QUANTUM COMPUTING

Introduction:
Over the past 50 years there has been an astonishing miniaturization in computer
technology. Whereas a microprocessor in 1971 contained roughly 2,300
transistors, a modern microprocessor of the same size contains more than one
billion transistors. Throughout this evolution, even though there have been
several changes in how computer hardware is implemented, the same underlying
mathematical model of a computer has held sway. However, if current trends
continue, by the year 2020 the basic components of a computer will be the size of
individual atoms. At such scales, the mathematical theory underpinning modern
computer science will cease to be valid. Instead, scientists are inventing a new
theory, called “quantum computing”, which is built upon the recognition that a
computing device is a physical system governed by physical laws, and at very
small scales, the appropriate laws are those of quantum mechanics—the most
accurate model of reality that is currently known. The quantum computers are
not based on transistors and capacitors as used in the binary digital electronic
computers. Binary digits use encoded data called bits in digital computing; each of
these bits can be of state 0 or 1. Whereas quantum computers uses quantum bits
or qubits. The invention of quantum computing is in the initial state. Quantum
computer can quickly reduce the probability of obtaining an incorrect answer and
increase the odds of getting the correct answer. There are two attitudes one
could adopt regarding the necessity of incorporating quantum mechanical effects
into computing machinery. One response it to strive to suppress the quantum
effects and still preserves a semblance of classicality even though the
computational elements are very small. The other approach is to embrace
quantum effects and try to find clever ways to enhance and sustain them to
achieve old computational goals in new ways. Quantum computing attempts to
pursue the latter strategy by harnessing quintessentially quantum effects.
Remarkably, this new theory of quantum computer science predicts that quantum
computers will be able to perform certain computational tasks in phenomenally
fewer steps than any conventional (“classical”) computer—including any
supercomputer yet to be invented! This bold assertion is justified because the
algorithms available to quantum computers can harness physical phenomena that
are not available to classical computers no matter how sophisticated they may be.
As a result, quantum computers can perform computations in fundamentally new
ways that can, at best, only be mimicked inefficiently by classical computers.
Thus, quantum computing represents a qualitative change in how computation is
done, making it of a different character than all previous advances in computer
science. Quantum computers can perform truly unprecedented tasks such as
teleporting information, breaking supposedly “unbreakable” codes, generating
true random numbers, and communicating with messages that betray the
presence of eavesdropping. Similar counterintuitive capabilities are being
discovered, routinely, making quantum computing a very active and exciting field.
While no one book can do justice to the myriad of discoveries that have been
made so far, I hope to give you a fresh perspective on the capabilities of quantum
computers, and to provide you with the tools necessary to make your own foray
into this exciting field.

Classical information theory:

This theory invented by Claude Shannon in 1948, addresses two main issues: the
degree to which a classical message (i.e., a sequence of symbols) can be
compressed, and the maximum rate at which reliable communications can be
sustained over a noisy communications channel. The quantitative statement
regarding the maximum compressibility of a symbol sequence is enshrined in
Shannon’s “Noiseless Source Coding Theorem”, and the quantitative statement
regarding the maximum rate of reliable communications, for a given noise level in
the channel, is enshrined in Shannon’s “Noisy Channel Coding Theorem”.
Together, these theorems laid the foundations for several multi-billion-dollar
industries such as telecommunications, cellular phone networks, internet, and
disk drives. In fact, we make use of information theory everyday but barely give it
any thought whatsoever. Since information theory was invented, engineers have
refined communications and data storage devices constantly so that they use
fewer physical resources to encode more information. This has enabled dramatic
increases in the storage capacity of computer memories, significant reductions in
the power consumption of communications devices, and large increases in the
rate at which information can as copying data, which are permitted on classical
information are impossible when

attempted on quantum information. Conversely, other operations, such as

teleportation, which are impossible when using classical information, can be
achieved using quantum information.

As in the case of computer science, this shift in the foundations of the field turns
out to have profound consequences. It leads to new (quantum) versions of both
the noiseless coding theorem and the noisy channel coding theorem. As you shall
see, quantum information theory forces us to revise our most cherished
assumptions regarding how information should behave. be exchanged. Indeed,
codes are now known that operate surprisingly close to the limits implied by
Shannon’s theorems.

Quantum Superposition States:

The quantum hand reaches into the box and grabs probabilities. In traditional
computing, information is stored as bits that have definite values. A bit is either a
one or a zero. Checking the value of a bit doesn’t modify it in any way. But a qubit
doesn’t directly represent the value of the bit; it holds the probability of the qubit
being a one or a zero. This is called a “quantum superposition state.” When we
check the value of the qubit, however, we don’t get the probability. The
measurement reveals a one or a zero—the choice randomly determined from the
probabilities of the superposition. Measuring sets the value of the qubit. If we
measure the qubit and get a one, checking again will also result in a one.

How to Build a Quantum Computer:

There are several basic approaches to building a quantum computer. The most
common approach is much like we build computers now, called the circuit model
of quantum computing.
Each program is broken into a series of specific logic operations, most of which
modify probability amplitudes of one qubit, depending on the probability
amplitudes of a second qubit. A circuit-based quantum computer takes in a
starting set of qubits and performs each operation in the program sequentially.
After running the program, the qubit states are read to obtain an answer.

The difference between the two approaches is quite profound. In a computer that
uses sequential logic, the physical layout of the computer is reasonably simple,
but the sequence of operations (or program) can become long and complicated.
By abandoning sequential logic, the program becomes very simple — in fact, there
is almost no programming—but the physical layout becomes very challenging,
because every qubit has to be connected to all the other qubits.
Problem Looking for a Quantum Solution:
The most exciting one under development is using quantum computers
to solve quantum mechanics problems. That is the application that will likely
change the world. Quantum computing is set to be a key quantum technology of
the future. In general, modern quantum technologies are fundamentally different
to all the quantum derivative technologies of the past.

Quantum mechanics has been around for about 100 years and in that time has
established its place as the most successful theory of the 20th century. This was
primarily established by describing observed behaviours in the lab.
Experimentalists would report some hitherto unexplained phenomenon, which
set the quantum theorists calculating often impossibly difficult scattering
amplitudes, sum rules and integrals. Many of the great successes were where
symmetries or simplifications were found that made the problems tractable.

Importance of Quantum Computers in Business:

While it's not like everyone in business will need a quantum computer on their
desk, there are many applications that this technology will help propel. For
example, quantum technology has already been put to work in certain devices,
including flash memory found in smartphones and other mobile devices. It has
also improved MRI machines and barcode readers. This is just the beginning.
That's because Market Research Media forecasts that quantum computing will be
worth about $5 billion by 2020.

Every business is struggling with how to increase their online and mobile security
measures to protect our digital identities and sensitive data. Encryption has been
an area of security that has continued to develop, and thanks to quantum
computing, it could finally really protect all of our assets. The problem to date has
been that regular computers cannot use large prime number factorization. Yet
quantum computers can, which means that a hacker could not use traditional
computers to break the encryption codes.
Then there is the help that quantum computing can deliver to data analytics.
Here, quantum computers can undertake very complex calculations and simplify
them down as well as tack huge data problems easily. This can be applied to all
types of industries, including airlines, retail, manufacturing and many more. For
example, NASA has incredible amounts of data that can be analysed through
quantum computing to deliver effective and safer space travel.

Also, with so much rapid change occurring because of the speed of technological
change and the exponential growth in data, forecasting has become a vital
process for many types of businesses. Being able to conduct more simulations at a
faster rate is just not possible with traditional computers. However, it's a
relatively simple task for a quantum computer. This can help create better
forecasts as well as direct how resources and time are allocated for all types of
products and services. Like forecasting, quantum computing can identify patterns
in data that can be used to better inform governments to plan for traffic flow and
population growth as well as predict consumer behaviours. These patterns can be
found in all types of data, including decades of data related to scientific research.
The findings can uncover insights that were previously undiscovered and could
change how services are delivered in terms of preventative health measures and
faster discovery of new pharmaceutical solutions.

It may take some time before quantum computing really catches on throughout
business. However, the more cases that can be made for it in terms of showing
how companies are using it in weather forecasting models, patterning consumer
behaviour and operating self-driving vehicles, the better the business world will
understand how it can use quantum computing for specific benefits.

Right now, in my own work, I see applications related to how we can use
blockchain more effectively for our transaction processes and as a means for
improving the level of security we provide our small business clients. Like
numerous other types of technology, quantum computing appears to be on the
cusp of creating a disruption across industries, applications and processes.
References:

[1] Williams, Colin P. Explorations in quantum computing. Springer Science &

Business Media, 2010.

[2] Brown, Chalmers. Adding A Little Quantum Computing to Your Business.

Forbes Tech council, 13/04/2018

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_computing