http://www.rdmag.com/new...n-joined-quantum-storage

Aalto University from the O.V. Lounasmaa Laboratory and the Department of Applied Physics have successfully connected a superconducting quantum bit, or qubit, with a micrometer-sized drum head. Thus they transferred information from the qubit to the resonator and back again.

This work represents the first step towards creating exotic mechanical quantum states. For example, the transfer makes it possible to create a state in which the resonator simultaneously vibrates and doesn’t vibrate, says professor Mika Sillanpää from Aalto University, who runs the research group.

A qubit is the quantum-mechanical equivalent of the bits we know from computers. A traditional bit can be in a state of 0 or 1, while a qubit can be in both states at the same time. In theory, this inconceivable situation allows for a quantum calculation in which the operations are performed simultaneously for all possible numbers. In the case of a single qubit, this means zero and one, but as the number of qubits increases, the amount of possible numbers and simultaneous calculations grows exponentially.

The quantum state of a qubit is very fragile and easily disturbed between and during the operations. The key to successful quantum calculation is being able to protect the qubit state from disturbances in the environment.

In this case, the qubit state can be stored as vibration, thus preserving the state for much longer than the qubit itself. The resonator also functions as a mechanical quantum memory, which is something that an ordinary memory can't do, explains Juha Pirkkalainen from Aalto University, who is doing his dissertation on the topic.

The work combined the achievements of both winners of this year’s Nobel Prize for Physics. The qubit state was measured using a superconducting cavity in the same way that Serge Haroche measured atoms, and the qubit state was also linked to mechanical movement as in David Wineland’s experiments. In contrast to these larger-scale measurement arrangements, the experiment at the O.V. Lounasmaa Laboratory was prepared for a tiny silicon microchip. This made it possible to cool the sample to near absolute zero temperatures and then use microwaves.

The group’s results have just been published in Nature. The study was performed at Aalto University’s O.V. Lounasmaa Laboratory, which is part of the Academy of Finland’s Centre of Excellence in Low Temperature Quantum Phenomena and Devices. Some of the sample used in the measurements was produced at Micronova’s Nanofab cleanroom facilities. The project was financed by the Academy of Finland and the European Research Council ERC.

Hybrid circuit cavity quantum electrodynamics with a micromechanical resonator

Source: Aalto University

So then would this be a first step toward quantum computing?

Science!

yes.... and no.... lol

the first step in quantum computing was showing two states ("on and off", figuratively speaking) for the qubit, and that occurred about 5 or 6 years ago. this is showing that 'memory' of those states can be stored

off and on, 0 and 1,


synthetic DNA has been used to store information, at an extremely high capacity. around 700TB per 1g. Although, it is obviously not economically viable

http://www.readcube.com/...cles/10.1038/nature11875

You can store information in DNA using base pairs. adenine, guanine, thymine, etc.

Sequences consist of 3 pairs, instead of only on and off.

This makes for, 0, 1, and 2

and its incredibly compact, easy to store, and requires no external power.



Predictions show that synthesis will be economically viable for commercial use of data storage in >50 years

DNA, stored properly, can last tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of years.
We can extract the stuff from 60 000 year old bones

Now, ask yourself.
How long does your hard drive last before it fails?

TL;dr

@ Mindlusion

Fuck it's practical use in computing... if computers is 0.1 off and on. and not that i understand MUCH of what you say. BUT, if your computer consists of 0,1,2.. what is that third component? isn't that coming a bit close to computers with own free will?

this question inevitably falls into the realm of thermodynamics.
there is a limiting factor of conductance/heat generated in traditional microprocessors, and that is relative to pathlength on the processor. the hard drive is also susceptible, as it relies on electromechanical principles for its operation.
qubits largely eliminate that as they use photon transmission. the heat generated is much less than from traditional computers. this aspect is what will directly challenge Moore's Law.

DNA is a formidable storage device in its own rite, but as we know, it is also susceptible to denaturation when exposed to heat or chemicals.

What a trip! This says Nemo Amicus.

Wow benzyme, not too long ago I seem to remember (in chat) you expressing some skepticism for the immediate future of quantum computing.

We truly do live in interesting times.

yea, I'm surprised at the progress made with quantum computing, I didn't think it would happen this quickly.
I remember reading about different materials used, like industrial garnet replacing silicon, for applications in photon computing. this sort of development will completely revolutionize computer technology as we know it

Holographic storage is going to be nuts. One day you will legitimately be able to download a car.





A car that contains a trillion more downloadable cars in the glovebox.

hell, 3D printers are cool.
I'd never have imagined that those would one day exist, when I started learning about computers in elementary school.

Is there any chance we could use the technology in the OP to make some kind of variable-frequency photon emitter? You can see where I'm going with this. AFAIK we're restricted now to using specific materials with specific band-gaps to emit photons.

But imagine what we could create with a variable band-gap type laser; I'd imagine that we could take 3 arrays of those, one for each axis and using interference create a full holographic image. This kind of holo-TV would look like a cube with 3 faces missing, the image projected into the space that the 'cube' would occupy. The stuff of dreams!


Of course this has many more uses than just a holographic TV. I remember somewhere, maybe MIT, they were working on some crazy material where each 'particle' of the material was a computer of its own. This is like one Cuil level beyond 3D-printing. So you could program it to literally shapeshift: make a table, press a button and shazzam, you now have a vacuum cleaner. This would perhaps end the waste problem once and for all. And we would cease to require a lot of materials; "instant car, just add water"

Plasmatis?

codons, bits which are used to store information, consist of three base pairs.
your third compenent is one of those pairs, A-T, or A-U , G-C
so i compared that to how the binary system works.. it would be 0, 1, and 2.

and no, i don't think so, its just manipulating the genetic code for a basic task. If you consider that possiblity, I would be much more worried about quantum computers hehe

if you compared quantum to the binary system, it would be like 0, 1, and every possible superposition of that in between

Found it: http://gajitz.com/modula...he-next-wonder-material/


It's called "smart sand" - http://www.fastcodesign....builds-objects-instantly