Researchers at Toshiba’s Cambridge labs have invented a light source that could lead to quantum computing.
Scientists have already created the “entangled” light that’s necessary for quantum computing, but they’ve previously required huge lasers to do so. The Cambridge researchers have come up with a new method of creating the light based on LEDs, which is cheaper and could be mass produced.
The discovery opens the path to ultra-powerful semiconductor processors based on quantum computation
“Although entangled light has been produced previously by shining an intense laser beam on crystals, the new simple device is the first voltage-powered source,” said Toshiba researcher Dr Andrew Shields.
“The discovery is significant because it will allow electrical addressing of many entangled light emitters on a single chip, opening the path to ultra-powerful semiconductor processors based on quantum computation.”
While the entangled LEDs bring the massive processing power of a quantum computing one step closer, it’s still at least five years off, the researchers warned, adding their new discover could also improve quantum cryptology and boost the capacity of optical storage disks.
The project is a collaboration between Toshiba and the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge.
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