Traditional computers can operate at room temperature, but high-speed quantum computers, like the one first introduced by Google in 2019, typically need near-zero temperatures.
This cooling requirement presents a significant challenge, limiting their widespread adoption, even though quantum computers offer data analysis speeds far surpassing conventional machines.
However, a breakthrough from a research team at the University of Texas, El Paso, led by Egyptian physicist Professor Ahmed Al-Mubdai, might change this.
They claim to have overcome the cooling obstacle, paving the way for more accessible quantum computers. Their solution is to design quantum computers that work like traditional computers, operating efficiently at room temperatures.
This leap was achieved by developing a supermagnetic material, that is 100 times more magnetic than pure iron. Their findings were published in the summer edition of “Applied Physics Letters”.
Despite the revolution in data handling, the researcher noted that these computers need an intricate cooling system that’s highly expensive, making room temperature operations infeasible with current models. However, their highly magnetic computing approach provides a solution.
“After several years of experimentation, our efforts resulted in a material comprising amino ferricyanide and graphene. We integrated them with a dual layer of graphene atop the amino ferricyanide oxide.
This extremely magnetic material has the potential to be the foundation for quantum computers that operate at room temperatures,” Al-Mubdai explained.
The scientist anticipates the development of a quantum computer based on this material within 10 to 20 years, especially if significant investments are made in this direction. Their team is actively seeking collaborations with industry and tech partners to fast-track the production of a room-temperature quantum computer.
Due to its reliance on readily available materials, this innovative magnetism could potentially make quantum computing more affordable for the masses.
Abdel Nasser Tawfiq, Head of the Egyptian Physics Center, described this research breakthrough as “reinvigorating magnetism’s role in computing options. The material, initially deemed unsuitable for computers, has become the cornerstone for future collaborative computing.”
This development promises to bring quantum computing closer to commercial and everyday applications, ushering in a new era of technological advancement.
