THE University of Sussex is at the centre of a “technological revolution” with a professor developing a quantum computer.

The machine, which is being built at the Falmer campus, will have an impact on every aspect of our lives once finished.

Winfried Hensinger, professor of quantum technologies, is behind the project and is in the process of publishing the computer’s blueprints.

He is now looking to start a company to continue the development of the computer and speed up the process.

Professor Hensinger said it was impossible to compare the supercomputer to anything we use at the moment.

He said: “If you take even the fastest supercomputer that currently exists, even the NSA’s supercomputer, these machines may take billions of years to calculate certain things that a quantum computer could do in a few minutes.”

Once built it will be used in all aspects of our lives from defence and healthcare to space exploration.

He added that the machine will be able to solve problems that are beyond the capabilities of any computers we use today.

Power

Perhaps problems so large we are unable to comprehend them.

He explained the computer is designed on the principles of quantum mechanics.

This means that, unlike the computers we have today, it does not work in binary 1s or 0s.

The quantum computer uses what are called quantum states, giving rise to its tremendous power.

As an example of its powers he said all current encryption would be rendered useless.

Current credit card encryption relies on computers being unable to decode a very large number – something Professor Hensinger’s computer will be able to solve in seconds.

While others have worked on such computers the development of the blueprints is the first time that someone has presented an engineering solution to such a complicated device.

Professor Hensinger says he hopes to set up a company within two years in order to commercially produce the computer.

At the same time he is currently constructing a prototype device as well as growing his research group at the university to further develop the technology.

Along with his team he has recently developed a quantum computer laboratory installation accessible to the general public.

He recently took this demonstration to London and said the experience was “amazing”.

He added that he wanted to show people that “physics is amazing and it’s going to change the world”.

It was also on display at the British Science Festival in Brighton earlier this month.