An Introduction to Quantum Computing

    "We are analog beings living in a digital world, facing a quantum future."
    -- Neil Turok

    Quantum Computing

    Many times experts fail because they are experts in the past version of the world.

    The future of quantum computing is incredibly exciting. With its potential for near-instantaneous computation and processing power, quantum computing could revolutionize the way we interact with data and could have a major impact on virtually every industry. Quantum computers are already being used in chemistry, material science, pharmaceuticals, robotics and finance. In the coming years, they are expected to become even more widely used as the hardware and software advances. The possible applications for quantum computing seem almost limitless – from solving complex problems to predicting weather more accurately than ever before.

    Table of Contents

    Companies, countries battle to develop quantum computers | 60 Minutes (13:14)

    The video discusses the advancements in quantum computing, a technology being developed by IBM, Google, and others.
    Quantum computing uses the principles of quantum physics to solve problems in minutes that would take today's supercomputers millions of years. The technology is still in its early stages, but it has the potential to transform civilization.
    Quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits, which can hold information in multiple states at once, unlike traditional computers that use transistors to hold information in two states (on or off). This allows quantum computers to process exponentially more data. However, maintaining the coherence of qubits is a significant challenge.
    The video also mentions that quantum computing could provide solutions to complex problems in physics, chemistry, engineering, and medicine. For instance, the Cleveland Clinic has installed a quantum computer to model the behavior of proteins, which could revolutionize healthcare. The video concludes by stating that learning the language of quantum could provide a window on creation itself.

     

    What is a Quantum Computer (10:32)

    Google's Marissa Giustina addresses some basic questions about quantum computing. You’ll learn about what makes a quantum computer “quantum”, and what differentiates it from a classical computer. In addition, you’ll get to see what Google’s current quantum processors look like, and see the stack of hardware infrastructure needed to run the full system.

    • What does it mean for hardware to be quantum?
    • What differentiates quantum hardware?
    • What does a quantum computer look like?
    • How do we build it?

    Explore the possibilities of quantum at Google: https://quantumai.google/

     

    Osprey: The World Largest Quantum Computer (14:01)

    The Osprey chip, developed and built by IBM Quantum, is the largest Quantum Computer made to date. We sit down with Jerry Chow, Director of IBM Quantum hardware, to ask him how the team went about developing Osprey, what challenges had to be overcame to do so, and the future of quantum technology. 

    Quantum Computers
    Explained With Quantum Physics (9:58) 

    "Quantum computers aren’t the next generation of supercomputers—they’re something else entirely. Before we can even begin to talk about their potential applications, we need to understand the fundamental physics that drives the theory of quantum computing."

     

    Expert Explains One Concept in 5 Levels of Difficulty (19:27)

    IBM's Dr. Talia Gershon (Senior Manager, Quantum Research) explains quantum computing to 5 different people; a child, a teen, a college student, a graduate student, and a professional.

     

    An Introduction to Quantum Computing (28:43)

    William Oliver, Associate Professor of EECS, Professor of the Practice of Physics, Lincoln Laboratory Fellow, and Associate Director of the RLE at MIT, presents Introduction to Quantum Computing.  

    • What is a quantum computer?  
    • When will we have a quantum computer?
    • What applications will we have?
    • How to connect items together?
    • What is a Bloch Sphere?

    Quantum computers represent a new computing paradigm.  Go back and look at the computing development timeline of over 100 years to gain insights.  Quantum computing is transitioning from scientific curiosity to technical reality.  

     

    Terminology