Quantum computing — bit to qubit

About a couple of weeks ago Google published a paper claiming to have significantly moved ahead in the quantum computing race or in other terms “Achieved Quantum Supremacy” with their 54-qubit processor called “Sycamore”. IBM was quick to challenge this with a counter claim that the problem solved by Google’s Sycamore can also be done by one of its super computer.

Even more recently Microsoft revealed plans about releasing an open cloud computing service in private review.

Quantum computing. Sounds cool, but what does it mean?

Heard of the phrase “It’s not rocket science”? Well, unfortunately this is, and maybe even more. Even then let’s try to explain it in the simplest of terms.

Classical computer uses bits (1s and 0s) to process information. Quantum computer uses quantum bits or qubits. Qubits work based on the quantum mechanics and represents atoms, ion, photons or electrons and their respective control devices that are working together to act as computer memory and a processor.

I know I said simplest of terms, so, if you were able to somehow survive the above details and technical jargon, think of a sphere, classical computing is like the two poles (either north pole or south pole). Quantum computing on the other hand can have any value in between and hence gives you enormously large data in same energy space.

Will quantum computer replace classical computers?

No need to start signing up on quantum mechanics classes yet (thank god). Quantum computers are not meant to replace classical computers but are supposed to address problems that we might face in future which requires computing abilities beyond the realms of existing computers. In fact, the difficult calculation done by Google’s experiment can be termed useless as the problem they solved has no practical use.

All said and done, Google’s achievement is quite impressive and a stepping stone towards a future of unlimited possibilities.