Australian Researchers Demo Random Access Quantum Optical Memory

nuur writes "Researchers at the Australian National University have developed a new form of optical memory that allows random access to stored optical quantum information. Pulses of light are stored on a kind of 'optical conveyor-belt' that is controlled with a magnetic field. By manipulating the magnetic field, the conveyor-belt can be moved, allowing the recall of any part of the stored optical information. The research is published in Nature." You'll probably know after reading the abstract linked whether you'd be in the market to pay for the whole thing.

All I know

[Chuck Chunder]

You'll probably know after reading the abstract linked whether you'd be in the market to pay for the whole thing.

All I know is that my head hurts.

Yeah, well

[Anonymous Coward]

For my storage requirements I need something more reliable than "random" access. Sheesh.

Cool.

[Nerdfest]

It may, or may not, be useful.

Re:RAM??

[zapakh]

Sure, I RTFA. Unfortunately, that means I don't also read Slashdot. Sorry :(

Re:This is inferior dynamic quantum ram

[Anonymous Coward]

You practically have to shovel cats into the system...

I used to work at a Chinese buffet, so that shouldn't pose a problem.

Self destruction?

[burning-toast]

Quantum... heh... does that mean if you read your memory the data is destroyed? :-D

Sorry I peeked

[RuBLed]

It is not useful now..

Re:Self destruction?

[Anonymous Coward]

Nah, what it means is you can no longer refer to it as "tranny porn", it's "a superposition of states" porn.

Re:Self destruction?

[Anonymous Coward]

cool! so that means I can download 1 porn movie and have them all?

Ahh... Magnetic fields...

[Anonymous Coward]

... is there anything you CAN'T do?

Re:Yeah, well

[SCVirus]

Ha! That was merely a social engineering trick. Now I know the contents of your data!
Now I merely need to learn the length...

Quantum Clippy

[Linker3000]

Can you just imagine it...

"It looks like you want to save your last hour's edits to disk. Well, maybe they're in Quantum RAM, maybe they're not. Do you want me to have a look?"

[YES] [NO] [BOTH]