What is a Quantum Computer?

The primary difference between a quantum computer and the one you’re reading this on is the processor. Today’s processors are Binary, meaning they use Zeros and Ones (0 and 1), on or off, to process data. A Qubit is a quantum computer’s processor. Qubits also have states of Zero and One, but can also process in every conceivable state between Zero and One, plus be both Zero and One at the same time. It’s called Superpositioning. Read more about it here (Link).

Superposition is one reason for speed increases, but the other is entanglement. No, we’re not stealing processing power from the quantum realm. Qubits are built with a single ion or photon that is manipulated to force superpositioning. However, the actual power lies in having two (or more) Qubits “entangled”, allowing exponential processing power. Read more here (Link).

Quantum Entanglement

OK, let’s explain entanglement. How do they know the particles are entangled? Without nerding you to death, they harmonize. Entangled particles match rotation and other characteristics where they are indiscernible from one another. It’s pretty cool science, considering they entangled particles on Earth with particles on the International Space Station to communicate faster than light! Read about it here (Link).

The field of quantum physics officially started with Max Plank in 1900! This is when the forefathers of modern chemistry, physics, and medicine first began to realize their understanding of atoms didn’t stop with the nucleus and electrons. The double-slit experiments performed as early as 1800 showed that particles changed their behavior when observed. Albert Einstein referred to quantum entanglement as “spooky action at a distance”. Read more here (Link).

Quantum Day (Q Day)

We’ve heard for years how quantum computing is just around the corner. Any day now, a quantum computer will take over and decrypt all the encrypted systems in the world, eliminating any sense of privacy and secrecy in minutes. When Quantum Day (Q Day) arrives, the world as we know it will change forever. Unfortunately, nearly everything the general public has been told about quantum computing is a lie.

Hollywood is partially to blame. When we think of Quantum, we think of multiple universes. The word “entanglement” conjures up science fiction ideas of wormholes, time travel, and black holes. The elementary learning of quantum particles changing their behavior when observed makes us nervous. What’s controlling it? Is it something from another dimension? Well, maybe (Link).

The End Is Nigh!

If I were writing an apocryphal science fiction story, I’d start with an Artificial Intelligence (AI) using the mythical quantum computer in a Boston Dynamics robot body. Some of those robots are creepy! Learn what AI is and isn’t here (Link). Wait a second. Do we know this story? Yes, it’s the plot for Avengers: Age of Ultron, though they downplayed the quantum side. If you believe claims by tech companies of their AI and quantum technologies, though, no collection of super heroes could stop it.

Let’s start with the lies. When AI hit the scene, we were told it would become sentient and wipe out Humanity. Wait, I’ve heard that one before, too. That’s the plot of The Terminator. Do I believe AI could become sentient one day and cause us harm? Absolutely! There is a real threat that an AI without protections or guardrails could be specifically programmed to wipe out Humanity. Learn about the 7 Deadly Sins of AI here (Link).

Actually, I don’t think AI would require much push. Supposedly, in an AI test by the Pentagon, an AI-controlled drone opted to target its operators to complete its mission of killing all Humans on the battlefield, enemy and friendly. Read about it here (Link). What’s the lesson? We need to let AI be super intelligent about specific things. If we build an AI that can do everything, it will.

Practical Quantum Computing Timeline

While the capabilities of a fully realized quantum system are terrifying in our Stone Age landscape of today’s technology, it’s not here yet. In fact, the physical limitations are preventing the realization of quantum fears from becoming true. Helium-3 and superconducting cabling are two primary restrictions.
Helium-3 is used to supercool the qubit to achieve superpositioning and entanglement. How cold? In order to stabilize the particle to achieve entanglement and process anything, the temperature must be cooled to 20 mllikelvin (per Wikipedia). That’s negative 459 degrees Fahrenheit! Read more here (Link).

The current Qubits process data for less than a second before entanglement breaks down. This is called decoherence and it occurs when some outside interference destabilizes the particle. Blocking this outside interference and maintaining the temperature are the primary physical factors quantum computers must overcome.

Interference is the primary issue. Cosmic ray radiation can cause decoherence and, short of hiding in a bunker of steel and concrete underground, you can’t avoid it. If outside interference doesn’t completely shut down the Qubit, it can affect its state, potentially corrupting the processed data. Quantum error correction then becomes paramount.

Reality Check

Not many operational quantum computers are running except for research. Many experts believe until the fundamental protections of the Qubit are realized, quantum computers will not be practical. In fact, many experts say, and I agree, we won’t see a functional quantum computer that works like a binary computer until 2030.

The best solution will be an array of quantum computers, each highly specialized to run an algorithm or complex process on the data before handing it off to another quantum computer. In between will be quantum error correction and the layout will look like any typical logic gate system, which is what all computers are based on. Practicality will come when all those quantum computers are housed in the same box. Think of the breakthrough when a single processor held more than a single core, effectively creating multiple processors on a single chip.

So why does every company come out saying they’ve made some “breakthrough” in quantum? Marketing and stock prices and here’s the proof (Link). Microsoft literally just released information on Majorana 1, supposedly the world’s first quantum chip. It uses “topological” Qubits, which in reality is just a different method of computing, not a more stable Qubit. Does it accelerate us to Q Day? No.

Tech companies can say anything they like about their technology, as long as they are vague enough to not get sued for false advertising. Google claimed to have achieved quantum supremacy in October 2019 by using their quantum computer, Sycamore, to generate a random number. But did it really? There’s no way to confirm it! Read the article here (Link) and here’s how their announcements affect their stock prices (Link).

Conclusion

Quantum computing is an exciting new field of technology that will one day provide exponentially better computers. Do you need to buy the latest security certificates that are labeled as “quantum-proof”? No. Some of us remember mouse pads that were marketed as Windows 95 and Y2K compliant. This is all marketing meant to drive up stock prices. Sure, now is the time to invest but don’t expect real returns for another 5 years.

The best thing to come from this is the scientific pursuit and competition. It’s great that tech companies are back to innovating. It’s also nice to see strong competition between IBM, Google, Microsoft, NVIDIA and others. Quantum computing will be a fantastic addition to our technology landscape. I can’t wait to have my own quantum computer…in 2035.