QUANTUM SUPERCOMPUTERS. The words Quantum and … – Medium

The words Quantum and Supercomputer are really big words. The former refers to a completely different world, whereas the latter refers to computers that are significantly faster and better than average robots. When we join these two words, it forms something extraordinary. A highly efficient computer that uses completely different principles to execute commands that for usual computers, would be impossible.

What are Quantum Supercomputers? They are very powerful and cutting-edge computers that work considerably more quickly than conventional computers thanks to the laws of quantum physics. Developers along with engineers made these computers to solve problems that were very complex for our regular computers (Complex problems here are problems with lots of variables interacting in complicated ways). Problems regarding how atoms are interacting in molecules or how a nuclear reaction will be executed involve multiple factors, which is what makes it so incomprehensible for regular computers.

How does it work? Well, bad news for you, the first and most important thing is the relatively hardest part to understand. Took me a few days of research to understand these, but Ill make it simple. Lets call Quantum Supercomputers QS. So, how is a QS different from a regular laptop? Well, it eliminates the boundaries of processing. Now, why do I say this? Well, as the nerdy computer people may know, our regular computers work by assigning binary units of information to bits, represented as either a 0 or a 1. So, one piece of information has been assigned to a specific number (0 or 1). Well, QS just breaks this barrier. In the QS world, we use qubits instead of bits. And due to a property called Quantum Superposition, qubits can exist as 0 and 1 simultaneously. Confusing, isnt it? Well, take the example of a doughnut shop. You are the customer and the doughnut vendor is the seller. Now, you buy the doughnut from the seller, so your job is buying a doughnut, and his job is selling the doughnut, right? Well, according to Quantum Superposition, you can be both the seller and the buyer!

This was just one of the factors which increase the speed of computation in a QS. An increase in qubits leads to an increase in computational speed. It is estimated that a quantum computer with 100 qubits could theoretically be 10000000000000000000000000000000 (10 to its 30th power) times faster than a classical computer! And with these high speeds, cooling is vital. Ever heard of absolute zero? Its the temperature at which its so cold that particles of matter stop moving. These machines require about a hundredth of a degree (0.01) above absolute zero!

WHERE are these QS used? Well, these computers can be used for complex calculations. These types of calculations are mainly found in Quantum Simulation, Cryptography, Machine Learning, Quantum Chemistry, Financial Modeling, and more. The field of optimisation is another important application area. Quantum computers are incredibly effective at solving optimisation problems because they can explore multiple possibilities at once.

Despite these impressive applications, actual quantum computers are still constrained by qubit count and error rates. These constraints are expected to be abolished as technology advances, allowing for even more applications in a variety of fields. In the future years, quantum computing has the potential to redefine problem-solving and promote innovation, presenting unprecedented opportunities for tackling difficulties that are intractable for traditional computers.

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QUANTUM SUPERCOMPUTERS. The words Quantum and ... - Medium