quantum computing, innovation

Are We on a Brink of Quantum Revolution?

In recent years, quantum computing has emerged as a promising technology that could revolutionize the way we process and analyze information. While classical computers use binary digits, or bits, to store and manipulate data, quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously, enabling them to perform certain computations much faster than classical computers. 

This potential speed-up in processing power has led to growing interest and investment in quantum computing. Around the world today, tech giants such as IBM, Google and Microsoft all developing their own quantum computers.

They say the impact will be similar with the technological revolution, and will change everything from the way we developing new drugs to the security of the internet.  This article will explore the current state of quantum computing technology, its potential applications and the challenges that still need to be overcome for quantum computers to become a mainstream technology.

What is a Quantum Computer?

A quantum computer is a type of computer that uses quantum-mechanical phenomena, such as superposition and entanglement, to perform operations on data. Unlike classical computers, which use bits (binary digits) to represent data, quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits, which can exist in multiple states, literally in the same time. This allows quantum computers to perform certain types of calculations much faster than classical computers.

For example, quantum computers can factor large numbers exponentially faster than classical computers, which is important for many cryptographic applications. However, building a quantum computer is very challenging due to the delicate nature of quantum-mechanical phenomena. Qubits are prone to interference and decoherence, which can cause errors in calculations.

To overcome these challenges, quantum computers are often designed with error correction techniques and require specialized equipment and infrastructure. Despite these challenges, researchers and companies are working to develop practical quantum computers that could have a wide range of applications, from optimizing logistics and finance to simulating complex physical systems and materials.

A Dualistic Force to be Reckoned With - Playing Both Sides of the Coin

An illustration of the potential power of a quantum computer is a straightforward example, demonstrating its unique ability to perform tasks beyond the reach of classical computers is cracking passwords. A current program designed to take a technical approach can break into a device password consisted in words, just by sorting out any variable one by one. Billions of possibilities would normally take a couple of hours for tens of thousands of British words combinations.

However would go as far as millions years if the password would have signs or numbers as a character. The more diverse in type of character a password, the harder to break. Although, for a quantum computer by excluding the wrong combination until it finds the right one it will be done in order of minutes. This is what makes quantum computers phenomenal, their capacity to consider all this data at the same time and find shortcuts to problems that would otherwise take billions of years to solve. Read that again.

This can be applied to all sorts of problems in real life such as employing more efficient trading and investment strategies on the stock market, discovering novel medications or devising solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change, we can make significant strides towards humanity progress. Quantum computers possess the potential for both remarkable power and peril, as their ability to break encryption extends far beyond deciphering a mere 12 digit password. In fact, they are capable of decrypting virtually any code, including those responsible for safeguarding the entire internet. 

The Q Day

Although prototypes of quantum computers exist only in laboratories for now, they are not yet powerful enough to perform groundbreaking tasks. However, it is only a matter of time until a truly powerful quantum computer is developed. The day this happens, referred to as "Q Day" in the cybersecurity world, will mark the emergence of a quantum computer capable of breaking the encryption that underpins the internet.

A quantum computer is capable of such a complex task to break an encryption as it works in a completely different way than the classical computer we all seen or know about. The fundamental difference between a quantum computer and a classical computer is that both machines rely on binary code such as 0 and 1 to perform. Although quantum computer has the advantage of being able to perform multiple computations simultaneously, allowing for a significant speed-up in specific applications.

The example of cracking a password highlights this advantage, as a classical computer would have to try each combination individually, while a quantum computer could consider all the possible combinations at once. Another analogy compares the classical computer to someone trying to find their way out of a maze methodically, while a quantum computer can "jump" straight to the exit. Overall, the potential of quantum computing to revolutionize certain fields, such as cryptography and optimization problems, where classical computers would be prohibitively slow.

The Bottom Line

The quantum computers represent a paradigm shift in the field of computing and have the potential to revolutionize industries ranging from healthcare to finance. As the technology continues to evolve and become more accessible, we can expect to see even more groundbreaking applications of quantum computing in the years to come.

As more and more companies invest in quantum computing research and development, it is clear that this technology is poised to transform industries ranging from finance and logistics to healthcare and energy. The potential benefits of quantum computing are simply too great to ignore and it is up to us to embrace this new technology and work towards harnessing its full potential.

With their incredible computational power and ability to solve problems that were previously unsolvable, quantum computers are truly the newest trend in tech today and one that is poised to change the world as we know it.

References

• Farhi, E, Goldstone, J & Gutmann, S. (2014). A quantum approximate optimization algorithm

• Bravyi, S & Kitaev, A (2002) Universal quantum computation with ideal Clifford gates and noisy ancillas. Physical Review A-67(2) 022317.

• Preskill, J. (2018) Quantum computing in the NISQ era and beyond. Quantum, 2, 79.

• Devitt, S.J, Fowler, A.G, Hollenberg, L.C (2013). Quantum error correction for beginners. Analysis on progress in physics, 76(6-7), 076001.