QUANTUM

COMPUTING

A Step Towards a Faster Future

 WE PONDER 3 QUESTIONS

01 02 03
WHAT WHY HOW
What is Quantum Why do we need How do Quantum
Computing ?? Quantum Computing and Computers work ??
why is it faster ??
What is Quantum Computing ?

● Quantum computing uses specialized technology including

computer hardware and algorithms that take advantage of
quantum mechanics to solve complex problems that classical
computers or supercomputers can’t solve, or can’t solve quickly
enough.

These machines are very different from the classical computers that
have been around for more than half a century. Here's a primer on this
transformative technology.
 Why do we need Quantum Computing and
02 Why are they faster ?

● When scientists and engineers encounter difficult problems, they turn to

supercomputers. These are very large classical computers, often with thousands of
classical CPU and GPU cores capable of running very large calculations and
advanced artificial intelligence. However, even supercomputers are binary code-based
machines reliant on 20th-century transistor technology. If a supercomputer gets
stumped, that's probably because the big classical machine was asked to solve a
problem with a high degree of complexity. When classical computers fail, it's often
due to complexity.
● Complex problems are problems with lots of variables interacting in complicated
ways. Modeling the behavior of individual atoms in a molecule is a complex problem,
because of all the different electrons interacting with one another. Identifying subtle
patterns of fraud in financial transactions or new physics in a supercollider are also
complex problems. There are some complex problems that we do not know how to
solve with classical computers at any scale.
● The real world runs on quantum physics. Computers that make calculations by using
the quantum states of quantum bits should in many situations be our best tools for
understanding it.
Let's look at an example that shows how quantum computers can succeed where classical computers
fail:
● A classical computer might be great at difficult tasks like sorting through a big database of
molecules. But it struggles to solve more complex problems, like simulating how those molecules
behave.
● Today, if scientists want to know how a molecule will behave they must synthesize it and
experiment with it in the real world. If they want to know how a slight tweak would impact its
behavior, they usually need to synthesize the new version and run their experiment all over again.
This is an expensive, time-consuming process that impedes progress in fields as diverse as
medicine and semiconductor design.
● A classical supercomputer might try to simulate molecular behavior with brute force, by using its
many processors to explore every possible way every part of the molecule might behave. But as it
moves past the simplest, most straightforward molecules available, the supercomputer stalls.
Quantum algorithms take a new approach to these sorts of complex problems—creating
multidimensional computational spaces. This turns out to be a much more efficient way of solving
complex problems like chemical simulations.
● We do not have a good way to create these computational spaces with classical computers, which
limits their usefulness without quantum computation. Industrial chemists are already exploring
ways to integrate quantum methods into their work
 How do Quantum Computers work ??
03
A quantum hardware system is about the size of a car, made up mostly of cooling systems to
keep the superconducting processor at its ultra-cold operational temperature.
A classical processor uses classical bits to perform its operations. A quantum computer uses
qubits to run multidimensional quantum algorithms.

● Superconductors

Your desktop computer likely uses a fan to get cold enough to work. Quantum processors need to
be very cold–about a hundredth of a degree above absolute zero—to avoid “decoherence,” or
retain their quantum states. To achieve this, scientists use super-cooled superfluids. At these ultra-
low temperatures certain materials exhibit an important quantum mechanical effect: electrons
move through them without resistance. This makes them "superconductors."

When electrons pass through superconductors they match up, forming "Cooper pairs." These pairs
can carry a charge across barriers, or insulators, through a process known as quantum tunneling.
Two superconductors placed on either side of an insulator form a Josephson junction.
● Superposition
A qubit itself isn't very useful. But it can perform an important trick:
placing the quantum information it holds into a state of superposition, which represents a
combination of all possible configurations of the qubit. Groups of qubits in superposition can create
complex, multidimensional computational spaces. Complex problems can be represented in new
ways in these spaces.
● Entanglement
Quantum entanglement is an effect that correlates the behavior of two
separate things. Physicists have found that when two qubits are entangled, changes to one qubit
directly impact the other.
● Interference
In an environment of entanged qubits placed into a state of superposition, there
are waves of probabilities. These are the probabilities of the outcomes of a measurement of the
system. These waves can build on each other when many of them peak at a particular
outcome, or cancel each other out when peaks and troughs interact. These are both forms of interference.

A computation on a quantum computer works by preparing a superposition of all

possible computational states. A quantum circuit, prepared by the user, uses interference selectively on the
components of the superposition according to an algorithm. Many possible outcomes are
cancelled out through interference, while others are amplified. The amplified outcomes are
the solutions to the computation.
Superposition Entanglement

Interface
WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT
QUANTUM COMPUTERS ?
Quantum computing is inherently probabilistic, which means it solves challenges based on the most probable
outcome while using several dimensions simultaneously.

If regular computing can be compared to flipping a coin, where the result is either heads or tails, quantum
computing calculates the most probable outcome in a sort of "while the coin is spinning" way. However,
quantum computing is more than that: It can be both heads and tails simultaneously, and any variation in-
between these two states. This concept is known as superposition.

This way of working allows a quantum computer to perform millions of calculations simultaneously to work
out the most probable solution or even solutions, which provides us with more options to choose from.

In the world of quantum mechanics, there are phenomena like the quantum state of superposition, quantum
entanglement, string theory, and more. The research in this field has a good headwind, and a lot of progress is
being made. The mathematical models for how to use all this are evolving rapidly, and new scientific papers
on the topic are being published all the time.
In order to work with qubits for extended periods of time, they must be kept very
cold. Any heat in the system can introduce error, which is why quantum
computers are designed to create and operate at temperatures near absolute
zero..
1. Qubit Signal Amplifier: One of two amplifying stages is cooled to a temperature of
4 Kelvin
2. Input Microwave Lines: Attenuation is applied at each stage in the refrigerator in
order to protect qubits from thermal noise during the process of sending control
and readout signals to the processor.
3. Superconducting Coaxial Lines: In order to minimize energy loss, the coaxial lines
that direct signals between the first and second amplifying stages are made out of
superconductors.
4. Cryogenic Isolators: Cryogenic isolators enable qubits signals to go forward while
preventing noise from compromising qubit quality.
5. Quantum Amplifiers: Quantum amplifiers inside of a magnetic shield capture and
amplify processor readout signals while minimizing noise.
6. Cryoperm Shield: The quantum processor sits inside a shield that protects it from
electromagnetic radiation in order to preserve its quality.
7. Mixing Chamber: The mixing chamber at the lowest part of the refrigerator
provides the necessary cooling power to bring the processor and associated
components down to a temperature of 15 mK-colder than outer Sрасе.
LIMITATIONS
• Decoherence: Quantum systems are fragile and prone to errors due to decoherence, which is the loss of
quantum coherence over time. This limits the size and complexity of problems that quantum computers
can effectively solve.
• Noise: Quantum computers are susceptible to noise and errors in their operations. Error correction
techniques can help mitigate this issue, but they also come with their own challenges and limitations.
• Limited qubits: Current quantum computers have a limited number of qubits and are prone to errors as
the number of qubits increases. Scaling up quantum computers while maintaining low error rates is a
significant challenge.
• Quantum supremacy: While quantum computers have shown the potential to outperform classical
computers in certain tasks, achieving quantum supremacy - where a quantum computer can perform a
calculation that is practically infeasible for classical computers - is still a goal that has not been
consistently achieved across all problem domains.
• Certain classical problems: Quantum computers may not necessarily be more efficient for all types of
problems. There are classical algorithms that are highly optimized and efficient for specific tasks, and
quantum algorithms may not provide a significant speedup for these problems.
 WRAP UP
Thousands of eager developers are already taking advantage of the free access to quantum platforms. There is a
call for architecture to start looking into the roadmap for integrating this new technology into the existing IT
landscape.

Many companies are hungry for more processing power. With quantum computers being able to do in minutes what no
classical computer can even dream of ever doing, the business advantage is shining like a beacon at night.

The current generation of quantum computers is found in scientific institutions or at very large service providers like IBM
and Google. There are many similarities to the first mainframe computers when it comes to complexity and
uniqueness, so there are good reasons to start with QCaaS. Architecture is key to successfully integrating this new
technology with the existing IT landscape, and upcoming articles will look more into the different areas and aspects.
“The age of quantum computers “These machines are very different from the classical
computers that have been around for more than half a
is at our doorstep.”
century.”

—Red Hat —International Business Machines (IBM)

“This introduces new concepts to traditional

programming methods.”

—Microsoft Azure
RESOURCES

● Red Hat
https://www.redhat.com/architect/quantum-computing

● IBM Community
https://www.ibm.com/topics/quantum-computing

● Medium

● Microsoft Azure
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-in/resources/cloud-computing-dict
ionary/what-is-quantum-computing
 Thank You

A Presentation by Tanish Bansal