Quantum Computing
Hey guys, it’s DataScienceKid back with another article! Today, we are going to be talking about some of the fastest computers that exist at the moment. In fact, these computers are up to 158 million times faster than today’s most sophisticated supercomputers! I am talking about a fairly new technology, called Quantum computing. Quantum computing is believed by many to be the future of technology, and once harnessed correctly it could cause a generational leap in society.
So before we dive deeper into this topic, let’s address the question we are all wondering.
What is Quantum computing?
What the heck is Quantum Computing? Quantum computing is a technology that is rapidly developing that uses the quantum mechanics laws to solve problems that are too complex for classical computers. But DataScienceKid, what do you mean by “Quantum mechanics”?
Well…before doing my research for this article, I had no idea what that meant either but don’t you worry! I’ll do my best to give a basic and precise explanation on what Quantum mechanics is!
What is Quantum mechanics?
Quantum mechanics is the study of how matter and light behave at the subatomic and atomic levels. It attempts to explain the fundamental particles of atoms and molecules, including protons, neutrons, electrons, gluons, and quarks, as well as their properties. It is the possibility of simultaneous existence in multiple locations.
Assume you own a “quantum coin,” which is a supernatural coin. A standard coin can land on heads or tails when flipped. However, a quantum coin appears to be in two places at once when it is flipped. It might therefore land on heads or tails simultaneously!
This is when things really start to get interesting. The quantum coin determines whether it is heads or tails when you look at it. Before you look, though, it appears to be hidden. Until you check, it’s in this unique state of “maybe heads and maybe tails”.
Thus, the quantum coin is like a small mystery when you’re not looking. It only decides to be heads or tails when you glance at it. The coin seems to be engaging in a covert game where you are unsure of its side until you investigate.
How do computers use quantum mechanics?
So now I hope you guys have a better understanding of what Quantum mechanics are. I know it’s a lot to grasp right now, but in the future, I’lll make another article that dives deeper into the rabbit hole of Quantum mechanics, and I’ll try and explain it more. But for now, let’s talk about how computers can use this mysterious and amazing branch of physics!
To understand how computers use quantum mechanics, we first need to understand qubits, superposition and entanglement. Since there are many complicated and weird sounding elements in this topic, I’m going to break this explanation into a couple parts.
What are qubits?
Quantum bits, or qubits, are the fundamental component of quantum computing and are the quantum counterpart of the classical binary bits used in conventional computers.
Do you remember how earlier I took the example of a coin, and explained how when you flip a regular coin, it can either land on heads or tails. But unlike an ordinary coin, a quantum coin can exist in a “superposition” of both heads and tails at the same time, and its final state is decided only when viewed, illustrating the unique features of quantum particles. The same goes for a quantum bit. Unlike classical bits, they can exist in several states at the same time. A standard bit can be labelled as a 0 or a 1, but a quantum bit can be both. Sadly, it doesn’t stop there. It gets even more complicated, so put on your seatbelt and let’s go!
What is superposition?
To put it simply, it is a mode in which quantum particles combine all potential states is known as quantum superposition. The quantum computer monitors and measures each particle as the particles move and fluctuate.
One famous example that is commonly used to explain superposition is Schrodinger’s cat. Sound familiar? Well, I am gonna use my own example, and call it DataScienceKid’s dog. Imagine if you had a box, and you put a dog and a delicious dog treat inside the box. You cannot see or hear anything inside the box, and you have no idea what happens inside. So, you have no idea whether or not the dog ate the treat. Therefore, until you actually open the box, the dog treat is simultaneously not eaten and eaten at the same time. This is the state of superposition, because the dog-treat is a combination of all possible states. Basically, unlike conventional computers, which must execute tasks one after the other, quantum computers are able to execute a huge number of operations in parallel.
What is entanglement?
In quantum physics, quantum entanglement is when two or more particles entangle themselves in a way that, no matter their distance from one another, the state of one instantly affects the state of the other. These particles—often referred to as qubits—can become “entangled” in order to correlate some of their attributes. This means that, even if two particles are located light-years apart, you may instantly determine the equivalent property of the other when you measure the property of one. Entanglement helps computers compute greater data and information storage and tackle more complex issues due to entanglement.
So now we know the three main important components of quantum computers! Tune in next time for part 2, where we’ll dive deeper into the topic !