Yale

Timeline of Quantum Computing (Created for Topics Presentation) Rohan Mahtani

By rohanm

  • Feynman suggests quantum computer model

    Feynman suggests quantum computer model
    May 1981 – Richard Feynman proposed the idea of using quantum phenomena to perform computations. In a speech at the First Conference on the Physics of Computation at MIT, he noted that it would be practically impossible to simulate a simple quantum experiment on a classical computer. He suggested, however, a simple model for a quantum computer. Image Link: http://www.iopblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/QuantumManPbk-302x450.jpg

  • David Deutsch describes first quantum Turing machine

    1985 – At the University of Oxford, David Deutsch wrote a paper which gave a description of the first ever quantum Turing machine (universal quantum computer). He suggested that quantum gates could function in a similar way to traditional binary logic gates.

  • Shor's algorithm created

    Shor's algorithm created
    1994 – In New Jersey, Peter Shor discovered what is now known as Shor’s algorithm. This algorithm, which is explained on the Algorithms section of this site, allows a quantum computer to factor large integers quickly, and could hence potentially break several cryptosystems used today.

  • Grover's algorithm discovered

    1996 – At Bell Labs, Lov Grover discovered what is now known as Grover’s algorithm. This quantum algorithm, which is also briefly explained on the Algorithms section of this site, allows a quantum computer to search an unsorted database at a much faster speed than a classical computer.

  • First 3 qubit NMR computer

    First 3 qubit NMR computer
    1998 - This year saw the first working 3-qubit NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) quantum computer. An NMR quantum computer is one that uses the spin states of molecules as qubits. This 3-qubit NMR computer was built by scientists working at MIT and the University of Waterloo.
    Image Rights: http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/wp-content/uploads//2012/02/ibm-quantum.jpg

  • 5-qubit NMR quantum computer built

    Link to IBM Press Article2000 - 5-qubit NMR computer built by IBM. It was squeezed onto a single Fluorine molecule, and it used each of the five fluorine atoms’ spin configurations to represent qubits. Part of Shor’s algorithm was demonstrated using this quantum computer.

  • 7-qubit NMR quantum computer built

    7-qubit NMR quantum computer built
    7-qubit NMR computer was built at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. Image : Dr Isaac Chuang loads a vial containing the seven-qubit quantum computer molecules into NMR equipment Image rights: http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20289/PCP289.feat4.bodyimage05-420-90.jpg

  • Shor's algorithm executed on 7 qubit computer

    Link to IBM Press article IBM fully executed Shor’s algorithm with an NMR implementation of a quantum computer with 7 qubits. The seven-qubit quantum machine found the factors of the number 15.

  • First qubyte (8 qubits) created

    First qubyte (8 qubits) created
    Link to news articleDecember 2005, the first qubyte was created at the University of Innsbruck in Austria. An entanglement of eight quantum particles was observed, yielding a qubyte.
    Image rights: http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20289/PCP289.feat4.bodyimage10-728-75.jpg

  • Yale creates solid-state quantum processor

    Yale creates solid-state quantum processor
    Lnk to Yale News. Image rights to YaleJune 09 - Team at Yale created a basic solid-state quantum processor. Used two-qubit superconducting chip to successfully run simple algorithms. An important advancement was that before this, scientists didn’t manage to get a qubit to last longer than a nanosecond, but the Yale qubit lasted a microsecond. Quantum processor made using solid state electronics, unlike the NMR implementations. Artificial atoms used, which could be placed in the superpositional state quantum computers need.

  • D-Wave announces commercial quantum computer

    D-Wave announces commercial quantum computer
    June– A company called D-Wave Systems announced a ten-million dollar commercial quantum computer, with a 128-qubit chipset that performs a task known as discrete optimization. However, this is not confirmed, and the company has received much criticism from scientists, who have argued that the computer isn’t really a quantum one, due to the lack of demonstrations of the inner workings of the computer.
    Image rights: http://www.fastcursor.com/computers/images/d-wave-quantum-computer-photo.jpg