New NASA Amplifier Boosts Space Signals; Quantum Computers Next?

NASA Pumps Up the Volume on Space Signals

by InnovationNewsDaily Staff

Date: 20 July 2012 Time: 11:59 AM ET

The new amplifier consists of a superconducting material (niobium titanium nitride) coiled into a double spiral 16 millimeters in diameter. CREDIT: NASA/JPL-Caltech View full size image

NASA wants to boost the signal coming from stars, galaxies and black holes while turning down the background noise. The U.S. space agency invented a new amplifier that can boost electrical signals from the universe and possibly help find the key to making quantum computers.
The amplifier design has superconductor materials that can conduct electricity without resistance at extremely cold temperatures. NASA's researchers used titanium nitride and niobium titanium nitride in their device to pump up the volume on weak electric signals — microwave signals, radio waves and X-rays from space.

MORE: http://www.space.com/16675-nasa-signal-booster-universe.html

Source: Space.com

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