Quantum Computing Continued

 

Diving Deeper into Quantum Computing

Previously, I touched on my perspective on quantum computer processing. Let's take a step back and define what "quantum" actually means. A "quantum" is the smallest discrete unit of any physical property. For example, the smallest unit of light is a photon, the smallest unit of electricity is an electron, and so on.  

How does this relate to computing? The core unit of a standard computer processor is a bit, while the core unit in a quantum processor is a qubit (quantum bit).  

·       With eight standard bits, you can only represent one of 256 different values (2^8) at any given point.  

·       With eight qubits, you can represent all 256 values simultaneously.

This simultaneous property is referred to as superposition. The clearest analogy I've found is imagining a coin spinning in the air. This coin can be heads, tails, or both at any given time.

Now, you might be thinking, "That's interesting, but at some point, I need to extract a 0 or 1 from this qubit to process it in an algorithm." The process that stops the coin from spinning (momentarily) and allows us to determine if it's 0 or 1 is called measurement (or collapsing). Measuring the qubit forces the coin to "choose" a state (0 or 1).  

The Speed of Quantum Computing: Quantum Gates

So, what drives the potential speed of quantum computing? Quantum Gates.

While gates also exist in classical computer hardware, quantum gates can take advantage of the "superposition" of the quantum bit. These gates can:  

·       Manipulate and read (measure) qubits at unprecedented speeds.  

·       "Chain" qubits together with entanglement, allowing for even more advanced parallel processing.  

·       Introduce interference to qubits, allowing for constructive or destructive probability manipulation (like adjusting volume).  

Current Quantum Processor Offerings

Several major tech companies are actively developing quantum hardware:  

·       Google: Willow (105 qubits)  

·       Microsoft: Azure Quantum (56 qubits)  

·       Amazon: Garnet (20 qubits)

Quantum Computing Workflow

The general workflow for using a quantum computer involves:

·       Developing a quantum algorithm on a classical computer using tools like Qiskit, Cirq, or the QDK.  

·       Deploying the algorithm to a quantum computer.

·       Generating calculations by the quantum processor (using circuits, gates, and qubits).  

·       Returning the results to a classical computer for interpretation.

Quantum Computing and AI/ML

How does quantum processing fit into the world of AI/ML? Let's consider an analogy:

·       GPUs (Graphical Processing Units): Ideal for building many identical items (like one million identical toy trucks).

·       CPUs (Central Processing Units): Best for designing several new items (like designing several new toy trucks).

·       QPUs (Quantum Processing Units): Suitable for designing entirely new and complex things, potentially at the molecular level (like designing a new cancer-fighting gene shaped like a toy truck).

Currently, there are still several limitations in quantum processing for AI/ML:

·       Scalability: Building large-scale, stable quantum computers is a major challenge.  

·       Error Rates: Qubits are prone to errors, which need to be corrected.  

·       Resource Requirements: Quantum computers require specialized infrastructure and resources.  

·       Stability (Decoherence): Maintaining the fragile quantum states of qubits is difficult.  

Hybrid models (classical + quantum) are being developed, but integration remains a significant challenge.