Quantum Computing: A Simplified Explanation
Hello guys,
In this article today, I'm gonna expound on Quantum Computers in a very simplified way for easy ingestion. Quantum Computers are here and its freaking mind blowing that we've come so far.
[1]Before I can expound on Quantum Computers, I need to explain what a conventional Computer can do. A conventional computer can be your phone, smart TV, desktop computer, laptop, iPad etc. and we've had this technology for decades. What's improved with this technology is the transistors, the number of transistors that we can have in a chip.
The way transistors work, there’re switches that allow current or electrons to come through, if the switch is off, it has a “0” state and if the switch is on, it has a “1” state. (off = 0, on = 1): this is binary or bits and it’s the basis of computing from the beginning. If you have two bits, you can have four state, it can be 00, 01, 10, or 11 and this is the only states these two bits can have.
There's something called “Moore's Law”, and Moore's Law states that every two years, the number of transistors are going to double.
[Exponential growth with transistor count doubling every two years -Wikipedia]We've reached the point where transistors have become as small as atoms, we are eventually going to reach a point where we can't make a transistor any smaller. I think the average transistor now is 14 nanometers, we can only go down to like 5 nanometers, or it won’t work anymore. We won't expand in that technology and we will hit a roadblock therefore, we can't go any further. Here comes quantum computing.
How does Quantum Computing work?
In Quantum Computing, you also have a state of “0” and “1” but these are called “Qubit”. Qubit are “0s” and “1s” but before they are 0s and 1s, they're in a state of superposition.
3Superposition means that these Qubits can either be “0” or “1” at the same time.
How can something be "0" and "1" at the same time?
That's possible but here comes Quantum Physics.
Quantum Physics states that if something is at a superposition, for instance, an electron can either be 0 or 1 and the only way we will know the current position is by observing it. If you view it or try to measure or test it, then it'll reveal its position. If nothing is good, it’s going to stay at superposition, it can be there as 0 or 1 at the same time. That's freaking mind blowing and we've come this far in technology and we're starting to create these types of circuits.
Another thing that is mind blowing with Quantum Computing is something called “Entanglement”. For instance, you have an electron, or you have two electrons together and if they are entangled, it could be at whatever distance apart and whatever you do to one will affect the other. This thing is going to change and revolutionize the way we program, the way microchips work and it's going to take us to that next level.
Quantum logic gate
Let me go over conventional logic first before I get into quantum logic gate.
The way conventional or binary logic work, you have transistors that creates logic gates, these logic gates will have two inputs or bits and it'll help put something depending on what kind of logic it is. It's always going to be the same, depending on the logic gate.
The way that Quantum gates works, they take in a Qubit in a superposition, they flip it and produce another superposition. Mind blowing right? Hopefully, you guys can kind of understand what I mean. This is going to revolutionize the way everything works, Quantum Computers will be able to help us do things faster.
[Quantum Computing -Wired.com]Quantum Computers are more vastly superior than our ordinary computers today. The power of a Quantum Computer is gonna allow us to find cures for cancer and diseases, it's going to allow us to simulate the universe and create artificial intelligence that we can program stuff of the future, the kind of stuff you see in sci-fi movie where you think it will never ever happen, it's actually happening today and I'm excited to be alive today where quantum computing is just coming up.
These are pretty much I could come up with today in an easy-peasy way. I'm eager to see what we do with this technology and I'm eager to see the first computer program that comes out of this. Are you excited about Quantum Computers? Let me know in the comments and if you enjoyed the article, don’t forget to hit that upvote button below.
Have a great weekend.
References: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5
Image sources: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4
GIF made by @foundation
Thanks to @camzy for this amazing toon.
Actually, reading your excellent article reminded me of the recent progress in quantum computers, and the same concerns as @edumurphy rose. for QC, decrypting crypto would be just a piece of cake. Yet, we have time , there are still problems...
Preventing the collapse of the wave functions of the QBits currently becomes exponentially difficult with the number of QBits of the processor. Research progresses, solutions are found, but we still have a few years in front of us...
The thing is that QC could have such a profound effect on our societies that nobody will care about crypto currencies anymore.... Good or bad, who knows... Think real AI, think Virtual worlds, think Matrix (?).
And the tech is so scifi. What is actually happening is that the superposition is an illusion, all states exist at once, in parallel universes. We just see a given state when we observe, because it is our universe (interpretation of Copenhagen).
So basically, we are sucking calculation power from parallel universes... Sound crazy right, well, in the current state of our knowledge, it is the best we can come up with...
Pretty cool, huh?
Oh my! Sorry for seeing your reply late, I really appreciate your visit to my blog sir, It's an honor.
QC is the future of technology although it's still in it's early stages. I can't wait to see what comes out of it. 😎
I am very curious too, and excited to live during in such a period of humanity's development. Yet, at the same time, Iam vigilent. QC could provide immense power, and where there is power concentrated, there is risk of abuse...
With the combination of quantum computers and super conductors we will ruely be in a new world. I have been studying the field of Bose Einstein condensates and the BEC cross over. I really hope that someone with a new idea can produce a super conductor at room temperature soon.
If such technology becomes available then mining will become a lot more easier and profitable; for us crypto creeps i mean haha.
Nice article man, maybe read it through i saw a few mistakes, and this information deserves accuracy.
Follow me if you like science i have a few cool posts and will post regularly with quirky physics topics.
MadMac
But what if mining becomes too easy? Wouldn't cryptos loose their value?
I guess mineable coins would lose value. Due to simplicity of minig, but it depends on the cost of hardware, we might be 10-15 years away from quantum super computer miners. Crazy thought though right?
lol. this will lead to excess coin in circulation, hence, decrease the value of a coin.
No doubt about that but you know how broad the subject is. A comprehensive article will take good care of it, maybe you could be of help.
In fact as i was writing my point the decrease in value came to mind. You are totally right, I guess the first to acess such device for mining will do very well in the short run.
The article was cool, to explain basically it was nice. One thing for example was you mentioned that transistors are the size of atoms then say they are nano meter scale.
No worries dude. Maybe i'll publish something in the next day or two, focusing on the physics.
Cheer @emevoic
Thank you. I'm awaiting to read your post.
I'm more worried about quantum computers being able to decrypt the encryption that makes cryptocurrency so trustworthy. Given the recent advances we've seen in quantum computing later? That might actually be a real concern soon.
@edmurphy Infact it's try if computers could process information at magnitudes faster then decryption could be completed within seconds. I guess at that point computer scientists would need to implement a new method of security.
Good
@edmurphy Infact it's try if computers could process information at magnitudes faster then decryption could be completed within seconds. I guess at that point computer scientists would need to implement a new method of security.
Its a good article though but just to make it even better go through an example. The best example of how quantum computing works is, imagine you are in a puzzle or say a maze. To get out of the maze, you have to try every possible path, i.e. one path per attempt because you can not be present at all the positions simultaneously. i.e either 0 or 1.
But what if i say you can be present at all the positions simultaneously to check every path simultaneously, you would probably find the right path in just fraction of the previous time. i.e you can be 0 or 1 or both. This is the foundation.
reminds me of the options facing Mr. Nobody! Great comment and great article, thanks!
Awesome!! your explanation couldn't get any easier for this subject. Thanks for adding this, I greatly appreciate it.
I'm very excited about this fascinating technology. But I guess post-quantum cryptography should be implemented before quantum computers are available.
In fact, actual q-bits are more complicated than just being a superposition of two states, but the idea is there ;)
No doubt, it's really complicated and broad but I tried to make it lucid and brief based on my understanding.
Thanks a bunch sir for dropping by, it's really an honour.
This is a very cool article you have created. Very fun to get along with computer development in today's 2018. It will only get better in the future, but that we have come so far is very good. I mean that we are actually further ahead than we are now. I think that world technology can not be given to the people because we want to stagnate. But I do not think I will happen, if we show everything we can, it just has to get better and we can learn from it. So in my view, we must only get the development as fast as possible to the people, so we can get better,,,
I'm glad to read your view on this subject, technology is one of the greatest gift to humanity and it keeps getting better.
I agree with you @ememovic, these are exciting times indeed! Say, have you come to any conclusions about whether or not we are harnessing the power of qubits in parallel universes? I was surprised to hear that serious people in the industry are actually talking about it. It leads me to the conclusion that they've either already done it, or that they think it's possible. If it's possible, it's paradigm shifting to say the very least.
extraordinary post is very appropriate to be trending, hopefully I also one day later my post can be trending like you.
Thanks for this article, now I finally have a little understanding on quantum computers
Keep steeming bro
You're welcome.
Waw Great post bro
Thank you.