Quantum computers and blades of grass have more in common than you might think. Physicists in the US have shown that electrons involved in photosynthesis reactions "sample" different energy-level routes in much the same way quantum-computer algorithms can -- at least in theory -- quickly search through unsorted databases. The researchers claim that the discovery could explain how photosynthesis can proceed at efficiencies unparalleled in manmade solar cells (Nature 446 782).
You’ve reached the limit of what you can view on Physics World without registering
If you already have an account on Physics World, then please sign in to continue reading
If you do not yet have an account, please register so you can
- Access more than 20 years of online content
- Choose which e-mail newsletters you would like to receive
