Physics and Astronomy At The University of Georgia

In recent years, computer scientists and physicists have begun to investigate the possibility of a computer whose hardware utilizes quantum phenomena, such as superposition and entanglement.  There has developed a notion of a quantum algorithm, and examples are known of computational problems whose solution can be carried out in significantly less time by a quantum algorithm than by the currently best known traditional algorithm.  The lecture has the goal of giving the audience a succinct and meaningful definition of a quantum computer, some appreciation of what all the fuss is about, and the capability of interpreting future developments.