Quantum computers only are useful to us when we know how the states of electrons relate to each other.
But getting to a state where this relationship is known — “quantum coherence” — is extremely difficult and costly. That may soon change thanks to a new discovery.
A team of scientists at the University of Chicago have figured out a way to keep a quantum computer system “coherent” (or: operational) 10,000 times longer than before, according to a new study published in the journal Science on Thursday.
The scientists claim their solution could be applied to any other kind of quantum system and could end up revolutionizing the field.
“This breakthrough lays the groundwork for exciting new avenues of research in quantum science,” lead author David Awschalom, senior scientist at Argonne National Laboratory, said in a statement. “The broad applicability of this discovery, coupled with a remarkably simple imp…