World’s first commercial quantum computer

dalaohu

World’s first commercial quantum computer sold to Lockheed Martin



The world’s first commercially available quantum computer, which uses principles of quantum mechanics rather than classical mechanics, was sold to aerospace, defense and security company Lockheed Martin.

Quantum computers rely on principles of quantum mechanics to conduct operations, rather than computers that are based on transistors. The computers take advantage of properties like entanglement — when two particles have the same properties and behave identically while being separate — and storing data with “qubits,” or quantum bits. Typical bits store memory by registering an “on” or “off,” or a one or zero, while qubits can represent information as both memory and the state of entanglement with other particles.

The quantum computer uses a system of 128 qubits, which means the computer will be able to solve more complex problems than traditional computers at a much higher speed. The computer is able to tackle computing-intensive problems related to number theory and optimization. One example is Shor’s Algorithm, a quantum algorithm that determines the prime factors of a large number quickly and efficiently. Given enough qubits, a quantum computer can use Shor’s Algorithm to break modern encryption algorithms like RSA encryption, a type of public-key cryptography.

Quantum computing are still not well understood and the technology is very new, but it’s a first step toward making quantum computing more commercially viable. The computers can theoretically be significantly faster than regular computers and can solve much more complex problems than traditional computers could never solve. They could also lead to new kinds of encryption methods and security algorithms to secure data and model more complex systems — such as emulating how enzymes in the human body work and modeling more complex biological systems.

D-Wave was founded in 1999 and calls itself “the quantum computing company.” It is selling the computer, called the “D-Wave One,” for $10 million per computer. The company will also perform maintenance on the computer and other professional services for the computer.

http://venturebeat.com/2011/05/2 ... t+%28VentureBeat%29

dalaohu

原来quantum science 也可以做成看得见，摸得到的东西。 还标价 $10million

maodoubao

不久的将来也许会变成掌上产品