Scientists pump up chances for quantum computing

University of Adelaide-led research has moved the world one step closer to reliable, high-performance quantum computing.

An international team has developed a ground-breaking single-electron "pump". The electron pump device developed by the researchers can produce one billion electrons per second and uses quantum mechanics to control them one-by-one. And it's so precise they have been able to use this device to measure the limitations of current electronics equipment.

This paves the way for future quantum information processing applications, includingindefence, cybersecurity and encryption, and big data analysis.

"This research puts us one step closer to the holy grail—reliable, high-performance quantum computing," says project leader Dr. Giuseppe C. Tettamanzi, Senior Research Fellow, at the University of Adelaide's Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing.