The Quantum Computer

This lecture introduces the fundamental principles of quantum physics and the "quantum revolution" that transforms the most paradoxical quantum phenomena into new technology - including quantum computers.

Quantum physics describes the microscopic world of atoms and molecules and differs fundamentally from everyday phenomena: atomic particles appear to exist in multiple places at once, and measurements on them always yield random results. The theory revolutionized physics in the early 20th century, and its predictions have since been confirmed with great precision in both physics and chemistry.

The lecture covers existing quantum-based technologies and prospects for future ones, including how far we have come in building quantum computers and what they will be able to do when fully functional. Since the 1990s, large sums have been invested - both in Denmark and internationally - in the race to develop quantum computers that use atomic quantum states to perform calculations on many numbers simultaneously.