Quantum storage for 1000 times higher data density

The word "quantum" gained its true meaning in the last years of the 20th century. Today, we can hear something new in this field practically every day. When we start talking about "quantum" in the field of computing, we are approaching truly dramatic changes that will shape the era to come.

Quantum computing is a technology based on the principles of quantum theory, which explains the nature of energy at the level of atoms. Quantum computers today contain dozens of qubits (quantum bits). Each qubit exists in a superposition of zeros and ones (ie a qubit has a “non-zero” number of chances to be a zero or a one) until it is measured. The development of qubits has implications for handling massive data and achieving hitherto unattainable levels of computing efficiency, which has enormous potential for quantum computing.

Engineers from the Chicago Faculty of Molecular Engineering (Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering and Argonne National Laboratory) have proven that quantum computing can also be used for data storage purposes. Magnesium oxide crystals with rare elements were used for this purpose, and data is stored using photons of different wavelengths. The result of all this is memory media, which in the future could store up to 1000 times more data than can be stored today.

Although data storage with a quantum computer holds great promise, it will have to wait a little longer. Current technology is not yet ready for this type of data storage. Especially if we take into account the fact that in order to store data, the space must be cooled to almost absolute zero.