Fundamentals of Quantum Computing, Quantum Supremacy, and Quantum Machine Learning

Introduction To Quantum Supremacy

Scientists and physicists were pointing out about quantum computing science last 30 years, but the question with this innovation is “where is it useful? Is it worth investing time, money and resources in this?” To answer this, follow the good engineering practice; formulate decisive short-term goals that demonstrate whether the design is going in right direction. Thus to demonstrate that a programmable quantum device can solve a problem that no classical computer can solve; this experiment and demonstration is known as Quantum Supremacy. Many directions were discerned to overcome technical challenges inherent in quantum system to make a computer that is both programmable and powerful.

Here in the concept of quantum computers, the computer does not refer to Laptop, desktop, mobile phone or any such device which are prevalent in the current market. The word “Quantum Computer” is quite misleading as it contains the word “computer”. Computer starting from the smallest device such as mobile phone to the largest device like super computer working on the same fundamental rules. These all the devices do work on classic bits. Where’s Quantum Computer work on Qubits.

Scientists across the globe are working to demonstrate quantum supremacy. The famous scientist Hartmut Neven said about the experiment during the demonstration:

Hartmut Neven is clearly indicating the power of quantum supremacy, as it is the well-defined milestone. Thus, to achieve this; various people has contributed into the experiment. (Neven, 2020)

In a nut shell, this experiment shows that the experimental quantum computers can surpass the largest and best computers in the world. The processor which is created to achieve quantum supremacy is known as “Sycamore Processor”. It processes 2⁵³ states simultaneously.

According to the scientist Marrisa Gustina, this innovation is really exiting for mankind as it can be given to the researcher as a tool and they can come out with the best results.

Figure 1.

The base concept of quantum computing

Base Concept: 1- What is the Exact Meaning of Quantum Computing?

Quantum Computing is been all over the news lately, but still this concept is still mysterious in the world of computer science, as we all consider the buzz word “Quantum” comes from the base of physics then how do it can form a technology with computer science?

If we refer the word meaning of “Quantum” it means “Volume”, “Size”, “Magnitude”, “Degree of equation”, “Quantity”, and “Amount”. These are the significance word meaning of the term “Quantum” used in the concept of physics in different scenario. The mystery comes to the mind when this term referred with “Computing”.

Computing and “Volume”, “Amount” or other significant meanings do not have any relation practically. Scientist has taken this challenge to make something very innovative to bring revolution in the field of computer science.

Thus the questions we have in our mind are:

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  What does quantum mean in the context of computer hardware?

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  What distinguishes a quantum computer from the regular one?

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  What does the quantum computer looks like?

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  How do we build it? And how it works?

Here these all questions are unpacked and explained with core theories. Scientists are trying to build devices that humans can interact with, control it and read out them. Devices; which behaves reliably according to a simple quantum model. In other words, the scientists are building quantum computing hardware.

Quantum hardware can be used as a tool from approaching certain kinds of computational problems. Thus scientists are targeting at both; to develop the hardware and to develop the algorithms to leverage this hardware. (Giustina, 2018)

Figure 2.

Development in quantum computing