Trapping ions with static magnetic and electric fields instead of an oscillating electromagnetic field could make it easier to use ions as building blocks for quantum computers. The new approach, which was developed by researchers at ETH Zurich in Switzerland, allows better control of an ion’s quantum state and position, and marks an important step towards scaling up trapped ions as a platform for quantum computation.
Month:March 2024
Physics World: Can a classical computer tell if a quantum computer is telling the truth?
Quantum computers can solve problems that would be impossible for classical machines, but this ability comes with a caveat: if a quantum computer gives you an answer, how do you know it’s correct? This is particularly pressing if you do not have direct access to the quantum computer (as in cloud computing), or you don’t trust the person running it. You could, of course, verify the solution with your own quantum processor, but not everyone has one to hand.