Quantum Computing
Very Briefly
By: Guillermo Mármol
Classical Computing
How classical computers work
• To understand quantum computing firstly we need to understand classical.
• The most simple and basic level computers work using transistors. An
electrical component that can either allow electricity to flow or stop it from
doing so.
• Bits (0s and 1s)
• 8 bits = byte
• For example 1 in binary code is (01) but the number 3 is
(000 001 010 011 100 101 110 111) or the word bits is written as
(01000010 01101001 01110100 01110011 00100000)
Classical Computing
Processing information
• Transistors are combined to create logic gates
(AND gate, OR gate, NOR gate)
• Combinations of logic gates finally form
meaningful modules
• Quantum Limitations
• Nowadays a transistor measures 14 nanometers,
500 times smaller then a red blood cell
• Quantum Tunneling
Classical Computing
Problems
• Computers have revolutionised the world and have changed the way data is
stored.
• More and more data has to be stored
• Modern computers are simply calculators using a sequence of bits
• Era of Big Data
• Classical computers have a limitation -> TIME!!
Quantum Computers
How will they solve this
• Modern computers are simply
calculators using a sequence of
bits
• Instead of bits, like regular
computers, quantum computers
use qubits (2n)
• Speed of one single operation is
slower but due to the
exponential factor of qubits you
arrive at the end result faster
Qubits
How they work
• Quantum computers use qubits which can also be set to one of two values. (0
or 1) A qubit can also be any two levels of quantum systems, In the quantum
world, the qubit doesn't have to be just one of those,it can be in any
proportions of both states at once. This is called SUPERPOSITION
• But once you measure it it has to have a discrete value (Either 0 or 1)
• As long as it is unobserved the qubit is in a superposition of probabilities for 0
and 1, and you can't predit which it'll be. But the instant you measure it, it
collapses into one of the definite states.
• Four classical bits can be in one of the 2^4 combinations, (16) but a quit can
be in all of those at once. This number grows exponentially with each extra
quit.
• Another property of qubits is entanglement. This means when measuring just
one entangled qubit, you can directly deduce properties of it's partners
without having to look.
Quantum Gates
• In the same way as quantum bits are calles qubits quantum logic gates are
called quantum gates
• A quantum gate manipulates an input of superpositions, rotates probabilities,
and produces another superposition as its output. So a quantum computer
sets up some qubits, applies quantum gates to entangle them and manipulate
probabilities, then finally measures the outcome, collapsing superpositions to
an actual sequence of 0s and 1s.
Classical Computing Quantum Computing
Used by large scale multi-purpose Used by high speed, quantum
computers and devices. mechanics based computers.
Information is stored in bits. Information is stored in quantum bits.
There are a discrete number of possible There are an infinite, continuous
states, 0 or 1. number of possible states.
Calculations are deterministic, meaning Calculations are probabilistic, meaning
repeating the same input results in the there are multiple possible outputs to
same output. the same input.
Data processing is carried out by logic Data processing is carried out by
and in sequential order. Quantum logic at parallel instances.
Operations are defined by Boolean Operations are defined by linear
Algebra. algebra over Hilbert space.
Circuit behavior is defined by classical Circuit behavior is defined by quantum
physics. mechanics.
Limitations of Quantum Computers
• Quantum Computers are very useful in very specific occasions. One of them
is database searching.To find something in a database, a normal computer
may have to test every single one of its entries. Other example is finance as it
can search trends on data very vastly and makes investing faster.
• Quantum computers algorithms need only the square root of that time,which
for large databases, is a huge difference.
• But they require very specific conditions to work. Its temperature has to ve
0.4K or -273 ºC (very close to absolute cero) and have to be isolated from
pressure and the earths magnetic field.
Thank you for your attention
