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What is quantum computing and why should you care about it
We live in a world where computers have increased our productivity and allowed us to accomplish so much more. But, like any tool, they can become obsolete as the technologies around them improve. The replacement for a typewriter might be a journal, or the written word could be replaced by electronic words, but it’s still the same tool. As computers become more versatile and capable of doing more, the physical limitations inherent in their hardware will become less important.
Quantum computers, which harness the strange science of quantum mechanics, could replace computer chips and rockets that use silicon with ones that are made from diamond or atoms. A quantum computer would use something called a quantum bit (qubit) instead of a classical bit. A qubit is like a switch that can be on one state or another—one or zero. Although there are still many technological challenges to making a quantum computer work, companies around the world are working hard to understand how it will work and to build it.
As all of this is happening, the government is making big, costly investments in the research that could lead to a quantum computer, and the US is one of the top five contributors. The National Science Foundation (NSF) funded about two-thirds of the United States (US) $73 million budget for advanced research on quantum computing from 2010 to 2015. NSF’s $12 million allocation for 2015 alone is more than IBM, Microsoft, Google and Intel combined.
As you read this article, thousands of researchers are working on new breakthroughs in quantum computing. What could we as a society accomplish if we had the computing capacity of today’s fastest supercomputers within a wristwatch-size device?
How does quantum computing work and what are its benefits
Quantum computing is an emerging technology that gives us hope for the future. It’s about harnessing the power of certain properties of matter: matter being made up of atoms, which have a nucleus and electrons, which are miniscule particles. Quantum computers use those properties of matter to allow for incredibly efficient processing and searching. We can harness those properties to make super-fast, incredibly powerful computers. It uses the quantum mechanical properties of matter, the same quantum mechanical properties that allow electrons to exist in different states at the same time. Quantum computing allows for computers to exist in many possible states at once, just like an electron. This allows for many more calculations to be done at once than what you would be able to do in a regular computer. What’s the benefit? Quantum computers can run calculations much more quickly than regular computers. This means that problems that have become incredibly difficult to solve, can be done faster. On top of that, quantum computers could help us solve problems we’re stuck on today. For example, they could help in drug design and research, they could be used to explore dark matter, and they could aid in forecasting patterns within the stock market.
Quantum computers are still in their infancy, but they will eventually allow us to do things we’ve never been able to do before. It’s very exciting to see this technology develop and be able to provide solutions that have never been possible.
For a more in depth view on quantum computing: https://youtu.be/rBmHV7oO_l0
The potential applications for quantum computing
Quantum computing will solve problems we can’t solve today. It will allow us to create machines that can see around corners, open doors and be more effective anti-virus programs. Today, if you have an anti-virus program installed on your computer, it has a database of viruses and how they operate. When a new virus comes out that the company doesn’t know how it works, the company can go to the database and figure out how it works. But anti-virus programs are very limited because they only use conventional computing, like the silicon chips in computers today. When quantum computing comes along and has more computing power than a conventional computer, then we’ll be able to look at more different viruses. We’ll also be able to analyze data more efficiently and create better video games .
Quantum computing is different from conventional computing in several ways. It will not have the same problems that conventional computers do when it comes to storing information or remembering information. Quantum computers will have the ability to work at any speed, and quantum particles can act like a wave, so they don’t have to run on clockwork. You might think of it as a train that runs throughout your whole device, providing power. Another difference is that you can send a message, or create and understand images using light.
What challenges still need to be overcome before quantum computers can be widely adopted
The biggest challenge right now is that quantum computers are very costly. Scientists and engineers have to build them one at a time, and there’s still a lot to be learned about which materials are best for creating ones that are more efficient. As these computers become more affordable, we’ll see an explosion of research in the field, because everyone will want to use them. Quantum computers could be used to improve our quality of life. Communication will become even faster and more efficient as quantum computers achieve higher levels of performance. This can help with any number of fields, including monitoring the future climate, or trying to find a cure for cancer. The applications are limited only by our imagination and the computing power of these machines.
Like many other new technologies, the applications for quantum computers will develop over a long period of time. But when we get to using them, we’ll really feel the difference.
There are still two big challenges for building quantum computers. One is that they’re very expensive to build and operate, so no one has built one yet – although people claim that they’ve built a prototype device called a “qubit”. Quantum computers have other limitations, including the fact that they need to be kept at super cold temperatures.
There’s a lot of research currently being done on quantum computing and it’s exciting, because people don’t really understand what they’re doing. There are still a few problems with quantum technology – such as the fact that quantum computers have to be kept very cold.
How to get started with quantum computing if you’re interested in learning more
If you’re interested in knowing more, then you can start by reading some of the papers that people have published about quantum computing. You can also start by creating a quantum computer yourself. In the next few years, we’ll start seeing companies and governments creating their own versions of quantum computers and selling them to the general public. But if you’re interested in building your own version, then get started with this simple guide, which will walk you through it step-by-step: https:quantumcomputation.orgguide-build-your-first-quantum-computer-video-course
In case you’re curious, here is a list of the papers that I have in mind:
https:github.com/quantumcomputing/research/blob/master/papers.md
And here are some tutorials that you can check out to learn how to build your own quantum computer: https:github.com/quantumcomputing/research/blob/master/qc-tutorials.md
I recommend that you start with the tutorial on youtube, which is really easy to follow, and then start reading more on your own. For example, in the first few videos, they talk about controlling the spin of a particle. That’s a really good starting point because it will help you understand when to apply your current understanding of quantum mechanics to your project. I also recommend reading: https:github.com/quantumcomputing/research/blob/master/qc-book-2.md
