Will You Try Azure Quantum?

By: Souciance Eqdam Rashti, Senior Azure Consultant & Developer

Azure Quantum is a relatively new service within Azure that can be used to solve a particular group of problems. These can include calculations to understand climate changes better, find new molecules for medicine, and develop new materials that are more efficient and environmentally friendly, to name a few examples. Most businesses will not use this service, but mainly those with needs around research and investment in areas that can utilize the properties of quantum mechanics to solve complex problems in less time.

Azure Quantum is fundamentally based on a unit called a qubit. In a classical computer, a "bit" is the smallest possible unit in terms of information. In a quantum computer, the equivalent is a qubit. A bit is binary and can be in the state of 0 or 1. On the other hand, a qubit can be in all states simultaneously, i.e., both 0 and 1. With eight qubits, it's possible to encode 256 values simultaneously.

It's important to understand that even though more information can be encoded in a quantum computer, quantum computers can still solve all types of problems faster. However, problems that would take today's "ordinary" computers tens of years and require calculating many combinations are especially meant for quantum computers. These types of problems are often found within simulations of different states, cryptography, and problem areas that have a huge number of combinations. Among other things, Microsoft has used Azure Quantum to filter out over 32 million subject candidates to find the most suitable for producing the next generation of batteries for vehicles and other electronic tools.

For first-time users, there is $500 in free usage, and you can apply to the Azure Quantum Credits Program for more credits. Pricing, however, is more complex than other Azure services since external suppliers provide the hardware for quantum computers. It's essential to read through the different suppliers' descriptions and pricing and determine whether the hardware and the number of qubits they offer fit the problem area.

To get started with Azure Quantum programmatically, Microsoft has created a new programming language called Q#. Q# is included in the Azure Quantum Development Kit and is the framework for development to work towards an Azure Quantum service. With this framework, you can build and run quantum applications on quantum hardware in Azure Quantum. You can debug the code, use Copilot, and use the VSCode plugin for local development.

The following is an example of a Q# program:

The code allocates a qubit, executes so that the qubit is in multiple states, measures the different states, and then resets the qubit. This code can be run in VSCode.

The possibilities are many, and Microsoft offers a very attractive program to utilize this sort of computational power. Azure Quantum is an exciting service that may be suitable for businesses within pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, battery research, climate simulation, and other similar areas. I have yet to test the service myself, but it would be incredibly exciting to try it out. TBC.

/Souciance.