Counterfactual quantum computation through quantum interrogation

Onur Hosten (), Matthew T. Rakher, Julio T. Barreiro, Nicholas A. Peters and Paul G. Kwiat
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Onur Hosten: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Matthew T. Rakher: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Julio T. Barreiro: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Nicholas A. Peters: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Paul G. Kwiat: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Nature, 2006, vol. 439, issue 7079, 949-952

Abstract: An off day for computing Reset your perceptions for a foray into the quantum world. Counterfactual computation has been proposed as a logical consequence of quantum mechanics. Using appropriate algorithms, the theory goes, it should be possible to infer the outcome of a quantum computation without actually running the computer. Hosten et al. now report experimental confirmation that this does indeed happen. Their all-optical quantum computer was prepared in a superposition of interacting with and not interacting with an algorithm, and they obtained information about the result even when the photon did not interact with the algorithm. Surprisingly, the counterfactual approach worked better than randomly guessing the solution. It should be possible to use a similar approach in other systems, including the trapped ions popular in quantum computing architecture.

Date: 2006
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DOI: 10.1038/nature04523

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