Quantum Computing: What It

Is and Why It Matters

Madhu Valluri
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5 min read
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Jul 8, 2023

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Introduction

The world of computing has been constantly evolving since

the invention of the first computers in the mid-20th century,
and with it, our everyday lives have been transformed.
Technology is rapidly changing how we interact with the
world, from personal computers and smartphones to self-
driving cars and AI. One of the most exciting and
revolutionary advancements in this field is quantum
computing, which promises to take the computing world by
storm.

In this blog post, we will explore the basics of quantum

computing, its potential applications, and its challenges in
becoming a reality.

What is quantum computing?

Quantum computing is a radically different approach to

computing, leveraging the unique principles of quantum
mechanics to perform complex calculations at speeds far
beyond the reach of classical computers. While classical
computers use bits to represent information as either 0s or
1s, quantum computers use quantum bits or qubits, which
can exist in multiple states simultaneously, thanks to the
phenomena of superposition and entanglement.
Superposition allows qubits to exist in a combination of 0 and
1 simultaneously. At the same time, entanglement is the
phenomenon in which the state of one qubit is dependent on
the state of another, regardless of the distance between
them. These unique properties enable quantum computers to
perform an enormous number of calculations simultaneously,
with each additional qubit exponentially increasing the
computer’s power.

Why do we need quantum computers?

Quantum computers have the potential to solve some of the

most challenging problems in science and technology that
are beyond the reach of even the most powerful
supercomputers today. These problems include:

1. Cryptography: Quantum computing poses a significant

threat to the security of current encryption techniques, as it
can easily crack codes. However, it also promises the
development of new, unbreakable encryption methods,
ensuring the secure transmission of information.

2. Drug Discovery: The ability of quantum computers to

analyze and simulate molecular structures can significantly
accelerate drug discovery, leading to more effective
medicines and treatments.
3. Artificial Intelligence: Quantum computing has the
potential to transform the field of AI by enabling the
development of more sophisticated machine learning
algorithms, allowing AI systems to learn and adapt more
efficiently.

4. Climate Modeling: Quantum computers can help improve

our understanding of climate change by processing vast
amounts of data and running complex simulations to predict
the impact of various factors on our planet’s climate.

5. Optimization Problems: Quantum computing can be used

to solve complex optimization problems in fields such as
logistics, finance, and energy production, leading to more
efficient solutions and significant cost savings.

Quantum computers could also enable discoveries and

innovations we cannot even imagine today by opening up
new possibilities for computation and communication.
IBM Quantum: The Road to Advantage for scaling quantum systems beyond old limitations and
toward advantage

How do quantum computers work?

Quantum computers are based on physical systems that can

act as qubits, such as atoms, photons, electrons, or
superconducting circuits.
Microsoft: Topological quantum computing and the quantum stack

These systems must be carefully controlled and isolated from

their environment to preserve their quantum coherence and
avoid decoherence, which is the loss of quantum information
due to noise and interference.

There are different ways of implementing quantum

computers using various technologies and architectures.
Some of the most promising ones are:
 Superconducting qubits: These circuits are made of
superconducting materials with zero electrical resistance
at very low temperatures. They can be manipulated by
applying microwave pulses and coupled by sharing
electrical currents or magnetic fields.

 Ion traps: These devices trap individual charged atoms

using electric fields and lasers. They can be manipulated
by applying laser pulses and coupled by exchanging
photons or phonons (a unit of vibrational energy that
arises from oscillating atoms within a crystal).

 Photonic qubits: These are particles of light that can be

encoded with polarization or frequency. They can be
manipulated by applying optical elements such as mirrors
and beam splitters and coupled by interacting with other
photons or matter.

 Each technology has advantages and disadvantages

regarding scalability, fidelity, connectivity, speed, and
cost. The challenge is finding the best trade-offs among
these factors and integrating them into a coherent system
that can run reliable and efficient quantum algorithms.

What are some of the current challenges and

opportunities in quantum computing?
Quantum computing is still in its infancy and faces many
technical and theoretical hurdles before it can achieve its full
potential. Some of the main challenges are:

1. Error Correction: Quantum systems are highly susceptible

to errors due to their fragile nature and the influence of their
surrounding environment. Developing efficient error
correction techniques is critical to the reliability of quantum
computers.

2. Scaling up: Building large-scale quantum computers with

enough qubits and gates to run practical applications is a
significant challenge and requires advances in both
hardware and software to ensure stable and efficient
performance.

3. Quantum Algorithms: Developing new algorithms

specifically designed to harness the power of quantum
computing is essential for realizing its full potential.

Conclusion

Quantum computing is undoubtedly one of the most exciting

and revolutionary advancements in computing, with the
potential to reshape the world we can only begin to imagine.
While challenges remain, the progress made in recent years
has been astounding, bringing us closer to real-world
quantum applications. As we continue to explore the
possibilities and overcome the obstacles, quantum computing
promises to unlock new frontiers in science, technology, and
beyond.

References:

 IBM Quantum access plans

 Amazon Braket : Accelerate quantum computing research

 Azure Quantum documentation

 Researchers make a quantum computing leap with a

magnetic twist

 IBM Partnering with the University of Tokyo on Quantum

Computer

 Amazon extends its quantum efforts with a focus on

networking

 In a historic milestone, Azure Quantum demonstrates

formerly elusive physics needed to build scalable
topological qubits

 Google Quantum Computer Is ’47 Years’ Faster Than #1

Supercomputer
 IBM: Speed up your quantum experiments on our systems
in the cloud with an efficient and low-latency architecture.

 Microsoft Research Blog: Pioneering quantum hardware

allows for controlling up to thousands of qubits at
cryogenic temperatures

 Google: Discover the Quantum AI Campus

 Cirq: An open-source framework for programming

quantum computers