Four decades ago, computer engineers theorized that the wonderful quantum physics mechanics could be used for creating a new type of computer, more potent than the ordinary ones. Now, the leading IT giants develop such PCs that can perform computations able to knockdown the most powerful supercomputers. But these are still experiments by far.
In this article, we’ve covered the essence of quantum computer, how it works, what companies can boast first models of this wonder-machine and what it will be able to do.
What is a quantum computer?
A quantum computer is a device using principles of quantum mechanics for performing certain computations. And it makes it much faster than a classic PC.
The smartphones and laptops that we’re used to all rely on binary coding, consisting of zeros and ones. Quantum computers, however, use qubits (quantum bits).
A qubit is the quantum-mechanical equivalent of a classical bit. It can be a zero, a one, or both simultaneously. This property is called superposition, meaning the state of one qubit depends on the state of another.
Thanks to this, quantum computers can all at once solve numerous possible combinations, dramatically accelerating the solution of tasks. And what takes a regular PC years to accomplish, a quantum computer can do in less than a second.
History of quantum computers
One of the earliest ideas related to quantum computing was offered in the 1980s by Richard Feynman, a physicist. He claimed that quantum computers could potentially model physical systems more efficiently than traditional PCs.
In the early 1990s, researchers Peter Shor and Lov Grover developed algorithms demonstrating that quantum computers could perform rapid number factorization and database searches.
The first experimental demonstration of a quantum algorithm took place in 1994 by a team of scientists led by Isaac Chuang at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Using a few atoms as qubits, experts could successfully demonstrate quantum computing principles.
In 1998, a 2-qubit quantum computer was built that solved the first quantum algorithms, including Grover’s algorithm.
Since then, quantum computing has advanced significantly, and companies like Google, IBM, and Microsoft invest heavily in the field. In 2017, IBM introduced the first commercial quantum computer, bringing the competition to a new level.
Advantages of quantum computers compared to traditional ones
- Speed. Quantum PCs perform computations much faster than regular ones, leading to significant improvements in fields like cryptography, drug discovery, and financial modeling.
- Parallel processing. A quantum computer can perform multiple calculations simultaneously thanks to superposition.
- Optimization. Ideal for solving problems that require finding the best solution among many possibilities.
- Modeling. They can be used to model quantum structures that are difficult or impossible for classical computers to recreate. It is crucial for industries like quantum chemistry and materials science.
- Cryptography. These machines can break many encryption algorithms used to protect information online. It is connected to the fact that some encryption algorithms rely on the complexity of large numbers factoring, which a quantum computer can solve easily. At the same time, it could help develop new forms of cryptography.
What quantum computers will be used for
Various IT company laboratories are working on quantum computers’ development. But they are still not capable of meeting all expectations. For now, these machines are mainly used for testing, allowing researchers to experiment and understand how quantum computers function.
For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Italian football league tested a quantum PC to schedule matches in a way that minimized player contact between different teams.
Google Quantum AI, in collaboration with pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, startup QSimulate, and scientific colleagues from Columbia University, used a quantum PC to study the electronic structure of cytochrome P450 — a family of enzymes naturally present in the human body that help metabolize drugs. Researchers came to the conclusion that a quantum computer could help determine the enzyme’s effectiveness for a specific drug.
Quantum PCs are also expected to play a role in cryptography. They will be able to break modern encryption algorithms. In materials science, these machines will model molecular structures at an atomic level, allowing for more efficient data analysis.
These new machines will speed up the resolution of complex optimization problems, helping to select the best solutions from a range of possibilities. They will be useful in logistics, finance, energy, meteorology, and more.
Connection to supercomputers
Quantum computers are currently connected to high-performance computing centers, where supercomputers are located.
A quantum computer isn’t meant to replace a supercomputer; rather, it complements it, performing specific types of calculations. Some researchers believe it won’t have its own user interface, so access will be provided through supercomputers.
Who is developing quantum computers
IBM
A leader in quantum computing, IBM has developed Quantum System Two — a modular quantum computer based on the Heron chip. This chip improves “error correction” by addressing decoherence. It is a phenomenon leading to loss of quantum states in a quantum system. Also, IBM recently introduced Condor, a superconducting quantum processor with 1,121 qubits.
In 2019, Google’s Quantum AI lab announced thay achieved “quantum supremacy” with its quantum computer, Sycamore.
In 2023, it was revealed that the company developed a quantum supercomputer capable of performing calculations in 6.7 seconds that would take the world’s most powerful supercomputer, Frontier, 47 years.
Amazon
In 2019, Amazon Web Services established a quantum computing center on the California Institute of Technology campus, where Richard Feynman first proposed the idea of quantum computing in the early 1980s.
Amazon Braket is a fully managed quantum computing service that provides access to quantum hardware from various vendors, including IonQ, Rigetti, Oxford Quantum Circuits, QuEra, and Amazon’s own Braket Quantum Simulator. AWS recently introduced a custom-built chip that can reduce errors by 100 times using a passive approach to error correction.
Microsoft
Microsoft Azure offers a full suite of tools and resources for quantum computing and is actively developing a scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computer. The Azure Quantum platform provides access to quantum hardware, simulators, and development tools, enabling users to experiment with quantum algorithms and explore their potential.
Intel
Intel is working to build a full-stack commercial quantum system. The company recently released a 12-qubit silicon chip, Tunnel Falls, aimed at propelling silicon qubit spin research. Intel plans to integrate this chip into its full quantum stack through the Intel Quantum Software Development Kit.
The company also plans to release a next-generation quantum chip in 2024 and announced partnerships with the University of Chicago and the University of Tokyo to advance the development of a fault-tolerant quantum computer.
Cybersecurity concerns
As we know, all information on the internet is protected by encryption, which would take traditional PCs hundreds of years to decrypt. However, quantum computers could do this in mere minutes. If quantum PC experiments succeed, all security protocols will need to be replaced with new and more complex ones.
The US is concerned about this possibility, and in 2022, the government announced a quantum security program development. The United States fears that if the first working quantum computer is built in China, it could lead to a catastrophe of unprecedented scale.
Everything’s fine, except for one thing
Now, quantum computers are susceptible to heightened temperatures, electromagnetic fields and air molecules. These external factors could cause loss in qubits quantum specifics. As we have previously stated, this phenomenon is known as quantum decoherence. It is when the system can fail. And that’s what causes errors in quantum calculations.
To protect qubits, quantum computers are isolated and maintained in the low temperatures. Any involvement in this ‘live’ process requires re-adjustment and re-calculation.
