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Quantum Computing


QUANTUM COMPUTING

 
  50 qubit quantum computer
Quantum computing is the area of study focused on developing computer technology based on the principles of quantum theory, which explains the nature and behavior of energy and matter on the quantum (atomic and subatomic) level. It begins early in the 20th century, when physicists began to sense they had lost their grip on reality. Electrons and other particles sometimes act like waves instead. Quantum mechanics emerged to explain such quirks for example the position of an electron.

The basic theory or blueprint for quantum computers that took shape in the 80s and 90s still guides Google and others working on the technology.

Regular computers perform calculations by encoding information as digital bits (0 and 1). A computer might flip the voltage in a circuit on and off. Quantum computers do calculations using bits, qubits.

What is a qubit?
A device that uses quantum mechanical effects to represent 0s and 1s of digital data, similar to the bits in a conventional computer.

Properties -
1) Superposition
The arrangement in quantum computing let qubits do more than just flip between 0 and 1, they can flip into a mode called superposition.
It's the trick that makes quantum computers tick, and makes qubits more powerful than ordinary bits. A superposition is an intuition-defying mathematical combination of both 0 and 1.
Quantum algorithms can use a group of qubits in a superposition to shortcut through calculations.

2) Entanglement
When two qubits in a superposition are entangled, certain operations on one have instant effects on the other, a process that helps quantum algorithms be more powerful than conventional ones.

Quantum computers aren’t well-suited to all kinds of problems, but for some they offer an exponential speedup, meaning their advantage over a conventional computer grows explosively with the size of the input problem.

Problem scientists face while making them-
The quantum effects are very delicate, and stray heat or noise can flip 0s and 1s, or wipe out a crucial superposition. Qubits have to be carefully shielded, and operated at very cold temperatures, sometimes only fractions of a degree above absolute zero.

Developments -
Startup Rigetti Computing recently announced it has built a processor with 128 qubits made with aluminum circuits that are super-cooled to make them superconducting.

Google and IBM have announced their own chips with 72 and 50 qubits, respectively.

Daimler and Volkswagen have both started investigating quantum computing as a way to improve battery chemistry for electric vehicles.

These are exciting advancements in our technological world. There’s a huge potential for quantum computers in the future. Excited for more developments!



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