Quantum computing is taking a quantum leap. Humanity is closer to godspeed than they think. Considering how Science took its baby steps, scientists can sit back, watch its progress like a happy parent watching their child grow. From classic mechanics to quantum mechanics science has expanded exponentially, and one of its most complex and fruitful results is Quantum Computing. It is an idea of using the principles of Quantum Mechanics to increase the speed of computing and processing exponentially. In 2016, IBM put the first quantum computer on the cloud, expanding the reach of the technology beyond research laboratories. The field is still in its baby steps and needs more and more scientists and multidisciplinary engineers for its development.
The average computer uses bits. These are analogous to tiny switches that can be toggled between off and on position, that represents 0 and 1 respectively. Every image, video or even a website is a combination of millions of these zeroes and ones. But this nature changes when it comes to the real world. Scientists discovered that when we analyse things at a much smaller scale, abnormal and unpredictable things started to happen. This uncertainty created a whole new field of Quantum Mechanics. Standard computers, even supercomputers, are not accurate enough to handle this very uncertainty, let alone simulate it.
How does Quantum Computing work?
Instead of regular bits used by our computers, a quantum computer uses something known as a qubit, which can be on and off at the same time or somewhere in the spectrum between them. This state is known as Superposition. It is one of the properties of quantum computing that makes it so powerful. What is essentially boils down to is if we ask a regular computer to figure its way out of the maze, it goes down through each branch and rules them out individually until it finds the right one. However, a quantum computer can go down every path of the labyrinth at once. Such is the speed.
Another property of the qubit is known as entanglement. If you flip two coins, the result we get from each is different. They’re independent. In entanglement, two particles are linked together, even if they’re physically separate. That is, if one comes up heads, the other one will also be the same. It sounds like magic. Even scientists are unable to explain that behaviour of particles. In the realm of quantum computing, it means that they can string multiple qubits together to tackle complex problems that would take out the best computers millions of years to solve.
Applications
AI
Artificial Intelligence works on the principle of learning from experience, becoming more accurate with time. The input is based on calculating probabilities. AI is an ideal candidate for quantum computation. Every industry will probably be dependent on it in the future. Lockheed Martin, the American aerospace, security and defence Technology Company, plans to use its D-Wave quantum computer to test autopilot software that is currently ridiculously complicated for classical computers. Also, Google is using a quantum computer to design software that can distinguish cars from its landmarks, which is complicated for a classic machine to process.
Molecular Modelling
Another example is precision modelling of molecular interactions, finding the optimum configurations for chemical reactions. Such “quantum chemistry” is so complex that today’s digital computers can analyse only the simplest molecules. Chemical reactions are quantum. They form highly entangled quantum superposition states. They can be evaluated quickly using fully-developed quantum computers, even the most complex processes.
Google has explored this field by simulating the energy of hydrogen molecules. The development of pharmaceutical drugs, and even selecting the best materials or composites for specific structures is possible with this technology.
Cybersecurity and Cryptography
Cybersecurity is based on factorising of large numbers into primes. There is considerable difficulty in this task. Classical computers can execute this, disintegrating every single possible factor, but the amount of time it takes to crack the code is an expensive and impractical task. Cybersecurity is indeed becoming an essential concern with threats around the world. With our increasing dependency on digital systems, we are becoming prone to these threats. Machine Learning using quantum computing can open new doors to cybersecurity. One of the properties of the qubit, quantum entanglement can be used for encryption which would be impossible to crack.
Sensors
Quantum metrology is an application of Quantum Mechanics where we use the quantum effects like entanglement which enable an increase in precision when estimating a parameter of a system, such as a particular characteristic of a particle, rather than making a standard measurement of the same thing. It has significant applications in fields such as microscopy, and can even be used for electromagnetic, or gravitational field imaging.
~Written by Rikin Ramachandran
The Technical Prophet 