When magic becomes engineering
From quantum teleportation to cosmic-ray-proof codes, physics labs are quietly rewriting the rules of computing.
In the world of physics laboratories today, it would be easy to mistake the scene for an Arthur C Clarke novel where magic has become technology. Quantum computers, once firmly planted in the realm of science fiction, are now being investigated by academic researchers in white lab coats. Major companies and governments are racing to develop increasingly sophisticated quantum processors, with IBM's Condor boasting a staggering 1,121 qubits, although qubit count alone does not indicate the actual computing power.
Universities across the globe, from South Africa to Canada and the United Kingdom, are contributing to this quantum revolution. South African researchers, through the South African Quantum Technology Initiative, are working alongside the University of the Witwatersrand, Stellenbosch, and the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Locally, they have demonstrated teleportation of high-dimensional patterns of light, a crucial step towards future quantum networks and the quantum internet.
In Canada, the University of Waterloo's Institute for Quantum Computing brings together researchers from seven departments and three faculties. Their recent breakthroughs include the development of qudits, quantum particles that can hold multiple quantum values, allowing for the creation of quantum circuits up to 10 times smaller. This miniaturization holds the potential to tackle particle physics problems previously unattainable.
The Cambridge and Oxford Universities' Centre for Quantum Computation, founded by physicist Artur Ekert in 1998, has also made significant strides. Their Steane code, developed in 1995, addressed one of quantum computing's biggest challenges: keeping quantum information stable. The code demonstrated how qubits could be shielded against various disturbances, paving the way for practical, scalable quantum computers.
Since splitting from Oxford in 2010, the Cambridge group has shifted their focus to physics-level security through Relativistic Cryptography and pioneered "quantum tagging" – a quantum cryptography protocol for location-based security.
As quantum technology advances, it raises concerns about its potential misuse by hostile governments to break current encryption systems. South African organizations must start planning for post-quantum cryptography, reviewing encryption dependencies, building cryptographic inventories, and raising awareness of quantum-related risks. The journey towards post-quantum security will be a long one, with the race already underway.
Written by urgent.news from ITWeb's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
