Green Computing

Green Computing: Should It Be Photonics or Spintronics for Quantum Computers?
Xavier Mattam [e-mail]
Abstract - Quantum Computers are widely acclaimed as the future computers. There is so much research being done in this field of Quantum Computers that one would rightly feel that the advent of Quantum Computers for everyday use is not far off. But at a time when Global Warming has become a real threat to our very existence, the question we need to responsibly ask ourselves before take on this new invention is whether it will in any way ruin our existence. This paper evaluates the two main approaches to Quantum Computer Systems that are being researched at present from the light of the Green Computing approach. The central thrust of this paper is to avoid a technological advancement that could cause more harm than good in the future. Keywords-Green Computin, Photonics; Spintronics; Quantum Computers

I.

INTRODUCTION

―For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled.‖ —Richard P. Feynman (1986)[1] There is nothing more real than the fact that humanity today is heading towards total annihilation if we do not do something to stop Global Warming. Steps have been taken constantly by Governments and public at large to reduce the rate of the Global Warming process and Green Computing is one major step in this direction considering the fact that computers are one big source of the warming process. But this initiative can only extend life by a few more years. The real cure lies in drying up the source rather than slowing it down. The twentieth century has, no doubt, been the century of computers. Beginning with machines as big as a building, we have reached sizes below which it would be too inconvenient to handle. But just as everything comes to end, Gordon Moore’s law on the shrinking of computer chip is also nearing its end. The twenty-first century has something different in store. Just

References: [1] Feynman, Philip Richard, ―Report of the PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident‖, Volume 2: Appendix F - Personal Observations on Reliability of Shuttle [2] Marinescu, C. Dan and Marinescu M. Gabriela, ―Introduction to Quantum Computing and Quantum Information Theory‖, University of Central Florida, 18 Feb. 2009, [3] Putten, Elbert van , ―Between Ones and Zeroes – How a Quantum Computer Works‖, pp.3-4. [4] Henderson, Harry, “Encyclopedia of Computer science and technology”, Facts On File, Inc. New York, 2003, p.473 [5] Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, ―Quantum computer”, 18 Feb. 2009, [6] Meglicki, Zdzislaw Quantum Computing Without Magic Device The MIT Press, Cambridge, 2008, p.191. [7] Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, ―Quantum superposition”, 18 Feb. 2009, [8] Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, ―Qubit”, 18 Feb. 2009, [9] HowStuffWorks "Qubits and Defining the Quantum Computer", 18 Feb. 2009, [10] Ibid,. [11] Quantum Information Science and Technology Roadmapping Project, ―A Quantum Information Science and Technology Roadmap, version 2.0‖, 18 Feb. 2009, < qist.lanl.gov/ > [12] Bruce Kane, ―Semiconductor Devices for Quantum Computing‖, University of Maryland, 18 Feb. 2009, [13] Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, ―Spintronics”, 18 Feb. 2009, < en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spintronics > [14] Physics University of Maryland, ―Introduction to Spintronics and Spin Quantum Computation‖ 18 Feb. 2009, < www.physics.umd.edu/rgroups/spin/intro.html> [15] Sarma, Sankar Das, ―Spintronics‖, American Scientist, pp.516 -523, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, North Carolina, November–December 2001 [16] Physics University of Maryland, ―Introduction to Spintronics and Spin Quantum Computation‖ 18 Feb. 2009, < www.physics.umd.edu/rgroups/spin/intro.html> [17] Pieter Kok, W.J. Munro, Kae Nemoto, T.C. Ralph, Jonathan P. Dowling, G.J. Milburn, ―Linear optical quantum computing‖, 18 Feb. 2009, < xxx.soton.ac.uk/abs/quantph/0512071> [18] Marinescu, C. Dan and Marinescu M. Gabriela, ―Introduction to Quantum Computing and Quantum Information Theory‖, University of Central Florida, 18 Feb. 2009, [19] Quantum Information Science and Technology Roadmapping Project, ―A Quantum Information Science and Technology Roadmap, version 2.0‖, 18 Feb. 2009, < qist.lanl.gov/ > [20] Ibid., [21] Ibid., [22] Rocky mountain Research centre, ―What is Photonic Computing?‖, 18 Feb. 2009, [23] Quantum Information Science and Technology Roadmapping Project, ―A Quantum Information Science and Technology Roadmap, version 2.0‖, 18 Feb. 2009, < qist.lanl.gov/ > [24] J.C.Garrison, R.Y.Chiao, ―Quantum Optics‖, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2008 [25] Pieter Kok, W.J. Munro, Kae Nemoto, T.C. Ralph, Jonathan P. Dowling, G.J. Milburn, ―Linear optical quantum computing‖, 18 Feb. 2009, < xxx.soton.ac.uk/abs/quantph/0512071> [26] Quantum & Nanotechnology Theory Group in Oxford, ―Research Activities in QuNaT‖ , 18 Feb. 2009,