Quantum Computing

In the much longer term quantum computing, offers staggering potential by virtue of the ability to perform simultaneous calculations on all the numbers that can be represented by an array of quantum bits (qubits). The scale at which quantum effects come into play, the atomic scale, argues for a requirement for nanoscale structures and quantum dots come up regularly in discussions of quantum computing. Primary applications would be in cryptography, simulation and modeling. The realization of a quantum computer is generally believed to be a long way off, despite some very active research. Funding in the area is thus still largely that provided for pure research, though some defense department money has been made available.