The Rise of Quantum Computing: A Pathbreaker in Technology
Twenty-seven years before Steve Jobs invented the pocket computer, physicist Paul Benioff published an article saying: “It is theoretically possible to create a system more powerful than what can be stored in a cap- quantum computer.
Named after subatomic physics described in 1980, this concept continues to inspire research and efforts to create the next big thing in computing: This facet turns your computer into an old-fashioned abacus. Richard Feynman, the Nobel laureate who brought physics to the masses, helped found the field by explaining how such systems could simulate new quantum theory more efficiently than traditional computers. So, …
What exactly is Quantum Computing?
Quantum computers are advanced methods that perform parallel calculations using the physics of subatomic particles, replacing the simpler transistors in today's computers. Quantum computers use qubits, computing units, or something in between that can be turned on or off, rather than the on or off bits of traditional computers, such as one or zero. A qubit's ability to exist in an intermediate state called superposition adds a powerful capability to the computational equation and makes quantum computers superior to special kinds of mathematics.
What does a quantum computer do?
By using qubits, quantum computers can perform calculations that would take a very long time for classical computers; Of course, if they can make it happen. For example, modern computers use eight bits to represent any number between 0 and 255. Using functions such as superposition, a quantum computer can use eight bits to represent all numbers between 0 and 255 at once.
A similar feature is parallelism in calculations: all possibilities are calculated simultaneously rather than sequentially, which provides significant speed. In other words, while a classical computer performs long division-by-one calculations to calculate very large numbers, a quantum computer can reach this answer in a single step. Voilà!!
This means that quantum computers could revolutionize entire industries that now rely on extremely large factors, such as cryptography.
This may just be the beginning. Some experts believe that quantum computers will overcome the limitations that hinder simulations of chemistry, materials science, and everything else involving the world built on the nanometer building blocks of quantum mechanics. Quantum computing could extend the lifespan of semiconductors by helping engineers create more detailed simulations of the quantum effects they are starting to see in today's tiny transistors. It is true that academics say that quantum computers will not replace classical computers, but will complement them. Some predict that quantum computers will be used as accelerators in the same way that GPUs accelerate computers today.
Several companies such as Alibaba, Google, Honeywell, IBM, IonQ and Xanadu are using early versions of quantum computers today. Today theyoffer ten qubits. But qubits can be noisy, which sometimes makes them light. Systems require tens or hundreds of thousands of queries to reliably solve real-world problems. Experts believe that it will be decades before we reach the age of high precision where quantum computers will actually be useful.
