Quantum Computer’s Application in Real World!
If you’re reading this article, you probably know about how a quantum computer works. Don’t you? Don’t worry, check out the Part-I of this series on Quantum Computing from Zero to Hero by TechBootcamps via the Link here. I think now you’re ready for another exciting technical journey!💻🚀
All long, we have been reading about how a quantum computer works, how powerful and efficient it is. What is the point of a wand unless it does some magic?✨ So in this article, I’ll show how this powerful tool can indeed change the world we believe. Excited to jump into the unknown (quantum world)? Even I’m!
Interestingly quantum computers work on multi-discipline subjects like mathematics, scientific computing, biology, chemistry, physics, statistics, astronomy, and many more so its application will be vast too.
Note: This article won’t go into the technical details about how they are implemented but will just provide us with the basic idea of the applications.
We will discuss only some of the prominent applications.
So let’s get going!
Simulating a Chemical Bond
You would have heard of simulation software before. We know simulation of an idea/concept is beneficial before practically implementing them as it will tell if a specific idea is feasible, and even predict its behavior. We do simulations in various applications ranging from space technology, circuits, and automobiles. But have you ever heard of simulating a chemical bond? Probably not because elements work on quantum physics, which are not understood by classical ones, so how could they simulate them?
Won’t it be interesting to know how atoms combined behave when we remove or add some element or if the distance between them is changed? If we could predict that behavior beforehand, then imagine how easily we can solve problems related to healthcare. Because what we are made up of are cells/elements after all. Quantum computers can do this task! They can model molecular interactions at an atomic level. They would open ways to observe how our body’s chemicals are working actually and help us create new medicines and understand diseases. This makes quantum computers so helpful and mind-blowing!
Encryption of data
I have seen in fictional movies that a super system is breaking all the encoded data efficiently and in no time but, never thought that that would become a reality!
Most of the encryption is based on Shor’s algorithm. A vast number encrypts all data, and to decode them, we must calculate all the prime factors of that number. The quantum computers can calculate them in seconds (follow parallelism), where it would take many years for classical computers (compute one by one). Phew! Yes, if we wait for a conventional system, it can surely break the code, but by the time it breaks, it’s of no use since these keys are changed every week.
Well, you might be pondering that all our data is unsafe now since all puzzles are crack-able.🤔 You are thinking, right!
But to make this idea come true, we need massive quantum computers with numerous qubits (Did you notice the application of quantum computers diagram carefully? Scroll up! :P), which is a tough task indeed. Moreover, all encryption systems don’t follow Shor’s algorithm. Also, only some organizations will have access to this data, which will be used for military purposes unless the terrorists have their own. XD Yes, that’s scary!
Every tool has its good or bad side it; depends on the operator what it ultimately becomes.
Not only would quantum systems break the code, but it would also enable us to encode so that they are practically unhackable. Many new quantum algorithms are designed to provide secure communications after quantum computers have become available. A reliable solution to the key exchange problem is quantum key distribution. Like a classical computer can’t solve the encrypted data similarly if encrypted by quantum tech, then a quantum computer can’t crack the data!
So unless someone builds something superior to the quantum computer, we’re safe and sound! Till then, let’s chill! :P
Machine Learning
Ml means training models. Which involves providing a considerable amount of data as input so that it can predict the next output. The more data we have, the more accurate the result will be. Quantum computers can handle this well as they are super fast and can take massive data, which means speedier training of models!
Optimization problems(To find the most feasible solution out of infinitely many solutions) which, when are very large and complex, can be solved by them too. Quantum annealing/tunneling is an optimization technique used to determine the local minima and maxima of a function over a given set of candidate functions. This is a method of discretizing a function with many local minima or maxima to determine the observables of the function through quantum techniques.
Many ML problems require solving matrices. Solving these matrices if they have massive dimensions are time-taking for traditional systems, but these can be addressed in no time by quantum counterparts. Not only this, quantum computers can work as samplers that prepare a class of distribution called quantum states and sample them with measurements. We can use these samples to train ML models.
Machine learning is such a technology that we use to solve almost all problems, and Quantum is like fuel to ML and will give it tremendous power!
Space technology
We’re sure of one thing that quantum physics can be applied to small entities like atoms/electrons/photons but not to the world we see. But wait, that’s not it. The whole universe follows the principle of quantum mechanics.
“ If you think you understand quantum mechanics, then you don’t.”- Richard Feynman.
What! Why are we always taught the half-truth?😕 Maybe because the truth is complicated, and we aren’t ourselves sure how these things work, but we certainly know that it works. ‘Quantum computer’ is proof.
Since we can’t observe what goes on inside matter but the quantum computer would, they are like eyes to the mystery of outer space. The biggest question of ‘Are we alone in this universe?’ can be answered by them soon!
Okay, that might sound crazy, but it’s true. Believe me! :)
Other applications are quantum artificial intelligence algorithms, space optimization problems, decomposition and hardware embedding techniques, and quantum-classical hybrid algorithms. This indeed will help us to explore the space and get all our questions answered!
Other applications are quantum artificial intelligence algorithms, space optimization problems, decomposition and hardware embedding techniques, and quantum-classical hybrid algorithms. This indeed will help us to explore the space and get all our questions answered!
This technology is now managed only by a few handfuls of organizations, but it should reach to maximum population, which is being accomplished by providing it via cloud services. If you want, you can right away explore the quantum technology of IBM, Microsoft, D Wave, and Rigetti. Check it now!
Moreover, programming has always been considered a technical skill; it is something that can be learned easily in schools, colleges, and online courses. Similarly, Quantum technology must be available to the masses.
Though quantum technology will be powerful, it still requires the aid of the classical and supercomputers for the next few decades. Because the input is given, and the output taken is done by the traditional computers itself.
Conclusion
We have understood the potential applications of quantum computers. Yet, we have more to explore. If we all work together, we will sooner reach this new world. This is just the beginning!
I hope this article will encourage some of you to explore this yet-to-be-understood world. If this article has boosted your curiosity, then do clap👏 so that it motivates me to write more such articles! Thank you for reading! 😊
About the author
Sneha Shukla is a sophomore, pursuing BTech in Electronics and Telecommunication from IIIT Bhubaneswar. She is currently working as an intern at Techbootcamps as a technical content writer. She is passionate about Blockchain, space technology, and IoT and works on front end web development too! Her hobbies include reading, writing technical blogs, and promoting new and promising technologies. To contact for any queries ping her on LinkedIn.
