Scientists at the University of Sussex in the UK have devised a new method that may put the construction of large-scale quantum computers within reach of current technology.

Quantum computers solve certain problems that would take the fastest supercomputer millions of years to calculate in a few milliseconds. They have the potential to create new materials and medicines, as well as solve long-standing scientific and financial problems.

University of Sussex scientists have invented a ground-breaking new method that puts the construction of large-scale quantum computers within reach of current technology.Universal quantum computers can be built in principle—but technology challenges remain. Quantum computing on a small scale using trapped ions (charged atoms) is carried out by aligning individual laser beams onto individual ions with each ion forming a quantum bit. However, a large-scale quantum computer would need billions of quantum bits, and require billions of precisely aligned lasers, one for each ion.

Instead, scientists at Sussex have invented a method where voltages are applied to a quantum computer microchip (without having to align laser beams) to achieve the same effect.

Professor Winfried Hensinger and his team also succeeded in demonstrating the core building block of this method with a low error rate at their quantum computing facility at Sussex.

The scientists plan to construct a large-scale quantum computer at Sussex making use of the new technology.