MilestoneTheory & algorithmsConfirmed
Paul Benioff publishes a quantum-mechanical model of a computer
May 1980
Physicist Paul Benioff publishes a model of a computer, in the form of a Turing machine (the standard mathematical model of computing), that obeys the laws of quantum mechanics. His main question was whether such a machine could run without losing energy, not whether it could be faster.
Why it matters
It showed that a computer could in principle be described entirely by quantum physics, one of the first steps toward the idea of a quantum computer.
Paul Benioff · Argonne
Related
Sources (3)
-
Journal of Statistical Physics
The computer as a physical system: A microscopic quantum mechanical Hamiltonian model of computers as represented by Turing machines
“In this paper a microscopic quantum mechanical model of computers as represented by Turing machines is constructed.”
-
arXiv (Seth Lloyd)
The Universe as Quantum Computer
“Quantum computers were proposed by Paul Benioff in 1980”
-
arXiv (John Preskill)
Quantum computing 40 years later
“Unlike Manin and Feynman, Benioff was not concerned with quantum complexity. Rather, he mainly focused on the question whether a quantum computer can operate without dissipation.”
Each quote above was checked automatically against the original page. Added Oct 15, 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will review it.