The power of diamonds and their role in advancing computing technology has long been known. With research and experiments dating back decades, only recently has research transformed into reality.Recently, scientists have created the world’s smallest diamond ring and the future of diamonds in computing is one-step closer to becoming a reality. At a size of just 5 micrometers across and 300 nanometers thick, the micro-ring is a giant leap forward for scientists studying the future of micro computing.
To put the size of the micro-ring in perspective, think about this: 1 millimeter equals 1000 micrometers and 1 micrometer equals 1000 nanometers. Imagine 1 meter being split into one billion slices and you have a nanometer.
So what does the world’s smallest diamond ring offer the world of computing? It allows computing technology to improve beyond what the world has seen so far. Just as the industry changed when computers went from the size of large rooms to the first handheld computer, diamonds will be doing the same for the current technology.
Computers will become even faster, smaller and capable of improved computations with the aid of diamonds. Remember what silicon did for the computing industry in the early 90’s? Diamonds will turn the computing industry on its head and out-do any technology that has been developed up until now.
The technology actually leaps into the world of quantum physics – and it is this arena where scientists are developing computing processes like those that the world has not seen yet. Researchers at the University of Melbourne are credited with this giant leap in technology and hope that the tiny loop of the micro-ring will allow them to manipulate single photons.
The worlds of computing and quantum physics have almost limitless possibilities when combined and scientists are digging into the scientific laws to use them to the advantage of creating super-computers using the natural molecular structure of diamonds.
Professor Steven Prawer and his University of Melbourne research team presented images of the micro-ring at the American Physical Society in New Orleans in 2008 and shared their findings. Scientists have been studying the possibilities of quantum computing for decades, but have been coming up short in blending the two technologies into a practical application until now.
Building a quantum computer in reality has been limited, which is why scientists have been researching diamonds. They allow scientists to overcome some of the obstacles that have been preventing further development.
So what do diamonds actually do for super-computing? To put it in laymen’s terms – diamonds allow the processing of computers to go from “bits” to “qubits.” While the terms may not mean much, the difference is vast. Qubits are quantum bits and are bits on steroids, caffeine and B12 all at the same time – essentially super-processors. Just as with regular bits, qubits have two values, 0 or 1.
However, unlike the bits that exist today, qubits can process both states at once increasing their capacity and processing speed. Scientists are using the natural molecular structure of diamonds to set the platform for qubits to be applied to real applications – super-computing to be exact.
The natural molecular structure of diamonds has already been used in other technologies such as quantum cryptography, and essentially uses the same theories that quantum computing is based on. The goal is to provide a platform that allows the reliable and secure transmission of information at super-speed.
As quickly as the diamond is changing the world of quantum computing, it is also changing the existing silicon technology. Computer processing companies like Intel are scrambling to evaluate the future of traditional silicon processing and trying to determine when diamond chips will be ready for market release.
Although the development of quantum computing ultimately benefits the consumer, major market shifts like the one in the near future cause major disruptions in production, cost and the consumer market. As with any new technology, prices are expected to spike with the first super-computers, as computer processing manufacturers switch technology.
It is likely that silicon technology will remain, at least for the near future and until quantum computer manufacturing is refined and streamlined. Every major industry shift will require an adjustment period when hardware bugs are worked out and eventually eliminated.
There is still much more research that will need to be conducted to ensure stable quantum computing. However, consumers should not be surprised by an anticipated shift in the market within the next handful of years when super-computers start making their way into the consumer market.
Blending the power of diamonds and quantum physics and applying it to the world of computing is sure to change the world of computer intelligence as we know it. Computers of the future will have the power to transform even the most powerful computers available today into super-computers that are faster and more capable.
Other articles of interest: