Quantum computers exploit the bizarre features of quantum physics - uncertainty, entanglement, and measurement -- to perform tasks that are impossible using conventional means, such as computing over ungodly amounts of data, and communicating via teleportation.  

I will describe the architecture of a quantum computer based on individual atoms, suspended and isolated with electric fields, and individually addressed with laser beams.  This leading physical representation of a quantum computer has allowed unmatched demonstrations of small algorithms and emulations of hard quantum problems with more than 50 quantum bits.  While this system can solve some esoteric tasks that cannot be accomplished in conventional devices, it remains a great challenge to build a quantum computer big enough to be useful for society.  But the good news is that we don’t see any fundamental limits ahead.

Filmed Lecture