shorter. A new computer chip built by scientists is capable of overriding one of the significant barriers experienced in developing quantum computers.

Fredkin gate, a crucial part of quantum computing, has been complex to build so far. However, the scientists have now simplified the process. By streamlining the fundamental parts of quantum computer, the team of scientists believe that they will be able to make functional quantum computers a possibility and also unlock huge potential behind developing advanced computers.

"Similar to building a huge wall out of lots of small bricks, large quantum circuits require very many logic gates to function. However, if larger bricks are used the same wall could be built with far fewer bricks," said Dr Raj Patel, one of the lead scientists behind the breakthrough.

Jeff Ward Bailey of Christian Science Monitor said, quantum computers are much more complex to build than conventional computers. He described that Super computers use the "traditional digital design in which each bit represents either a 0 or a 1. But quantum computers, which were first proposed in the 1980s, have atom-sized bits that can represent 0, 1, or a 'superposition' of both 0 and 1 at the same time."

Team of researchers from University of Queensland and Griffith University found means to develop Fredkin gates while making the logic operations required simpler. For this purpose, the team used light particles.

"The research team used the quantum entanglement of photons - particles of light - to implement the controlled-SWAP operation directly," the press release states.

Simpler Fredkin gates will hopefully mean simper quantum computer circuits.