A quantum computer built using giant atoms controlled by laser light may be enough to imitate some functions of the brain, such as memory and decision-making.
at Harvard University and his colleagues used computer simulations to show that a new type of quantum computer could be built out of rubidium Rydberg atoms. These atoms are super-sized in diameter because some of their electrons orbit the nuclei at a large distance, and they are extremely sensitive to light so can be very precisely controlled by lasers.
The researchers found in the simulations that lasers could make six Rydberg atoms act like a neural network 鈥� an artificially intelligent algorithm that imitates neurons and synapses in the brain. In the theoretical quantum computer, quantum states of the outermost electron in a Rydberg atom correspond to the states of a brain鈥檚 neuron, like whether the neuron is firing or inactive.
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The team showed that the quantum computer would be able to exhibit basic decision-making and memory. For decision-making, the team exposed atoms in the simulation to two different laser pulses and trained the neural network to choose which one was stronger. This was inspired by a task where trained monkeys observe a pattern of dots moving in two different directions and then indicate which direction involves more dots.
For memory, the researchers repeated the decision-making task but with a delay of a tenth of a microsecond between the two lasers. This meant that, in order to choose between them, the simulated quantum computer had to learn to remember the first pulse until it was presented with the second.
Bravo says his team is aiming to explore the advantages of combining machine learning with small quantum computers. It is realistic to consider creating a neural network with a few Rydberg atoms because currently available quantum computers tend to be small as well, he says.
In quantum systems like this one, neural networks are more complex than in classical computers, so they may be able to complete more complicated tasks in less time or at a smaller size, says at the University of the Balearic Islands, Spain.
鈥淭he brain is the best [system] we see around us in terms of processing capability and in terms of consumption of energy,鈥� Zambrini says. 鈥淚f you try to emulate some of the functions of the brain with artificial systems, maybe you can outperform other [computational] approaches.鈥�
Bravo says that his team is now working towards building the computer and building it with more atoms.
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