[ExI] A important step toward a topological quantum computer

[John Clark]

A topological insulator is a substance that is a insulator in its interior
but a conductor on its surface. In the current issue of Nature Eryin Wang
announced that he has found a topological insulator that not only conducts
but superconducts, and at high (liquid nitrogen) temperatures! The reason
this is important is that this is the perfect place to look for the holy
grail of quantum computer research, non-abelian anyons. Computer designers
love anyons because these quasi-particles would be far far less susceptible
to quantum decoherence than regular particles. If anyons are found a large
scale practical quantum computer can't be far behind, and that will change
the world.

http://newscenter.lbl.gov/feature-stories/2013/09/16/fault-tolerant-quantum-computing/


  John K Clark
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