A quantum computer is a computing device that uses quantum mechanics and its laws as the basis for its processor's operation. This sets it apart from the personal computers and other devices we are familiar with.
Traditional devices use bits - those same zeros and ones - when working with data. When a particular element needs to be turned on, a one is selected, and when it needs to be turned off, a zero is chosen. In quantum devices, qubits - quantum bits - are responsible for storing and transmitting data. They can not only be turned on or off, but also have a boundary state (superposition). In this case, the number of particles acts as the impulse, and the qubit can be both zero and one at the same time.
Thanks to the qubits' property of boundary state, quantum devices can perform tasks much faster than traditional ones and can easily handle even complex problems. Quantum mechanics algorithms are used for computing in quantum mechanics. The principle of their operation is based on a multitude of high-performance technologies.
In the future, it may be possible to create super-fast devices due to the countless number of allowable combinations available in these algorithms.
The Importance of Quantum Computers in the Modern World
Due to the enormous daily data traffic on the internet, traditional computers are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with them. Working with entire company databases and industrial enterprises or conducting scientific research requires a need for supercomputers. Today's available similar devices are too slow and can no longer cope with conducting research at the molecular level.
Quantum computers can solve this problem. High speed of operation, ability to model different objects, and unlimited performance can give humanity a chance to cope with the infinite flow of data and other challenges of the 21st century.
Second Quantum Revolution
The second quantum revolution is expected to happen soon. The first one occurred in the second half of the 20th century and was based on collective quantum phenomena. It gave rise to nuclear weapons, lasers, transistors, and other technologies that eventually grew to include mobile devices and the internet, which we use every day in MRIs, PCs, smartphones, microscopes, and more.
The annual market value of products that became available to us after the first revolution is estimated at three trillion dollars. Despite the fact that Moore's Law has turned out to be ineffective today. According to it, processor performance was supposed to double every 18 months.
We have been on the verge of the second revolution since the 1990s. It will be based on the ability to control more complex quantum systems, with processes occurring at the level of the smallest particles. Such control over the elements will give society many possibilities.
Near Future
It is important to note that predictions about the future are always subject to change and uncertainty. While Eric Lucero's statement about the production of commercial quantum computers starting in 2029 may be based on current trends and projections, it is difficult to predict with certainty what the future will hold. That being said, the potential applications of quantum computers in various fields, including AI and sustainability, are indeed promising and could have a significant impact on society.
