What Is A Quantum Computer And How Does It Work?

Everyone interested in computing has heard or read about quantum computing and how it will revolutionize the world of computing and industry in general. Quantum computers harness quantum mechanics to achieve vastly increased processing power, and the hope is that they will outperform current supercomputers in this regard.

But what is a quantum computer, and how does it work? Will they replace traditional computers in the future?

What is a Quantum computer?

Quantum computers apply the laws of quantum mechanics to the different states of particles over time to increase processing power. The operation of this type of computer is similar to that of traditional ones but works with quantum bits that can be in superimposed states.

With quantum computing, you get mainly three advantages over classical computing:

Greater computing power.
Increased memory capacity.
Lower power consumption.

Can it replace the conventional computer?

In the short and medium-term, quantum computers will not replace conventional PCs; they will continue to be very efficient for performing everyday tasks and daily use by both companies and individuals.

Quantum computers will be used in sectors and industries that require high processing power, such as predicting the stock market, industrial manufacturing processes, drug development, cryptography, etc.

How does a quantum computer work?

The key to the operation of a quantum computer is found in the bits.

Quantum bits

Conventional computers use an electrical flow represented by a one or a zero (bit). Quantum computers use quantum bits or qubits, generating subatomic particles such as electrons or photons. Two of the properties of qubits allow them to provide much more processing power than the same number of binary bits.

Quantum superposition

It is about the ability to be in multiple states simultaneously, which allows qubits to represent many combinations of ones and zeros simultaneously, being able to provide a large number of results simultaneously.

The challenge of quantum superposition lies in the measurement, which makes the quantum state represented in the form of one or zero. The development of complex algorithms is intended to control this state and allow a controlled measurement.

Quantum entanglement

Entanglement is essential for quantum computers to gain their processing power since adding additional qubits to a quantum machine increases its processing power exponentially.

The main challenge for quantum computers in terms of quantum entanglement is that any variation, such as vibrations or changes in temperature, causes the quantum behavior of the qubits to decay and disappear. With intelligent quantum algorithms, an attempt is made to solve this problem. Still, sufficient progress has not been made to have beneficial quantum computers.

We have seen what a quantum computer is and how it works. The processing capacity of this type of computer will cause a revolution in industrial computing, although they will not replace conventional computers in the medium term.