By Sheena Goel
Let us being with understanding how quantum computing works.
It will be easy to understand quantum computing in juxtaposition with that of regular
computing done by the classical computers.
In a classical computation, a data or instruction is represented as the string of 0s and 1s
which are known as bits. Bits can be only 1 or 0 at given point in time.
To be able to solve any problem, a computer has to follow one path at a time, it cannot
take different route simultaneously.
Quantum computers on the other hand use qbits or quantum bits for computation.
These qbits can be both 0 and 1 at the same time, a state called quantum
superposition.
They behave akin to that of a spinning coin. What state they will acquire is impossible to
predict.
The higher the number of qbits, the higher the amount of information stored in them.
The quantum computational process is so complex that the outcome is impossible to
calculate from first principles, and is therefore effectively random.
Google gave a proof of Concept in October of 2019 by designing a quantum computer
called Sycamore, which had 53 qbits in it and can solve a problem in 200 seconds as
compared to most powerful supercomputer, which will take 10,000 years to resolve the
same problem.
Rather than use more electricity, quantum computers will reduce power
consumption anywhere from 100 up to 1000 times because quantum computers use
quantum tunnelling.
However, due to randomness of the outcome, quantum computers are unreliable and
hence, limited application.
As mentioned above, quantum computers are no more than a proof of concept.
Scientists find comparing quantum computers with classical computers is analogous to
comparing Ferrari and a truck. However, Ferrari can only run at a faster speed than a
truck but is not as useful.
Once quantum computing matures as a technology, it will pose security threat as it will
become easy to break any security algorithm within matter of seconds. High security
information like Banking and Military data will be easily compromised.
Still it will provide equally exciting opportunities in the fields of medicine, astronomy,
physics, mathematics to name a few.
Quantum supremacy over classical computers remains a distant thought without it
getting consistent results every single time.
Reference:
1. https://www.sciencealert.com/quantum-computers
2. https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/what-is-quantum-
supremacy/article29543857.ece#:~:text=Quantum%20supremacy%20refers%20to%
20quantum,an%20algorithm%20generated%20by%20Google.
3. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-03213-z
4. https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-is-quantum-
supremacy-claimed-by-google-6086628/
5.
https://www.bernardmarr.com/default.asp?contentID=1193#:~:text=Rather%20th
an%20use%20more%20electricity,Quantum%20computers%20are%20very%20f
ragile.
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