Description

Quantum technology is seen as the basis for the "second quantum revolution". The first quantum revolution - the understanding and application of physical laws in the microscopic domain - resulted in pioneering technologies such as the transistor, solid-state lighting and lasers and GPS. Today, our ability to use previously unused quantum effects is paving the way for a second revolution. Now that quantum theory is fully established, we must look at the world in a fundamentally new way: objects can be in different states at the same time (superposition) and can be deeply connected without any direct physical interaction (entanglement).

Richard Feynman put forward the concept of the quantum computer in 1981, based on these quantum mechanical principles of superposition and entanglement. In the years that followed, it became clear that quantum computers have the potential to solve mathematical problems that cannot be solved by 'normal' supercomputers. These are mathematical problems that underlie a wide range of applications, such as cryptography, chemical simulations, database searches, etc. Since then, there has been a global race to develop quantum computers capable of performing these computations. Quantum computers are based on quantum mechanical principles and engineering such a system requires the utmost in engineering in terms of thermal control, electrical control and software engineering. In this presentation, I will explain how a quantum computer works, what kind of technology is needed to create a quantum computer and where the technical challenges lie in the future development of the quantum computer.

The drinks will start at 18:00 and the meal will follow punctually at 19:00.

Register by 12:00 on 8 April 2018 at the latest.

Speaker(s)

Richard Versluis

Location

Bar Brasserie Engels

Stationsplein 45,3013 AK Rotterdam

Organiser

Rotterdam Circle