Pentagon wants off-the-charts computing speeds.

• Author: Beidel, Eric
• Position: Defense Technology Newswire - US Department of Defense finances research for a quantum supercomputer - Brief article

The Pentagon is funding basic research that could make the current generation of supercomputers seem like snails.

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The Defense Department awarded researchers based at the University of Pittsburg a five-year, $7.5 million grant to build the foundation for a quantum supercomputer, a machine that can harness more power than all of the world's current computers combined.

"The term quantum supercomputing is almost a misnomer," said Jeremy Levy, a physics and astronomy professor leading the efforts. "Any kind of quantum computer is by its nature so much faster at solving certain types of problems that the word 'super' doesn't do it justice."

There are no reliable quantum computers yet. Levy's team will attempt to create supercomputing semiconductors that will allow for a quantum level of memory, simulation and transfer of information.

The biggest challenge is overcoming "decoherence," which refers to the delicate nature of quantum systems performing calculations. If they are disturbed...