Public Lecture in Natural Science: Quantum Computers

Today's topic is quantum computers, and the lecture is held by physicist Klaus Mølmer.

The world of atoms and molecules is governed by quantum physics - a world very different from everyday life, where particles seemingly can exist in multiple places at once, and measurements always yield random results. Quantum physics turned physics on its head in the early 20th century, and its predictions have since been tested with great precision in both physics and chemistry.

The lecture introduces quantum physics and the so-called "quantum revolution", which develops technologies based on the most paradoxical quantum phenomena. You will hear about existing technologies and the possibilities for future technologies that work precisely because of atomic particles' quantum physical behavior. Since the 1990s, large sums have been invested - both in Denmark and internationally - in the race to develop quantum computers, which use atomic quantum states to perform calculations on many numbers simultaneously. The lecture provides an update on how far we have come and what quantum computers will be able to do when they are fully functional.

This is an updated version of a lecture from spring 2020. Venue: Kultursalen, Ullerslev Kultur- og Idrætscenter.