Dr. Tim Ralph - The Light Stuff
A member of the Australian research team which made a breakthrough result in teleportation in June is now helping Australia lead the world in new computer technologies.Dr Tim Ralph and his colleagues in the Australian Research Council (ARC) Special Research Centre for Quantum Computer Technology at UQ are at the cutting-edge in developing the next generation of computers, quantum computers, using particles of light instead of silicon chips.
Quantum computers offer a solution to the 'brick wall' confronting scientists in their drive towards ever-smaller chips.
Current technology is thought to run into fundamental physical barriers (size and cost) around the year 2010. Researchers are looking at a way forward by building computers at the level of single atoms and single electrons, using quantum physics rather than everyday physics and electronics.
By exploiting properties of quantum information, quantum computers make many attempts to solve hard problems at the same time, allowing calculations in a matter of seconds which now take weeks to achieve.
Dr Ralph and colleagues at ANU announced they had developed high-quality prototypes for the concept of teleportation. A teleporter is a basic requirement for quantum computers to transfer information from one place to another.
