Ending the Age of Silicon

Just bought the most advanced laptop? Got a couple of terabytes in your hard-drives?
Well, you have seen nothing yet!



You should realize that in about 20 years time, Moore's Law is gonna collapse. We are looking at the End of the Silicon Age, and perhaps the beginning of a new generation of computers called quantum computers, which are now exciting the imagination of scientists around the world.

Note: To get a better understanding of this article, please read my previous post on Data Storage.

News-flash

Back in 2001, there was a scientific breakthrough that made the headlines, even the CIA took note of this. A quantum computer built with 7 atoms(qubits), proved that 3 times 5 equals 15. Surely, any kid knows that. But physicist were able to compute on just 7 atoms!

In recent years, physicist have been able to create a prototype 16-qubit quantum computer that touts immense computational power. Works are on the way to built a faster 1,000-qubit version which should be available anytime soon.

Now, think about this. Once we begin to compute on a few million atoms, we'll be able to break any code that the CIA or NSA can manufacture. This means that we'll could break any code currently in existence, on a quantum computer. Again, within 20-30 years. So don't hold your breath.

Wait a sec!

The physical laws operating on the quantum scale are different. Things such as Uncertainty comes into play. Isn't it difficult to produce something that is stable. Well, that's precisely why we'll see the End of the Silicon Age, perhaps in 20 years. Here's an example:

A Pentium chip's thinnest layer is about 20 atoms across. In 15-20 years, the thinnest layer in the Pentium chip will be about 5 atoms across. At that point, you don't really know where the electrons is anymore. the electrons could be outside or inside the wire. You have the Uncertainty Principle. In other words, you get a short circuit.

Therefore, silicon(Si) is unstable at the quantum level. You can't sustain Moore's Law continually forever. And yet quantum computers operates at that level, what is it doing that's different?

Quantum computers consist totally of atoms, that are arranged in a sequence and each spins like a top. If you shoot laser beams or radio waves at them, you get the reflection. By analyzing these reflections, you have done a quantum calculation, faster than any known digital computer.



So, what's in it for us?

Once we start to mass produce quantum computers, we'll be able to utilized super-strong encryption designed with hacker-proof security for communications. Quantum encryption will represent the first major commercial implementation for this new technology.

As for the software we use, no changes will be necessary. You just need a software emulator, such as those that allow Windows software on the Macintosh computer. An emulator for quantum computers could quite easily run any programs today at speeds will that put today’s fastest processors to shame.

It may also change the way we do computing. Users would only need to be connected to share a large, centralized quantum computer – one that has the capacity to handle quadrillions of transactions. Personal data – a whole lifetimes worth – could be stored on a quantum USB-type memory the size of a credit card. This would effective eliminate the need to have millions of PCs that require upgrading every few years.


Press info:
http://domino.research.ibm.com/comm/pr.nsf/pages/news.20011219_quantum.html
http://thefutureofthings.com/pod/165/first-quantum-computer-demonstrated.html
http://www.gizmowatch.com/entry/worlds-first-quantum-computer-announced-officially