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Quantum mechanics has the potential to enable supercomputers, unbreakable codes, and ultra-fast and secure communication networks, the scientists from the University of Calgary explained. Unlike traditional silicon-based computers that transmit information in binary units (bits) using 1 and 0, quantum computers use the subatomic physical processes of quantum mechanics to transmit information in quantum bits (qubits) that can exist in more than two states.

Computers based on quantum physics are predicted to be far more powerful than computers based on classical physics.

The university's breakthrough

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centres on a new way of testing quantum devices to determine their function and accuracy.

"Building quantum machines is difficult because they are very complex, therefore the testing you need to do is also very complex," said Barry Sanders, director of the university's Institute for Quantum Information Science and a co-author of the paper.

"We broke a bunch of taboos with this work because we have come up with an entirely new way of testing that is relatively simple and doesn't require a lot of large and expensive diagnostic equipment."

Sanders explained that quantum scientists have long been struggling to find ways to accurately determine the properties of components in quantum systems. To solve this, the team has come up with a highly-accurate method for analysing quantum optical processes using standard optical techniques involving lasers and lenses.

"It is a completely different approach to quantum characterisation than we have seen before," said post-doctoral researcher Mirko Lobino, the paper's lead author.

"This process will be able to tell us if something is working correctly and will hopefully lead the way towards a quantum certification process as we move from quantum science to making quantum technology."