Thought Leadership

Quantum Computing 101

The basics you need to know about the complex technology of quantum computing.
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Quantum computers operate with a set of rules that are fundamentally different from classical computers. For certain applications, these rules can enable quantum computers to process information faster—potentially solving problems that would take traditional machines millions of years.

Basic quantum computing rules

  • Qubits: Short for quantum bits, qubits are typically small particles (atoms, ions, photons or electrons) that hold information and behave according to the laws of quantum physics.
  • Superposition: A classical bit is either 1 (on) or 0 (off), but a qubit can be in both states simultaneously. Once you measure the qubit’s value, it resolves to either 0 or 1. Reading a qubit causes the quantum state to collapse.
  • Entanglement: The phenomenon by which two or more qubits share the same quantum states and are correlated regardless of distance from each other is called entanglement. A change to one of the entangled qubits directly impacts the other’s behavior.

Superposition and entanglement enable quantum computers to perform computations simultaneously rather than sequentially or in parallel. This ability is a key difference between classical and quantum machines.

The engineering challenge

Quantum computers are susceptible to noise and this causes them to decohere. Decoherence is the collapse of the quantum state. It is a loss of information and a corruption of the calculations being performed.

Since quantum computers work at the atomic or subatomic level, the control and measurement signals within them are tiny. Because of this, minimizing environmental noise becomes critical.

Qubits in a superconducting quantum computer

Superconducting quantum computers, one type of quantum computer, use the properties of superconducting materials to create a circuit that acts like an artificial atom. These circuits are built using a process similar to that used for manufacturing semiconductors.

The state of these qubits is controlled with microwave radiation and entangled using electronic coupling. As you might imagine, the energy levels in these circuits are very small and require isolation from the external environment. For this type of quantum computer, special cooling technology is used to maintain coherence.

Lead photo by Joshua Sortino/Unsplash

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About the Author: Burns Healy

Burns Healy is the Quantum Infrastructure Lead at Dell Technologies. He has a Ph.D. in mathematics from Tufts University. After postdoctoral work at UW-Milwaukee, he joined the Dell applied research office to work in the field of emerging technologies. He specializes in the study of quantum hardware and algorithms, and how to best leverage modern classical servers and HPC infrastructure with new technologies. Burns has over 65 patents filed during his time with Dell, and recently has been working with Dell’s supply chain to identify ways in which modern heterogenous compute workflows can improve outcomes for optimization problems.