Figure 1
According to Google’s dictionary, a quantum computer is “a computer that makes use of the quantum states of subatomic particles to store information.” To the ordinary person that sounds like this: “a computer that makes use of blah blah blah gibberish gibberish blah.” Well, my friends, you are in luck, because today, you will finally receive that explanation you deserve. So, what are quantum computers?
What are quantum computers and how do they work?
A quantum computer uses quantum physics to increase the power of the computer to what is a degree not able to be achieved by a regular computer. Quantum physics is “the theoretical basis of modern physics that explains the nature and behavior of matter and energy on the atomic and subatomic level” (“Quantum Theory”). In simple terms, quantum physics is just like regular physics, except that it explores atoms in much more depth; it explores atoms by exploring what is inside of atoms, specifically, neutrons, protons, and electrons. Quantum computers are needed because regular computers cannot process the theory of quantum physics, because by studying quantum physics, you are asking the computer to process way too many variables, which it cannot handle. So, a quantum computer was created to solve this problem.
How does a quantum computer work, you may ask? In the simplest terms, the difference between a regular computer and a quantum computer is that a regular computer uses one of two bits: a 1, or a 0, on or off. A quantum computer, on the other hand, can be both 1 and 0 at the same time, allowing for the computer to process much more complex information than a regular computer would. The type of bit that a quantum computer uses is called a quantum bit, or a qubit. Seeing as you are probably confused, let’s start with a simple explanation of what bits and qubits are.
What are bits and qubits and what is the difference between the two?
Figure 2
What is a qubit, you may ask? Well, let’s start with what a regular bit is. “Bit” is short for binary digit, and it is the simplest piece of data on a computer. Eight bits is a byte. When you hear the words megabyte or gigabyte, these are thousands of bytes working together to process information and store it on your electronic device. A bit can be in one of two states, a 0 or a 1, off or on, false or true, low or high. Because everything on a computer is larger than a bit, computers use bytes to measure everything. For example, a byte can be any combination of the two numbers: 00, 01, 10, or 11. The byte seen in Figure 2 is 00110101. Two bytes, or 16 bits, is called a word. That is it with bits, and is the underlying information needed to understand what exactly a qubit is.
A qubit is a much more complex form of a bit. However, it is the simplest piece of information on a quantum computer. A qubit is short for quantum bit, which is short for quantum binary digit. What is remarkable about qubits is that they can be in more than one state at a time. For example, as mentioned before, a byte can be a combination of 00, 01, 10, or 11, but a qubit can simultaneously be in more than one of these states at a time, allowing it to process much more complex information. An electron or photon can be used as a qubit, with the charge of the particle acting as the qubit. Ions have also been used in experimental quantum computers, but are not widely used to this day. This use of particles as qubits is part of a principle that is expressed in quantum theory, which is a complex and incredibly complicated subject that is a discussion for another day.
What is the history of quantum computing?
Quantum computing can be traced back as far as 1959, back when even the regular computer was not as developed as we see it today. In a speech, Richard P. Feynman spoke about the effects of miniaturization, as well as how the theory of quantum mechanics can be applied to create a superpowerful computer. In effect, he was not just speaking of quantum computing, but also of nanotechnology, “the branch of technology that deals with dimensions and tolerances of less than 100 nanometers, especially the manipulation of individual atoms and molecules” (Google). A nanometer is 0.000000000001, or one-billionth, of a meter, just to put that number in perspective. However, people largely ignored his ideas because, as I mentioned, regular computers were still being worked on, so who was to toy with the idea of a whole new computer? But progress on the quantum computer was soon to begin.
In 1985, David Deutsch of Oxford University in England wrote a paper on how quantum mechanics can apply to computers and proved that a quantum computer can perform any function needed. This was the beginning of what is called the “quantum logic gate” (“What is a Quantum Computer?”) From then on, progress on quantum computers was relatively fast. In 1994, Peter Shor proved that there was an algorithm, or “a procedure or formula for solving a problem” (Google), that could use six qubits to perform factorizations of numbers. He kept adding more and more qubits, and found that with more and more qubits, the information became more and more complex.
Just four years later, in 1998, the first quantum computer was built. However, it was only two qubits, and scientists were looking to expand on the number of qubits in the computer. So, in 2000, two new quantum computers were built, one with four qubits, and the other with seven. Naturally, it was a success. Today, about fifteen years later, research is still ongoing to try to make usable quantum computers. And to prove the incredible advancement in quantum computing, in 2014, a small Canadian company, D-Wave, became the first company to actually sell a quantum computer – for 10 million dollars! Who knows the future of quantum computing? Maybe someday, we will all have a quantum computer in our homes! I mean, when regular computers were first made, people thought they wouldn’t be a public thing.
What do we use quantum computing for?
Figure 3
Now that you, my dear readers, understand that a qubit can be in more than one state, I am sure you will find this comic slightly, if not hilariously, entertaining. I know I did. But, on to the more important question you are likely asking yourselves – what do we use quantum computing for? It does seem as if quantum computers are a hidden phenomenon possessed only by mad scientists and people who are technologically gifted. Well, you’d be surprised to know that quantum computers are used for a quantity of different things.
Although quantum computers can be used for hundreds of purposes, let’s focus on four simple things for the future that a quantum computer may be used for. The first is safer air travel. Currently, there is lots of jet software that is much too complicated for a regular computer to decipher, and a quantum computer can get the job done. Next, it can help detect cancer earlier. Using the theory of quantum physics, quantum computers can look into how exactly diseases develop, and, as a result, help possibly save lives. Also, deaths from severe weather can be prevented, because the quantum computer can precisely detect how and when a certain type of severe weather can develop, and in which condition, helping meteorologists give out earlier warnings. In addition, quantum computing can help with space travel and discovery of new planets, because it can quickly and efficiently analyze existing data and that collected from telescopes and determine where the best areas to find Earth-like planets would be.
So, what does it all add up to?
Well, I hope you can see why quantum computing is an important aspect of the future. Quantum computing is an extension of regular computing and is able to process much more complex information, speeding up the process of computing. I hope you now have a better understanding of quantum computing, and I hope I have simplified enough for you so that you may understand it thoroughly. Not surprisingly, this is just the most basic information of quantum computing, because if I were to actually write every known thing about this phenomenon, it would require no less than 500 pages. So, I hope you have learned something from this basic introduction to quantum computing.
Works Cited
Ambainis, Andris. "What Can We Do with a Quantum Computer?" Institute for Advanced Study. Institute for Advanced Study, 2014. Web. 10 May 2016.
Jones, Andrew. "What Is a Quantum Computer?" About.com Education. About.com, n.d. Web. 10 May 2016.
Rouse, Margaret. "What Is Qubit?" WhatIs.com. TechTarget, Sept. 2005. Web. 10 May 2016.
"What Is BIT (Binary DigIT)?" Computer Hope. Computer Hope, n.d. Web. 10 May 2016.
Wigmore, Ivy. "What Is Quantum Theory?" WhatIs.com. TechTarget, Jan. 2015. Web. 10 May 2016.
Vella, Matt. "9 Ways Quantum Computing Will Change Everything." Time. Time, Inc, 6 Feb. 2014. Web. 10 May 2016.
