from the u.s. department of energy<\/a> to build a beyond-state-of-the-art quantum computer using superconducting technologies developed at the lab over the past several decades.<\/p>\nquantum computers are based on quantum bits, or qubits. while classical computer bits operate like a light switch that is either on or off, a single qubit can exist in multiple states at the same time, a property called superposition.<\/p>\n
think of a qubit as an engineered \u2018atom\u2019 that can be held in your hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cthese circuits behave quantum mechanically just like atoms,\u201d said northwestern university physicist james sauls, deputy director at fermilab\u2019s center for superconducting quantum materials & systems. \u201cquantum mechanics allows the atom to be in a superposition state, and we can construct a physically realizable state of this atom, which is both one and zero.\u201d<\/p>\n
by stringing together a large number of qubits, a quantum computer can run parallel operations on both states of the atom. the result is an exponential growth of computing power. <\/p>\n
but atoms are small \u2014 less than one-billionth of a meter in diameter \u2014 and even a tiny amount of interference can make it hard to keep a qubit in this superposition state. today\u2019s highest-performing qubits maintain information for just milliseconds.<\/p>\n
\u201cthe presence of thermal noise is having photons that can tickle the atom in its high energy state and force it to make a transition,\u201d sauls said. \u201cand then you lose the superposition property.\u201d<\/p>\n
the better protected a qubit is from thermal noise in its environment, the better its coherence, or amount of time scientists can control its superposition. improved coherence is achieved somewhat by lowering the temperature of the computer to hundreds of degrees below 0 \u00b0f, but srf cavities are the star player that fermilab is ready to put in the game.<\/p>\n
by combining srf cavities with state-of-the-art computer chips, the scientists have achieved coherence times of several seconds. sauls said they aim to produce qubits whose computing powers are orders of magnitude beyond what is currently possible.<\/p>\n
such powerful quantum computers could someday be useful in machine learning, materials discovery and particle physics research.<\/p>\n
a bright future for dark matter detection<\/strong><\/p>\nan axion haloscope is a large, low-noise radio receiver built using srf cavity technology. scientists hope, when tuned to one of millions of different frequencies, it will be able to detect a theoretical particle called a dark matter axion. (sam posen\/fermilab)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nthe same technology being used to expand qubit coherences has also found a home in the world of dark matter research.<\/p>\n
dark matter earned its name because its particles don\u2019t absorb, reflect or emit light. in fact, the only evidence scientists have of its existence is the visible impact it has on other objects, such as the expansion and rotation of galaxies.<\/p>\n
at fermilab, scientists are interested in detecting the never-before-seen particles that compose dark matter, such as axions. it\u2019s harder than one might think.<\/p>\n
\u201cif it were easy to find dark matter, somebody would have already stumbled onto it throughout other observations,\u201d posen said. \u201c[our detection] methods involve looking at remarkably small signals, and this is where quantum computing aspects come into play.\u201d<\/p>\n
although srf cavities have been used in particle acceleration research for about 50 years, they have only recently begun to be used in dark matter research. and unlike in particle acceleration research, posen and his colleagues don\u2019t use them to build intense electromagnetic fields.<\/p>\n
\u201cwe’re sort of turning that idea on its head and using these things, because they\u2019re such great resonators, to look at very, very tiny amounts of photons,\u201d posen said. \u201cand because they’re such good resonators, we can store [the photons long enough to detect them].\u201d<\/p>\n
hypothetically, dark matter constantly flows through every part of the galaxy, including you and me. that means it might also find its way inside an axion haloscope, a device built from srf cavities. scientists at fermilab hope the haloscope\u2019s electromagnetic field will one day trap a stray dark matter axion and convert it into something observable: a particle of light called a microwave photon.<\/p>\n
\u201cit\u2019s a very rare process, but if axions do exist, then the models say it should happen,\u201d posen said. \u201cif we tune the frequency of our cavities to match the mass of these axions, and if our detector is sensitive enough, then we should be able to find them.\u201d<\/p>\n
he equated the process to trying to find a tiny island in the middle of the ocean when the only proof of its existence is a few strange ocean currents. if that island is ever found, however, don\u2019t expect life to change too drastically right away. <\/p>\n
\u201ci don’t think we\u2019ll be getting \u2018dark matter iphones\u2019 in the near future,\u201d posen said, chuckling.<\/p>\n
although, he is optimistic that the proof of concept will push the boundaries of quantum technology for other near-term applications and help lay the foundation for even bigger developments down the road.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
emily little and marisa sloan report on the work fermilab is doing, exploring quantum computing as a means of sustainability research.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9417,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5196,4914],"tags":[4507,657,591,81,148],"storyfest_categories":[],"class_list":["post-11348","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-past-storyfest","category-sustainability","tag-quantum-computing","tag-research","tag-storyfest","tag-sustainability","tag-technology"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
fermilab\u2019s particle acceleration technology gives other projects a leg up - planet forward<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n