A New Phase of Matter: The Power of Quantum Computing
Matter is commonly understood to exist in three phases: liquid, gas, and solid. However, there are many unique phases of matter that can be distinguished beyond these three. Among these are plasmas, Bose-Einstein Condensates, and mesophases. The processes of quantum computing have enabled computer scientists to identify a new phase of matter. More precisely, they have discovered a new kind of “topological phase” (1). Additionally, their phase is claimed to feature symmetry across an extra time dimension (1).
A topological phase is a bit different from the conventional phases of matter. Namely, it is not defined by interatomic structure or atomic arrangement. Instead, topological phases are defined by the interatomic interactions and motions (1). Distinct phases are usually created by inducing a synchronicity, or “symmetry”, in atomic motions (2). These are induced via electromagnetically, such as through laser pulses. Interestingly, when inducing repetitive motions among vast quantities of atoms, they do not need to be symmetrical through physical space (1). Rather, their physics only need to be symmetrical across two time dimensions.
The method of using laser pulses was the choice of research physicists at the Flatiron Institute. They were experimenting with pulses toward charged ions in a quantum computer. The breakthrough for the researchers occurred when trying to create a laser pulse sequence that did not repeat any numbers, but still had an internal order. The goal was to imbue their material with the features of quasicrystals, due to them being able to retain shape when pushed through “higher dimensions” (2). This was important for creating symmetry through time. Thus, their choice was to utilize the Fibonacci sequence (3). They replicated this sequence by sending two laser pulses at different frequencies, with the pattern of “A, AB, ABA, ABAAB, ABAABABA…” (1).
The hope of the researchers is to use their new discovery to insulate quantum computers from seeing errors. This application is especially important for quantum computers, as they do not operate on the binary logic of classical computing. Rather, they rely on quantum electron spin of qubits. This can exist in the three states of up, down, or a superposition of both. The quantum nature of quantum computers makes them especially susceptible to failures from electromagnetic noise (3). According to the researchers though, “In a quantum computer that exploits topology, information is not encoded locally in the state of each qubit but is woven across the material globally” (1). Such a method would insulate from any simple noise errors. Due to rapid development in quantum computing research, researchers on this quantum structuring will hopefully find success. Error-free quantum computing would allow for massive strides throughout a variety of fields. Furthermore, the field of quantum computing itself continues to yield exciting prospects.
Sources:
New Phase of Matter Opens Portal to Extra Time Dimension - Scientific American
Strange new phase of matter created in quantum computer acts like it has two time dimensions (phys.org)
Quantum computing breakthrough: a phase of matter that exists in two time dimensions (interestingengineering.com)
Dynamical topological phase realized in a trapped-ion quantum simulator | Nature
