What Are Quantum Computers?
A quantum computer is a computing device based on quantum mechanics that utilizes entangled pairs of elementary particles to perform computing. Quantum computing is the harnessing of mathematical properties of quantum states, including entanglement and superposition, to do computation over long distances. The entangled pairs of particles can be thought of as being the computers that are performing the computing. To make the whole concept of Quantum computing more understandable let us try to define it first.
A Quantum computer, as defined, is able to solve many tasks, some with great speed and accuracy while others with much less precision but still within a human’s capacity to do. These tasks may include solving optimization problems involving millions of variables or even calculating the perfect solution for the game Solitaire. And yes, even the world’s largest supercomputer, the Sun-based Milky Way galaxy’s mainframe, is also able to solve optimization problems, though not in the tested limitations of Quantum computing. But Quantum computers can definitely deliver a surprising amount of power to a user. A Quantum computer can be described as a device that runs a series of classical algorithms on uncoined units (one unit is equivalent to one million trillions of bits) in order to find the solutions to optimization problems.
Although it may sound complicated, a Quantum computer operates on very elementary, classical physical laws, namely: the PDE (planarity, entanglement, and disjointness), PSP (superpose, pair, and density), and the existence of an outside electromagnetic field affecting the local space. Although these laws are not well understood by us now, we can see the analogies between the PSP and decoherence in the case of the PDE. With coherence, when two Classical particles are near each other, they will create a shared superposition which is also a virtual reality shared by only the two Physical particles.
By using a Quantum computer, we can solve optimization problems with high accuracy. One of the reasons why Quantum Computers became so popular in the field of search engine optimization is because many people think that the method is so efficient that it is able to deliver results even with enormous computational power. Quantum simulations provided the proof for these claims, paving the way for more research.
In the 21st Century, there are many developments that happened thanks to Quantum computing. There are various companies which are making quantum computers, but Google’s Project Quantum is the most popular one. Google Quantum Computers promises better results from distributed computing through the use of the latest technology. Companies like Microsoft and Cisco have already made quantum computers and integrated it with their computing technologies, making it easier for individuals to solve problems with high accuracy.
Quantum computing holds great potential. Although its foundation is based on Quantum Physics, it has made a breakthrough in computing by exploiting classical computers’ efficiency. Classical computers to solve problems in a completely different way compared to Quantum computers, namely by using an analog computer using only one input compared to Quantum computers that make use of two or more inputs. Another great feature of Quantum computers is that they can solve problems that classical computers are not able to solve.
Quantum computers are able to solve many different tasks. These include tasks that were previously thought impossible. For instance, Quantum computers have already created a ‘Simulator’ for programmers who wanted to try out their code using a Quantum computer; this gave programmers a chance to check out the problems of the Quantum computer using a simulator. Other tasks that Quantum computers are able to solve include carrying out the tasks in graph calculations, and solving the game of Tetris. Furthermore, Quantum computers are able to run programs that were previously thought impossible, such as the game of Solitaire.
However, there is still a long way to go until Quantum computers will be widely used in our day to day lives. They are still considered to be at the developmental stage of research. Scientists are however very excited about the possibilities that Quantum computers offer, especially in areas such as computer science and engineering. Although many believe that Quantum computing holds many exciting possibilities, not all experts agree and some see a possible negative effect on society if it was to be made public. Therefore, we may have to wait and see how Quantum computing evolves over the next few years.
