University researchers are contributing to the next big technological evolution — computers going quantum.
Physics professor Jonathan P. Dowling, who specializes in quantum computing, focuses his research on the development of a computer to revolutionize modern technology.
Dowling’s research reached a milestone when he published the book “Schrödinger’s Killer App: Race to Build the World’s First Quantum Computer” in May 2013.
In the book, Dowling gives insight into the U.S. government’s motivation to build a quantum computer capable of solving complex mathematical equations as well as being able to hack the encryption codes used to secure the Internet.
Dowling explains how scientists developed a code-breaking algorithm, the “killer app,” allowing them to perform these functions, but now they have to build the computer to run the program itself.
“No one has built a large-scale quantum computer yet, but we’re certainly becoming very close,” Dowling said. “It’s coming down to different hardware platforms. [Scientists] have made small quantum computers with 16 bits, but we need 1 million or 1 trillion bits working together to do something like breaking encryptions.”
Dowling and his research team contribute to the race by modeling and designing different hardware approaches for quantum computer prototypes.
Physics junior Todd Mouler joined Dowling’s research team spring 2012.
Moulder started as a programmer working on understanding and analyzing codes. Now, he contributes with the modeling and designing of codes and hardware for the research.
“You wouldn’t think [the University] would be working on something like this,” Moulder said. “[The University] is great. They have a great football team. It’s a great place to go to school. And it’s working on quantum computing. I would expect an Ivy League school to be doing this [research]. We’re up there hitting it with the big boys.”
Dowling compares quantum technology to the story of Schrödinger’s cat — the inspiration behind his book’s title.
Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger developed the famous “cat” thought experiment in 1935 as a demonstration of the conflict between what quantum theory tells us is true about the behavior of microscopic matter, as opposed to what we observe to be true with our eyes.
In his experiment, the cat is placed in a steel box with a vial of hydrocyanic acid, a radioactive substance. If the vial were to decay in the period of time the cat was in the box, the animal would die.
Because there is no way of knowing if the vial decays until the scientist opens the box, for the duration of the experiment, the cat is considered both alive and dead.
Dowling finds Schrödinger’s reasoning applies to his work in quantum technology.
“A ‘qbit’ is the bit of information [viewed in 0 and 1] the computer analyzes,” Dowling said. “A qbit, like the cat who is simultaneously dead or alive, can be super positioned so that it’s both a zero and a one. That is what we want our computers to do, to be able to analyze both sides at once.”
The quantum computer would solve complex mathematical equations in seconds, when classical computers analyzing the same equations would take weeks. This would benefit all areas of scientific research.
Organizations like the National Security Agency finance the research behind building this computer because the “killer app” can be used to break encryptions from people’s phones and laptops.
The technology in iPhones and Android phones allowing users to encrypt their information would not be able to prevent the government from accessing it, Dowling said.
As co-director of the Hearne Institute for Theoretical Physics, Dowling, along with fellow co-director and physics professor Jorge Pullin and researchers at the University’s Center for Computation and Technology, looks to prepare for new developments in computer technologies to build this supercomputer.
Dowling believes the first quantum computer could be functional in as early as 10 years.
“It’s unpredictable [how quantum technology will affect the general public] in the same way that when the Internet was invented in the 1970’s as a computer backup system. No one predicted web, commerce or email,” Dowling said. “I don’t want to be the old, fogie professor who makes the wrong prediction. So I don’t know what it’s going to be, but I’m sure it’ll be really cool.”

Gallery • 2 Photos

Raegan Labat

From left, LSU physics junior Todd Moulder, physics professor Dr. Jonathan Dowling and physics sophomore Simon Lorenzo stand with one of the department's super computers "Queen B." The super computer is made out of old recycled computers that were thrown out.