Quantum Superiority and How It Affects Us

Quantum computation is a field of study that blends the principles of quantum mechanics with the basics of computation. Classical computers rely on bits to represent information as either 0 or 1, however, quantum computers employ quantum bits or qubits that can exist in multiple states simultaneously. This characteristic permit exponential computational capabilities, far surpassing the limits of even the most powerful supercomputers.

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?Understanding Quantum Computation

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The core of quantum computation consists of two major concepts in the study of quantum mechanics - superposition and entanglement. A qubit can be in a superposition of states, representing both 0 and 1 simultaneously, which exponentially increases the amount of information that can be processed at once. Furthermore, qubits can be entangled, meaning the state of one qubit is directly connected to or affects the state of another, irrespective of the distance between them. This property enables the encoding of vast amounts of data paving the way for unparalleled computational performance.

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For the longest time working with these tiny particles has been very hard. Due to their small size and their charges studying and controlling these particles has always been a tricky task. The invention of modern instrumentation along with leaps in theoretical physics helped us devise better experiments and techniques to decipher the quantum world. If you too are a scientist reading this article and wondering where you can find the best instruments for your next big experiment look no further simply log onto Instrumus.com and find the right Instrument in just a few clicks.

?Quantum Superiority

Quantum supremacy is supposed to be a very significant milestone in quantum computing when a quantum computer performs a specific task faster than the most powerful classical supercomputers available. In October 2019, Google claimed to have achieved this very milestone, they published a paper declaring they had achieved quantum supremacy. Their team, led by researchers at Google Quantum AI Lab, used a 53-qubit quantum processor called "Sycamore" to perform a particular quantum computation in less than 3 minutes, a task that they predicted would take the world’s fastest supercomputer thousands of years.

Google’s rival IBM was quick to reach for the press to publish their response to this. They claimed that Google misused the word supremacy because of a few reasons, one of which they called “Quantum Advantage”. They claimed that quantum computers at present are better than classical computers at performing certain tasks, much like what Google had chosen in their experiment, and that their performance in a small area wouldn’t mean overall supremacy over classical supercomputers. They also claimed that Google’s prediction of a classical supercomputer taking thousands of years to solve the task is greatly exaggerated and that it would only take them a few days and not thousands of years. IBM wanted the world to know that to them quantum supremacy would only be realised in the practical world and not in a laboratory.

But keeping the word of Google’s only rival in the race of commercialisation of quantum computers aside, this was arguably a huge achievement. Now while IBM tried arguing against any real-life impacts of this experiment, there’s a lot that it changed. Here are a few ways it could affect us:

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1. Threat to Encryption:

Shor's algorithm, proposed by mathematician Peter Shor in 1994, remains one of the most famous examples of quantum superiority. It efficiently solves the prime factorization problem, a task that is significantly time-consuming for classical computers. While classical algorithms scale exponentially with the number of digits in the input number, Shor's algorithm scales polynomially (qubits) on a quantum computer, drastically reducing the time required to factor large numbers. This breakthrough has significant implications for cryptography and poses a potential threat to widely used encryption methods.

Currently, encryption methods like RSA rely on the difficulty of factoring large numbers to ensure the security of sensitive data and communications. However, quantum computers, post-quantum superior world, could easily crack these encryption schemes, rendering them ineffective. As quantum technology advances, the idea of breaking or hacking widely used encryption becomes increasingly realistic, potentially exposing confidential information and disrupting secure communication channels. The objective now has become to develop quantum-resistant encryption methods to safeguard our digital world.

2. Quantum Simulation and Complex Systems

Quantum computers excel in simulating complex quantum systems that have a lot more interacting elements than what a classical computer can even hope to handle, such as chemical reactions and material properties. Classical simulations of such systems face exponential scaling challenges which means weak details and less authenticity, making them infeasible for large-scale studies. Quantum computers, on the other hand, can efficiently simulate quantum systems by naturally representing quantum states leading to profound advancements in the simulation world.

3. Optimization Problems

Grover's algorithm is another useful quantum algorithm that offers a quadratic speed-up while searching through unsorted databases in comparison to classical algorithms. This capability has tremendous implications for optimization problems, where searching for an optimal solution among a vast number of possibilities is required. Applications range from route optimization to financial modelling, further showcasing the superiority of quantum computation in certain contexts. Algorithms like Shor’s and Grover’s give Quantum computers the edge or “advantage” over classical computers.

Conclusion

Quantum computation represents a paradigm shift in the world of computing, unlocking the potential for solving problems that were previously deemed impossible by the era of classical computers. Quantum superiority demonstrated through algorithms like Shor's and Grover's, hints at a future where quantum computers will surpass classical supercomputers. Despite the significant progress made in the field, quantum computation is still in its nascent stages, and challenges such as error rates and scalability need to be addressed to fully harness its capabilities. The final goal remains the commercialization of these machines. As researchers continue to innovate and develop quantum technologies, the impact of quantum computation on science, industry, and society at large is poised to be nothing short of revolutionizing.