/
Article

Physics and the Information Revolution

JAN 01, 2000
Quantum physics holds the key to the further advance of computing in the postsilicon era.
Joel Birnbaum
R. Stanley Williams

In the fourth century BC, a young man named Pythias was condemned to death by Dionysius, the tyrant of Syracuse, for plotting against him, but Pythias was granted three days’ leave to go home to settle his family’s affairs after his friend Damon agreed to take his place and be executed should Pythias not return. Pythias encountered many problems but managed to return just in time to save Damon. Dionysius was so struck by this remarkable and honorable friendship that he released them both.

This article is only available in PDF format

More about the authors

Joel Birnbaum, Hewlett‐Packard, Palo Alto, California.

R. Stanley Williams, Hewlett‐Packard Laboratories.

Related content
/
Article
Since 2008, more than 100 colleges and universities in the US have stopped offering an undergraduate physics major. What happened?
/
Article
The thermodynamic and quantum mechanical properties of topological insulators provide a path toward scalable energy storage in information-based batteries.
/
Article
At the end of the turbulent 1960s, the postwar funding boom in US physics came to a crashing halt. The lessons learned then may be helpful to today’s physicists.
/
Article
Interviews with 22 successful early-career physical scientists and engineers reveal that networking has been one of the most critical ways to nurture their careers.
This Content Appeared In
pt-cover_2000_01.jpeg

Volume 53, Number 1

Get PT newsletters in your inbox

pt_newsletter_card_blue.png
PT The Week in Physics

A collection of PT's content from the previous week delivered every Monday.

pt_newsletter_card_darkblue.png
PT New Issue Alert

Be notified about the new issue with links to highlights and the full TOC.

pt_newsletter_card_pink.png
PT Webinars & White Papers

The latest webinars, white papers and other informational resources.

By signing up you agree to allow AIP to send you email newsletters. You further agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.