11/09/2025
Scientists at National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) in Taiwan have created what they call the world’s smallest quantum computer — a device that works using only one photon of light.
Instead of relying on many qubits like traditional quantum computers, this system encodes information in 32 different time slots (or “time-bins”) of a single photon. Each time-bin acts like a dimension, allowing the photon to carry multiple pieces of quantum information at once.
The computer is so small it can fit on a desk and operates at room temperature, unlike most quantum computers that need extremely cold environments. Despite its tiny size, the researchers successfully demonstrated that it can run basic quantum algorithms, such as factoring numbers (like 15 = 3 Ă— 5), showing real computational potential.