QUANTUM SUPERCOMPUTERS
The words ‘Quantum’ and ‘Supercomputers’ are really big words. The former refers to a completely different world,
whereas the latter refers to computer that are significantly faster and better than average robots. When we join these two
words, it forms something extraordinary. A highly efficient computer that uses completely different principles to
execute commands that for usual computers, would be impossible.
WHAT are Quantum Supercomputers? They are simply very powerful and cutting-edge computers that work
considerably more quickly than conventional computers thanks to the laws of quantum physics. Developers along with
engineers made these computers to solve problems that were very complex for our regular computers (Complex
problems here are problems with lots of variables interacting in complicated ways). Problems regarding how atoms are
interacting in molecules or how a nuclear reaction will be executed involve multiple factors, which is what makes it so
incomprehensible for regular computers.
HOW does it work? Well, bad news for you, the first and most important thing is the relatively hardest part to
understand. Took me about a few days of research to understand these, but I’ll make it simple. Let’s call Quantum
Supercomputers as QS. So, how is a QS different from a regular laptop? Well, it eliminates the boundaries of
processing. Now, why do I say this? Well, as the nerdy computer people may know, our regular computers work by
assigning binary units of information to bits, represented as either a 0 or a 1. So, one piece of information has been
assigned to a specific number (0 or 1). Well, QS just breaks this barrier. In the QS world, we use ‘qubits’ instead of
‘bits’. And due to a property called Quantum Superposition, quibits can exist as 0 and 1 simultaneously. Confusing, isn’t
it? Well, take the example of a doughnut shop. You are the customer and the doughnut vender is the seller. Now, you
buy the doughnut from the seller, so your job is buying a doughnut, and his job is selling the doughnut, right? Well,
according to Quantum Superposition, you can be both the seller and the buyer!
This was just one of the factors which increases the speed of computation in a QS. An increase in qubits leads to an
increase in computational speed. It is estimated that a quantum computer with 100 qubits could theoretically be 1030
times faster than a classical computer! And with these high speeds, cooling is vital. Ever heard of absolute zero? It’s the
temperature at which it’s so cold that particles of matter stop moving. Well, these machines require about a hundredth
of a degree (0.01°) above absolute zero!
WHERE are these QS used? Well, these computers can be used for complex calculations. These types of
calculations are mainly found in Quantum Simulation, Cryptography, Machine Learning, Quantum Chemistry, Financial
Modeling, and more. The field of optimisation is another important application area. Quantum computers are incredibly
effective at solving optimisation problems because they have the capacity to explore multiple possibilities at once.
Despite these impressive applications, actual quantum computers are still constrained by qubit count and error rates.
These constraints are expected to be abolished as technology advances, allowing for even more applications in a variety
of fields. In the future years, quantum computing has the potential to redefine problem solving and promote innovation,
presenting unprecedented opportunities for tackling difficulties that are intractable for traditional computers.