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VERSION:2.0
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
PRODID:UW-Madison-Physics-Events
BEGIN:VEVENT
SEQUENCE:2
UID:UW-Physics-Event-4856
DTSTART:20181130T213000Z
DURATION:PT1H0M0S
DTSTAMP:20260419T060232Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20180905T185538Z
LOCATION:2241 Chamberlin Hall
SUMMARY:Quantum Information and Computation\, Physics Department Collo
 quium\, David Wineland\, U Oregon
DESCRIPTION:Quantum systems such as atoms can be used to store informa
 tion.  For example\, we can store a binary bit of information in two e
 nergy levels of an atom\, labeling the state with lower energy a “0"
  and the state with higher energy a “1.”  However\, quantum system
 s can also exist in superposition states\, thereby storing both states
  of the bit simultaneously\, a situation that makes no sense in our or
 dinary-day experience.  This property of quantum bits or “qubits” 
 potentially leads to an exponential increase in memory and processing 
 capacity.  It would enable a quantum computer to efficiently solve cer
 tain problems such as factorizing large numbers\, a capability that co
 uld compromise the security of current encryption systems.  It could a
 lso be used to simulate the action of other important quantum systems 
 in cases where such a simulation would be intractable on a conventiona
 l computer.  A quantum computer could also realize an analog of "Schr�
 �dinger's Cat\," a bizarre situation where a cat could be simultaneous
 ly dead and alive.  Experiments whose goal is to realize a quantum com
 puter based on laser manipulations of atomic ions will be described\, 
 but this is only one of several possible platforms for such a machine.
 
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URL:https://www.physics.wisc.edu/events/?id=4856
END:VEVENT
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