What our quantum computing milestone means

The Quantum Computing Milestone: What it Means for the Future

October 23, 2019, marked a significant milestone in the world of quantum computing. Google's team of researchers achieved a breakthrough known as quantum supremacy, a term that refers to the ability of a quantum computer to solve a problem that would take a classical computer an impractically long amount of time. This achievement represents a distinct milestone in the effort to harness the principles of quantum mechanics to solve computational problems.

The Journey to Quantum Supremacy

The journey to quantum supremacy began 13 years ago, when Google scientist Hartmut Neven started exploring the idea of how quantum computing might help accelerate machine learning. This work led to the founding of Google's AI Quantum team, and in 2014, John Martinis and his team at the University of California at Santa Barbara joined Google in their efforts to build a quantum computer. Two years later, Sergio Boixo published a paper that focused the team's efforts around the well-defined computational task of quantum supremacy.

The Power of Quantum Computing

A quantum computer is fundamentally different from a classical computer. While a classical computer uses bits to store information as 0s and 1s, a quantum computer uses qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously. This property, known as superposition, allows a quantum computer to explore a vast space of possible solutions to a problem in parallel. With 333 qubits, a quantum computer can explore 2^333 possible states, a number that is exponentially larger than the number of atoms in the observable universe.

The Test of Quantum Supremacy

To demonstrate quantum supremacy, Google's team built a quantum computer that successfully performed a test computation in just 200 seconds. This computation, known as the random circuit sampling problem, is a well-defined task that is difficult for classical computers to solve. The team's quantum computer was able to solve this problem with high accuracy, outperforming the best known algorithms in the most powerful supercomputers.

The Implications of Quantum Supremacy

The achievement of quantum supremacy has significant implications for the future of computing. It demonstrates that quantum computers can solve problems that are beyond the capabilities of classical computers, and it opens up new possibilities for solving complex problems in fields such as chemistry, materials science, and machine learning.

The Road Ahead

While the achievement of quantum supremacy is a significant milestone, it is only the beginning of the journey to harness the power of quantum computing. The team's next goal is to build an error-corrected quantum computer that can perform reliable computations. This will require significant advances in the field of quantum error correction, as well as the development of new materials and technologies.

The Future of Quantum Computing

The future of quantum computing is bright, and it holds significant promise for solving some of the world's most pressing problems. From climate change to disease, quantum computing has the potential to accelerate solutions and improve our understanding of the world. As we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible with quantum computing, we may discover new and exciting applications that we cannot yet imagine.

The Importance of Government Support

The achievement of quantum supremacy is a testament to the importance of government support for basic research. The National Science Foundation's support for Google's researchers has been critical to the team's success, and the collaboration with NASA Ames and Oak Ridge National Laboratory has been instrumental in the development of the team's quantum computer.

Conclusion

The achievement of quantum supremacy is a significant milestone in the world of quantum computing. It demonstrates the power of quantum computers to solve problems that are beyond the capabilities of classical computers, and it opens up new possibilities for solving complex problems in fields such as chemistry, materials science, and machine learning. As we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible with quantum computing, we may discover new and exciting applications that we cannot yet imagine.

Source: https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/technology/ai/what-our-quantum-computing-milestone-means/