Context: Researchers have found a way to protect highly fragile quantum systems from noise, which could aid in the design and development of new quantum devices, such as ultra-powerful quantum computers.
Relevance:
Prelims: General Science.
Mains: GS III- Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology and issues relating to intellectual property rights.
What is Quantum Computing?
- Quantum computing is an area of computing based on the principles of quantum theory, which explains the behaviour of energy and material on the atomic and subatomic levels.
- It uses quantum bits or qubits.
- It harnesses the unique ability of subatomic participles that allows them to exist in more than one state i.e. a 1 and a 0 at the same time.
- Superposition and entanglement are two features of quantum physics on which these supercomputers are based.
- This empowers quantum computers to handle operations at speeds exponentially higher than conventional computers and much lesser energy consumption.
What is ‘quantum supremacy’?
- Quantum supremacy or quantum advantage refers to quantum computers being able to solve a problem that a classical computer cannot.
- It’s when the superior potential of quantum computing is finally achieved in practice — effectively superseding existing forms of computing.
- Recently, Google announced that they have achieved ‘quantum supremacy’, in which a computer harnessing the properties of sub-atomic particles did a far better job of solving a problem than the world’s most powerful supercomputer.
- Google’s Sycamore is reported to have solved a problem in 200 seconds that would have taken today’s fastest supercomputer 10,000 years to solve.
Differences between Quantum computing and Conventional computing:
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Applications of Quantum computing:
Quantum computing could be a game-changing technology across various industries, governments, and society at large.
- Aerospace industry:
- Quantum computing has great potential to solve computational challenges in aircraft modelling, simulation, and more.
- It could also help assess the optimal amount of fuel and speed to operate a commercial aircraft, thereby potentially helping the industry to improve its sustainability performance.
- Artificial intelligence and big data:
- Quantum computers could empower machine learning by enabling AI programs to search through the gigantic datasets concerning medical research, consumer behavior, financial markets, etc.
- Quantum computing helps to integrate data and quickly analyze and understand the patterns.
- Space:
- The scalability of quantum computing will help the detection of gravitational waves.
- Can be used to scan the universe for habitable planets.
- Can help in modelling and designing space crafts and space suits.
- Medicine:
- Discover tumours in time and develop better targeting drugs leading to greater advancements in pharmacology.
- Could be used to provide faster, more accurate diagnostics.
- Enable therapists to run more simulations in less time, helping to minimize radiation damage to healthy tissue.
- Clinicians could easily review CT scans over time and quickly identify changes and anomalies.
- Can accelerate precision medicine.
- With quantum computing’s enhanced data processing abilities, medical practitioners can quickly identify targeted chemotherapy protocols and with more customization.
- Agriculture:
- Help in detecting weed through an invasive weed optimization algorithm.
- Farmers can hence, effectively craft fertilizers.
- Can help in determining the right amount of inputs.
- It can be used to make precise long-term large-scale production plans and helps to increase yield and efficiency.
- Cybersecurity:
- Quantum computing with the help of machine learning can help in developing various techniques to combat cybersecurity threats.
- Additionally, quantum computing can help in creating encryption methods, also known as, quantum cryptography.
- Weather Forecasting and Climate Change:
- Quantum computer’s ability to crunch vast amounts of data, in a short period, could indeed lead to enhancing weather system modeling allowing scientists to predict the changing weather patterns in no time and with excellent accuracy — something which can be essential for the current time when the world is going under a climate change.
- With quantum computers, meteorologists will also be able to generate and analyze more detailed climate models, which will provide greater insight into climate change and ways to mitigate it.
- Financial services:
- Quantum computers can be used for complex financial modeling and risk management in the financial industry by finding new ways to model financial data and isolating key global risk factors.
- It can also be used for algorithmic trading – the use of complex algorithms to automatically trigger share dealings based on a wide variety of market variables.
- Can be used in stock markets for detecting problems.
- Logistics optimization:
- Improved data analysis and robust modelling will indeed enable a wide range of industries to optimize their logistics and scheduling workflows associated with their supply-chain management.
- Gaming:
- Quantum computing can take game development experience to a whole new level.
- In the future, one can implement it into game development in interesting ways such as procedural generations, random generation of content, and many more.
Concerns/challenges with quantum computing:
- Not affordable for small businesses.
- Difficult to build, verify, and design.
- Quantum states are fragile and hence hard to control.
- Potential to misuse for cyber attacks.
National Mission on Quantum Technologies & Applications (NM-QTA):
- The government in its budget 2020 has announced a National Mission on Quantum Technologies & Applications (NM-QTA) with a total budget outlay of Rs 8000 Crore for a period of five years to be implemented by the Department of Science & Technology (DST).
- The mission will oversee the development of quantum technologies for communications, computing, materials development, and cryptography.
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