Quantum Computing
A field of computing based on quantum mechanics that has the potential to solve problems intractable for classical computers, posing a significant future threat to all modern encryption standards.
entitydetail.created_at
8/19/2025, 9:47:17 PM
entitydetail.last_updated
8/19/2025, 9:52:04 PM
entitydetail.research_retrieved
8/19/2025, 9:52:04 PM
Summary
Quantum computing is a revolutionary field that leverages quantum mechanical phenomena like superposition and entanglement, using qubits as its fundamental unit of information, to perform calculations potentially exponentially faster than classical computers. A significant advancement in this area, as discussed in an All-In Podcast episode, is Google's Willow quantum chip, fabricated in Santa Barbara, which demonstrates progress towards fault tolerance. This development accelerates the threat to modern encryption methods, including RSA and SHA-256, with Shor's algorithm highlighted as the key enabler of this threat, making the transition to post-quantum encryption urgent. Despite these breakthroughs, quantum computing hardware remains largely experimental, facing challenges such as quantum decoherence and the need for scalable, high-quality qubits with longer coherence times and lower error rates, with current implementations including superconductors and ion traps. While some quantum devices have demonstrated 'quantum advantage' or 'quantum supremacy' on specific tasks, they are not yet practical for widespread real-world applications.
Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
Threatens
Modern encryption (RSA, SHA-256)
Necessitates
Post-Quantum Encryption
Key Challenge
Quantum decoherence, Physically engineering high-quality qubits, Developing scalable qubits with longer coherence times and lower error rates
Current Status
Largely experimental, suitable for specialized tasks, not yet practical for widespread real-world applications
Core Principles
Superposition, Entanglement
Implementations
Superconductors, Ion Traps
Milestones Achieved
Quantum advantage, Quantum supremacy (on narrowly defined tasks)
Unit of Information
Qubit (can exist in multiple states simultaneously)
Key Threat Algorithm
Shor's Algorithm
Computational Advantage
Potentially solves certain problems exponentially faster than classical computers
Notable Chip Development
Google's Willow quantum chip
Chip Fabrication Location
Santa Barbara, USA
Wikipedia
View on WikipediaQuantum computing
A quantum computer is a (real or theoretical) computer that uses quantum mechanical phenomena in an essential way: a quantum computer exploits superposed and entangled states and the (non-deterministic) outcomes of quantum measurements as features of its computation. Ordinary ("classical") computers operate, by contrast, using deterministic rules. Any classical computer can, in principle, be replicated using a (classical) mechanical device such as a Turing machine, with at most a constant-factor slowdown in time—unlike quantum computers, which are believed to require exponentially more resources to simulate classically. It is widely believed that a scalable quantum computer could perform some calculations exponentially faster than any classical computer. Theoretically, a large-scale quantum computer could break some widely used encryption schemes and aid physicists in performing physical simulations. However, current hardware implementations of quantum computation are largely experimental and only suitable for specialized tasks. The basic unit of information in quantum computing, the qubit (or "quantum bit"), serves the same function as the bit in ordinary or "classical" computing. However, unlike a classical bit, which can be in one of two states (a binary), a qubit can exist in a superposition of its two "basis" states, a state that is in an abstract sense "between" the two basis states. When measuring a qubit, the result is a probabilistic output of a classical bit. If a quantum computer manipulates the qubit in a particular way, wave interference effects can amplify the desired measurement results. The design of quantum algorithms involves creating procedures that allow a quantum computer to perform calculations efficiently and quickly. Quantum computers are not yet practical for real-world applications. Physically engineering high-quality qubits has proven to be challenging. If a physical qubit is not sufficiently isolated from its environment, it suffers from quantum decoherence, introducing noise into calculations. National governments have invested heavily in experimental research aimed at developing scalable qubits with longer coherence times and lower error rates. Example implementations include superconductors (which isolate an electrical current by eliminating electrical resistance) and ion traps (which confine a single atomic particle using electromagnetic fields). Researchers have claimed, and are widely believed to be correct, that certain quantum devices can outperform classical computers on narrowly defined tasks, a milestone referred to as quantum advantage or quantum supremacy. These tasks are not necessarily useful for real-world applications.
Web Search Results
- The History of Quantum Computing You Need to Know [2024]
Quantum computing is an area of computer science that explores the possibility of developing computer technologies based on the principles of quantum mechanics. It is still in its early stages but has already shown promise for significantly faster computation than is possible with classical computers. In this article, we’ll take a look at the history of quantum computing, from its earliest beginnings to the present day. [...] We provide a development of high level summary of the development of the core technology of computers following this, to provide a wider contextual lens on the development of quantum computing. Quantum Computing is seen by many as the next generation of computing. There are many ways of dividing up the eras of computing and the history of quantum computing, but we think this is most instructive. Image 13: quantum computing timeline
- Top 10 Applications of Quantum Computing Across Industries - Veritis
Quantum computing is a groundbreaking technology capable of performing computations at incredible speeds. It addresses complex problems with numerous interacting variables, such as particles within a molecule, autonomous cars on the road, or vehicles in a global logistics network. The true strength of practical quantum computing lies in its ability to model various scenarios involving these variables, providing a more profound and comprehensive understanding of complex systems. [...] What is quantum computing? It’s the concept of using qubits that can exist in multiple states simultaneously, enabling unparalleled computational power. This capability underpins the vast scope of quantum computing applications, from simulating molecular interactions to optimizing logistics networks. [...] ### Why Quantum Computing Matters Quantum computing promises to solve problems currently beyond classical computers’ reach. By harnessing the power of qubits, these advanced systems can perform calculations at incredible speeds, leading to breakthroughs in various fields. As we advance and perfect quantum computing applications, its applications will broaden, providing new solutions to some of the world’s most urgent challenges.
- Quantum computing - Wikipedia
Neuromorphic quantum computing (abbreviated as 'n.quantum computing') is an unconventional type of computing that uses neuromorphic computing to perform quantum operations. It was suggested that quantum algorithms, which are algorithms that run on a realistic model of quantum computation, can be computed equally efficiently with neuromorphic quantum computing. Both traditional quantum computing and neuromorphic quantum computing are physics-based unconventional computing approaches to [...] In summary, quantum computation can be described as a network of quantum logic gates and measurements. However, any measurement can be deferred to the end of quantum computation, though this deferment may come at a computational cost, so most quantum circuits depict a network consisting only of quantum logic gates and no measurements. ### Quantum parallelism [edit] [...] A quantum gate array decomposes computation into a sequence of few-qubit quantum gates. A quantum computation can be described as a network of quantum logic gates and measurements. However, any measurement can be deferred to the end of quantum computation, though this deferment may come at a computational cost, so most quantum circuits depict a network consisting only of quantum logic gates and no measurements.
- What Is Quantum Computing? - Azure Quantum | Microsoft Learn
Quantum computing holds the promise of solving some of our planet's biggest challenges - in the areas of environment, agriculture, health, energy, climate, materials science, and more. For some of these problems, classical computing is increasingly challenged as the size of the system grows. When designed to scale, quantum systems will likely have capabilities that exceed those of today's most powerful supercomputers.
- What is quantum computing? - McKinsey
Quantum computing can help AI rapidly process extensive data sets, thereby accelerating AI processes and training models. Quantum computing can enable AI applications to achieve the following milestones, which may eventually support AGI: [...] For decades, digital computers have been making it easier and easier for us to process information. But quantum computers, a fundamentally different approach, are poised to take computing to a whole new level. Quantum computers have the potential to solve very complex statistical problemsthat are well beyond the limits of today’s computers, across a range of industries and applications, including finance, transportation, pharmaceuticals, and green technology. While quantum computing is just one [...] Classical computing, the technology that powers your laptop and smartphone, is built on bits. A bit is a unit of information that can store either a zero or a one. By contrast, quantum computing is built on quantum bits, or qubits, which can store both zeros _and_ ones. Qubits can represent any combination of both zero and one simultaneously; this is called superposition, and it is a basic feature of any quantum state. When a qubit’s subatomic particles are in a superposition state, each
Wikidata
View on WikidataInstance Of
DBPedia
View on DBPediaLocation Data
AWS Center for Quantum Computing, South Holliston Avenue, Pasadena Council District 7, Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California, 91106, United States
Coordinates: 34.1406693, -118.1224529
Open Map