Moving past PCs: Government lab dabbles in quantum computers and brain-like chips

Rethinking conventional computer designs, which are decades old, the U.S. Department of Energy has set its sights on creating systems that could supplant today's PCs and servers. The Los Alamos National Laboratory--best known for its work with nuclear weapons--is developing and acquiring new types of computers as it looks to replace conventional computers. Its newest toy is a D-Wave 2X quantum computer, which the lab purchased from D-Wave Systems for an undisclosed price. The acquisition of the D-Wave quantum computer fits LANL's goal to understand new forms of computing and how they apply to different applications, said John Sarrao, associate director for Theory, Simulation, and Computation at LANL. LANL is also researching neuromorphic chips inspired by the functioning of the brain.