The Current State Of Quantum Computing
The possibilities of quantum computing has been mused over for years, but just how close are we to harnessing this amazing power?
Quantum computing is one of those topics discussed in hushed whispers at computing conferences. Despite being theorized in the 1930s by Alan Turing, real-world examples are few and far between. Yet quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize human knowledge, with processing power a million times greater than today’s leading supercomputers.
In the Air
Any white paper or Wikipedia article on quantum computing quickly descends into debates about stochastic matrices and probabilistic superpositions. Unless you have a Masters in mathematical physics, this can be tough going. It’s easier to consider a light bulb. Normally, it can be on or off – these mimic the binary state of individual data bits in a modern computer. In quantum computing, the bulb can be on or off as well as being both at once – like the fraction of a second after turning off power while the bulb still glows, or the split-second when electricity reaches a filament that isn’t yet illuminated. Through a process known as entanglement, individual bits and bytes of quantum data can adopt multiple states beyond ‘off’ and ‘on’.
It’s instantly obvious that having more than two available states exponentially increases processing power. However, we are only scratching the surface of what can be achieved with quantum computers. Because they contain multiple states rather than being on or off, these quantum bits (or qubits) are very unstable. They are typically atoms or molecules, which are incredibly hard to monitor due to their microscopic size. Finding ways to check on their status without disturbing or corrupting them is also proving to be a challenge.
Taking Bit-y Steps
Nonetheless, there have been significant leaps forward in quantum computing over the last two decades. Seven qubits were squeezed into a single drop of liquid in 2000, with electromagnetic pulses manipulating particles in molecules. The world’s first qubyte of eight qubits was developed in 2005, while a 16-qubit computer was able to solve a Sudoku puzzle in 2007. Five years later, a two qubit quantum computer was built on a diamond crystal that could be operated at room temperature. Governments around the world are pouring money into trials and research, while Canadian firm D-Wave lead the burgeoning private sector.
The ability to condense computing power down to a molecular level (rather than relying on silicon chips) offers immense scope for problem solving. While a modern computer would be unable to unlock the cryptographic algorithms used to securely send data, a quantum computer could breeze through the trillions of permutations. And while much of today’s research is focused on mathematical problem-solving, there is obvious potential to create far more powerful processors for AI or developing medicines. It’s unlikely quantum processors will enter our homes, since future advances in silicon-based computers should enable them to handle everything we’ll need domestically. Nonetheless, quantum computers could regulate automated transport networks or other massively data-heavy processes.
Infinite Possibilities
Perhaps the best example of a modern quantum computer is IBM’s New York-based prototype. Admittedly, this is no more powerful than a high-end laptop, but its limited processing power is due to only containing twenty qubits. It’s easy to imagine how a computer with two hundred or two thousand qubits could perform calculations and processes modern computers couldn’t begin to tackle. Best of all, IBM’s quantum computer is publicly accessible via the internet – giving us all the first tangible glimpse of computing’s quantum future.