This is because, in the wacky world of quantum physics, light is wavy as well as particulate.
Scientists can make quantum computers from light particles known as photons, but they can also use an array of single atoms or even very small electrical circuits.
FORBES: Teeny-Tiny Quantum Computers Take A Step Closer To Reality
The practical applications could improve the efficiency of quantum computers, where light is often used to transfer information.
ENGADGET: Researchers capture a single atom's shadow, has implications for quantum computers
Their basic concept is to use light to transmit the quantum information using interferometers, which are instruments that change the frequency of light waves, then recombine them to get particular effects.
FORBES: The Air Force Is Working On A Holographic Quantum Computer
Composed of light-absorbing, colloidal quantum dots linked to carbon-based fullerene nanoparticles, these tiny two-particle systems can convert light to electricity in a precisely controlled way.
FORBES: Quantum Dots and Fullerenes Team Up For Better Nanoscale Solar Panels
The "quantum states" of atoms, light particles known as photons, molecules and even objects big enough to be seen have been extensively studied.
It utilizes the light emitting properties of quantum dots to create an ideal backlight for LCDs -- one of the most critical factors in the color and efficiency performance of LCDs.
ENGADGET: 3M and Nanosys team-up to roll out quantum dot-enhanced LCDs
But their demonstration of dipole trapping at least shines a captivating light down the path to quantum computing becoming a practical technology.
Quantum dots are tiny structures made of semiconductors whose size determines, again through rules set by quantum mechanics, exactly what colour and amount of light they produce - and how often they produce it.
In the quantum world, things traditionally thought of as waves, such as light, can also be viewed as particles.
The important measure of success is the internal quantum efficiency, which shows just how good an LED is at making light.
In addition, since a single electron travelling through the device emits light not once (as in most other lasers), but many times, quantum cascade lasers are powerful: Dr Capasso's group has recently shown that they beat conventional semiconductor lasers by a factor of 20.
Quantum key distribution does this by encoding the information in the polarisation states of individual photons, the particles of light, which are sent from Alice to Bob over an optical fibre.
ECONOMIST: Secure cryptography is only as safe as its weakest link
应用推荐