Two papers in this week's edition of Science report on research using quantum dots—solid state qubits—to make both a simple quantum logic gate with a single qubit and a coupled dynamic system ...

“We have demonstrated a system composed of a single quantum dot in a cavity that can be used to realize ... This is only a fraction of the 180-degree rotation required to make a full logic gate, ...

We can write out a little logic table that shows the original ... The standard engineers use for these gates are a triangle with a dot for a NOT, a D for the AND, and a spaceship for the OR.

According to the team, the new NOR gate can be used to create any types of logic elements necessary for optical chips to perform calculations without the participation of electric current.

Quantum computing holds the promise of transforming our information processing methodologies, and at its core, reliable quantum logic gates play an essential role in quantum information processing.