Company Profile
Nu Quantum brings together a portfolio of intellectual property combining quantum optics, semiconductor photonics and information theory.
- Date Formed: 2018
- No. of Employees: 17
- Website: nu-quantum.com
- Address: Broers Building, 21 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0FA
In summary…
Current computers are hamstrung by the way they process information using binary ‘bits’. Quantum computers will get around this problem by using qubits, making them 158 million times faster than the supercomputers of today.
This advancement will usher in a new age in humankind.
But, currently, qubits are only stable at very cold temperatures making quantum computing expensive and impractical.
With the unique ability to operate at room temperature, without compromising on quality, Nu Quantum’s single-photon technologies mean a quantum future evolves from possibility to reality. This is quantum democratization for all.
Democratizing quantum computing
Once upon a time, not so very long ago, computers weren’t as clever as they are today. Spanning wall to wall these early machines were oversized, impractical and could only perform a limited set of functions. As with everything, human endeavour brought about great advancements and today nearly everyone carries a small computer around with them in their pockets. These computers, even occasionally make phone calls.
The point of this preamble is, that although computers are getting smaller and smaller, and cleverer and cleverer, there will always be limitations to what they can do. Or more specifically, they’ll always be limitations as to how fast they can do certain tasks.
That’s because computers work in bits, or binary digits. Essentially, all the information they process is converted into a collection of ones and zeros. The word ‘wonder’, for example, would look something like this to a computer: 01110111 01101111 01101110 01100100 01100101 01110010.
And although all these ones and zeros enable modern computers to store and process huge amounts of information, the more information they have to process, the more ones and zeros are needed. And that makes them as slow and cumbersome as their predecessors when it comes to solving hugely complex problems, such as simulating how molecules will react in different situations when trying to discover new drugs.
This is where quantum computing comes in.
By using qubits (quantum bits) rather than regular bits, calculations can happen much more quickly. That’s because qubits can be both one and zero at the same time. While it’s mind-boggling to try to understand quantum computing – here the famous Richard Feynman quote comes to mind: ‘if you think you understand quantum mechanics, then you don’t’ – all we mortals need to understand is that this means they’ll be fast.
And by fast, we’re talking 158 million times faster than today’s supercomputers.
This brings a new world of opportunities.
As well as expediting the discovery of life-changing drugs, there are other potential uses too:
Self-contained navigation systems, superhuman AI in driverless cars, electric flight, true AI, increased digital security, accurate weather forecasting – the list is mindblowing.
But quantum computers are still some way off. Mainly held up due to the fact qubits in their physical state are highly unstable and only usable in highly cooled environments.
Nu Quantum is providing the solution.
