An advanced quantum computer could serve industry in many ways. Two problems are currently being investigated: decrypting bitcoins and simulating the molecule responsible for biological nitrogen fixation.
A quantum computer would use superconducting devices to operate, such as those used by IBM and Google. The hardware handling the computer would vary depending on the rate of calculations and the quality of control over the quantum bits. Many use cases for such a computer require error correction, which allows for the execution of longer algorithms by compensating for the inherent errors generated in the computer. However, error correction comes at a higher cost in physical quantum bits.
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In an attempt to create a quantum computer of this size, the researchers automated error correction and added more quantum bits to make calculations faster. They also exploited some ion designs to reduce the number of quantum bits, and thus the final size of the computer.
Nowadays, RSA encryption and bitcoin encryption are used, which no computer can “break”. A quantum computer that would be able to decrypt bitcoins would need to have 30-300 million necessary quantum bits, according to researchers. Nowadays, quantum computers with up to 100 quantum bits exist.
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Note that 4 years ago, a trapped ion device would have required a billion quantum bits to decrypt RSA , which would have required the device to be 100 by 100 square meters in size. However, with technological advances in recent years, the estimated size is 2.5 by 2.5 square meters.
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In conclusion, such a large quantum computer using error correction would help in the development of many areas in human production and quality of life. The simulation of molecules would be applied to better batteries and catalysts, new materials and medicines. It could also be used in economics, data analysis and more efficient operation of airplanes.
With information from scitechdaily.com
