World’s First Macro-Sized Quantum Machine

“If somebody can build a quantum computer with all that it promises to be, prime number decryption could then occur in real time and that would mean all of the encryption that’s used by banks, governments and the military would be crackable.”

- Andrew Cleland, Ph.D., Physicist, UC-Santa Barbara

Science journal's Breakthrough of 2010 went to the first mechanical, vibrating device (resonator), which is as long as a human hair is wide. The paddle-shaped resonator is made of a thin film of aluminum nitride sandwiched between aluminum layers. The device is the first to reach the quantum ground state, a feat achieved by physicists at the University of California - Santa Barbara, led by Andrew N. Cleland, Prof. of Physics, Cleland Group, UC-Santa Barbara. Scanning electron microscope image 2010 by Andrew N. Cleland and Aaron D. O'Connell. — *Science* journal's Breakthrough of 2010 went to the first mechanical, vibrating device (resonator), which is as long as a human hair is wide. The paddle-shaped resonator is made of a thin film of aluminum nitride sandwiched between aluminum layers. The device is the first to reach the quantum ground state, a feat achieved by physicists at the University of California - Santa Barbara, led by Andrew N. Cleland, Prof. of Physics, Cleland Group, UC-Santa Barbara. Scanning electron microscope image 2010 by Andrew N. Cleland and Aaron D. O'Connell.

April 1, 2011 Santa Barbara, California - Until 2010, “all human-made objects have moved according to the laws of classical mechanics. Back in March 2010, however, a group of researchers designed a gadget that moves in ways that can only be described by quantum mechanics.” Thus began the American Association of the Advancement of Science announcement that its choice for Science Breakthrough of 2010 goes to the first quantum machine big enough to actually see with the human eye in the macro world. It's length is about the width of a human hair (image above).

Click here to subscribe and get instant access to read this report.

Click here to check your existing subscription status.

Existing members, login below: