Quantum computing in the 21st Century – with David Jamieson

Join David Jamieson as he explores his work in quantum technology and looks at how we plan to build the first quantum machines. Watch the Q&A for this video here: Subscribe for regular science videos: Einstein’s most revolutionary idea, the light quantum, led to the concept for a radical new type of computer. This computer would use the strange rules of quantum mechanics to process information encoded in quantum bits, otherwise known as qubits. In this talk you will find out more about how these large-scale devices may be able to solve important problems that cannot be solved by classical machines. And about some of the formidable scientific and technical obstacles that would need to be overcome, through the use of unprecendented precision to manipulate and interrogate single atoms. This lecture was filmed at the Ri on 5 July 2022. 00:00 Lecture outline 3:23 A retrospective of the computer age 11:29 The first quantum revolution 16:58 Demonstrating Einstein’s photoelectric effect 23:30 Discovery of the nucleus 27:41 Discovery of spin 35:28 ‘There’s plenty of room at the bottom’ 39:36 The start of a second quantum revolution 51:15 The spooky quantum state 54:17 Maintaining order in a large-scale device David Jamieson is a Professor of Physics at the University of Melbourne. He has a PhD from Melbourne and held postdoctoral fellowships at Caltech (USA) and the University of Oxford (UK). David has served terms as Head of School and President of the Australian Institute of Physics. His research expertise in the field of ion beam physics applied to test some of the key functions of a revolutionary quantum computer constructed in silicon in the ARC Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology. In 2020 David received a Royal Society Wolfson Visiting Fellowship to work on new ideas for engineering silicon with single atoms. He is also a Fellow of both the Australian Institute of Physics and the Institute of Physics (UK). --- A very special thank you to our Patreon supporters who help make these videos happen, especially: Andy Carpenter, William Hudson, Richard Hawkins, Thomas Gønge, Don McLaughlin, Jonathan Sturm, Microslav Jarábek, Michael Rops, Supalak Foong, efkinel lo, Martin Paull, Ben Wynne-Simmons, Ivo Danihelka, Paulina Barren, Kevin Winoto, Jonathan Killin, Taylor Hornby, Rasiel Suarez, Stephan Giersche, William Billy Robillard, Scott Edwardsen, Jeffrey Schweitzer, Frances Dunne, , Tim Karr, Adam Leos, Alan Latteri, Matt Townsend, John C. Vesey, Andrew McGhee, Robert Reinecke, Paul Brown, Lasse T Stendan, David Schick, Joe Godenzi, Dave Ostler, Osian Gwyn Williams, David Lindo, Roger Baker, Greg Nagel, Rebecca Pan. --- The Ri is on Patreon: and Twitter: and Facebook: and TikTok: @ri_science Listen to the Ri podcast: Our editorial policy: Subscribe for the latest science videos: Product links on this page may be affiliate links which means it won’t cost you any extra but we may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase through the link.