• Question: What are quantum's and why are you making a computer out of them?

    Asked by x_Ellie_x to Euan on 14 Jun 2016. This question was also asked by Nintega21.
    • Photo: Euan Allen

      Euan Allen answered on 14 Jun 2016:

      Hi x_Ellie_x

      Another great question!

      “Quantum” is the word we use to describe what we are using inside the computer. Your computer at home uses wires and electricity, and we call these things “classical”, and so your computer is a “classical computer”.

      I am trying to build a computer with tiny particles of light that we call photons. These photons do not behave in the same way as the electricity and wires in your computer, and we need to describe these things as “quantum”. The reason it’s good to build a computer with “quantum” things is because it turns out that these quantum things can actually make the computer run faster!

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