The last decades computers developed very quickly. In fact, on the memory of one generation, they went from bulky tube, occupying huge rooms to miniature tablets. Memory and speed increased rapidly. But the moment came when tasks appeared that were beyond the power of even super-power modern computers.
What is a quantum computer?
The emergence of new tasks that are beyond the control of ordinary computers, has forced to look for new opportunities. And, as an alternative to conventional computers, quantum appeared. A quantum computer is a computer technique, the basis of the action, which is based on the elements of quantum mechanics. The main provisions of quantum mechanics were formulated at the beginning of the last century. Its appearance allowed solving many problems of physics that did not find a solution in classical physics.
Although the theory of quanta already counts the second century, it still remains understandable only to a narrow circle of specialists. But there are real results of quantum mechanics, to which we are already accustomed - laser technology, tomography. And at the end of the last century the theory of quantum computation was developed by the Soviet physicist Yu. Manin. Five years later, David Deutsch unveiled the idea of a quantum machine.
Is there a quantum computer?
But the embodiment of ideas was not so simple. Periodically, there are reports that another quantum computer has been created. The development of such computer technology is worked by giants in the field of information technology:
- D-Wave is a company from Canada, which was the first to launch the production of operating quantum computers. Nevertheless, specialists are debating whether these computers are really quantum computers and what advantages they give.
- IBM - created a quantum computer, and opened it to Internet users for experiments with quantum algorithms. By 2025 the company plans to create a model capable of solving already practical problems.
- Google - announced the release this year of a computer capable of proving the superiority of quantum computers on conventional computers.
- In May 2017, Chinese scientists in Shanghai said that the most powerful quantum computer in the world was created, surpassing analogues in the frequency of signal processing by 24 times.
- In July 2017, at the Moscow Conference on Quantum Technologies, it was announced that a 51-qubit quantum computer had been created.
What is the difference between a quantum computer and an ordinary computer?
The fundamental difference of a quantum computer in the approach to the calculation process.
- In a conventional processor, all calculations are based on bits that exist in two states 1 or 0. That is, all the work is reduced to analyzing a huge amount of data for compliance with specified conditions. The quantum computer is based on qubits (quantum bits). Their feature is the ability to be in the state 1, 0, and also simultaneously 1 and 0.
- The capabilities of a quantum computer are significantly increased, since there is no need to search for the right answer among the set. In this case, the answer is chosen from the already available variants with a certain probability of correspondence.
What is a quantum computer for?
The principle of a quantum computer, built on the choice of a solution with sufficient probability and the ability to find such a solution many times faster than modern computers, determines the purpose of its use. First of all, the emergence of this kind of computer technology worries cryptographers. This is due to the ability of a quantum computer to easily calculate passwords. So, the most powerful quantum computer, created by Russian-American scientists, is capable of obtaining keys to existing encryption systems.
There are also more useful applied tasks for quantum computers, they are connected with the behavior of elementary particles, genetics, health care, financial markets, the protection of networks from viruses, artificial intelligence and many others that ordinary computers can not solve.
How is a quantum computer arranged?
The construction of a quantum computer is based on the use of qubits. As physical performance of qubits currently used:
- rings of superconductors with jumpers, with a multidirectional current;
- individual atoms, under the influence of laser beams;
- ions;
- photons;
- variants of the use of nanocrystals of semiconductors are being developed.
Quantum computer - the principle of operation
If there is certainty with a classic computer in the work, then the question of how a quantum computer works is difficult to answer. The description of the operation of a quantum computer is based on two incomprehensible phrases:
- the principle of superposition is a question of qubits capable of being simultaneously in positions 1 and 0. This allows several calculations to be carried out simultaneously, rather than sorting out options, which gives a big gain in time;
- quantum entanglement is a phenomenon noted by A. Einstein, which is the interconnection of two particles. In simple words, if one of the particles has a positive helicity, then the second instantly takes a positive helicity. This relationship occurs regardless of distance.
Who invented the quantum computer?
The basis of quantum mechanics was expounded at the very beginning of the last century, as a hypothesis. Its development is connected with such brilliant physicists as Max Planck, A. Einstein, Paul Dirac. In 1980, Antonov proposed the idea of the possibility of quantum computation. And a year later Richard Feyneman in theory modeled the first quantum computer.
Now the creation of quantum computers in the development stage and even difficult to imagine what a quantum computer can do. But it is absolutely clear that mastering this direction will bring people many new discoveries in all fields of science, will allow us to look into the micro and macro world, to learn more about the nature of mind, genetics.