Topic: Introduction to Quantum Computing
1. The Fundamental Shift: From Classical to Quantum Bits
Quantum computing is a revolutionary field that leverages the laws of quantum mechanics to build
powerful new types of computers. To understand it, we must first recognize the limitations of classical
computers.
• Classical Computers: These devices, from your laptop to a supercomputer, rely on bits. A bit is a
physical system that can exist in one of two distinct, mutually exclusive states: 0 or 1. This is the
foundation of all classical computation, where logic gates manipulate these binary states to perform
calculations.
• Quantum Computers: These machines use qubits (quantum bits). Unlike a classical bit, a qubit is
not limited to a state of 0 or 1. Instead, it can exist in a superposition of both states simultaneously.
This means a single qubit can represent a combination of 0 and 1, with a certain probability of being
found in each state upon measurement. This is a key departure from classical computing and is what
allows quantum computers to perform certain calculations in parallel.
2. Core Principles of Quantum Mechanics for Computation
The power of a quantum computer comes from three main properties of quantum mechanics:
• Superposition: As mentioned above, this is the ability of a qubit to be in a combination of the ∣0⟩ and
∣1⟩ states. Mathematically, a qubit's state can be represented as:
∣ψ⟩=α∣0⟩+β∣1⟩
where α and β are complex numbers called probability amplitudes. The probability of measuring the
qubit as a 0 is ∣α∣2, and the probability of measuring it as a 1 is ∣β∣2. The sum of these probabilities
must always be 1: ∣α∣2+∣β∣2=1. The ability to encode a vast amount of information in a small number
of qubits is one of the main reasons for the potential power of quantum computing.
• Entanglement: This is arguably the most mysterious and powerful of the quantum phenomena.
When two or more qubits become entangled, their fates are intrinsically linked, regardless of the
distance separating them. The state of one entangled qubit cannot be described independently of the
states of the others. Measuring one entangled qubit instantly influences the state of the other(s). This
property allows for a more complex and interconnected computational space, enabling algorithms that
can find solutions much faster than classical methods.
• Quantum Tunnelling and Interference: While not always discussed at the introductory level, these
principles are also vital. Quantum interference is used in quantum algorithms to amplify the probability
of correct answers and cancel out the probability of incorrect ones. Quantum tunneling allows
particles to pass through energy barriers that would be insurmountable in classical physics, a property
used in certain types of quantum computers like quantum annealers.
3. Building Blocks: Quantum Gates and Measurement
• Quantum Gates: Just as classical computers use logic gates (like AND, OR, NOT) to manipulate bits,
quantum computers use quantum gates to manipulate qubits. These gates are represented by
matrices and are used to transform the state of qubits.
o Hadamard Gate (H): This is a fundamental gate that puts a qubit into a state of superposition. If a
qubit starts in the ∣0⟩ state, applying a Hadamard gate changes its state to 21(∣0⟩+∣1⟩), a perfect
superposition of both states.
o Pauli-X Gate (X): This gate acts like a NOT gate, flipping the state of a qubit. It changes ∣0⟩ to ∣1⟩ and
∣1⟩ to ∣0⟩.
o Controlled-NOT Gate (CNOT): This is a two-qubit gate that entangles two qubits. It flips the state of
a "target" qubit only if a "control" qubit is in the ∣1⟩ state.
• Measurement: The act of measuring a qubit's state is a crucial step in quantum computation. When a
measurement is performed, the qubit's superposition collapses into a single, classical state (either 0
or 1). The result is probabilistic, based on the probability amplitudes (α and β) of its pre-measurement
state. This is how we extract a classical answer from the quantum computation.
4. Applications and the Promise of Quantum Computing
The unique properties of qubits mean that quantum computers are not simply faster classical
computers. They excel at specific types of problems that are intractable for even the most powerful
supercomputers.
• Drug Discovery & Materials Science: Simulating the behaviour of molecules and chemical reactions
is a computationally intensive task. Quantum computers could accurately model these complex
interactions to accelerate the discovery of new drugs, catalysts, and materials with desired properties.
• Cryptography: Quantum computers, using algorithms like Shor's algorithm, could break the public-
key encryption schemes that secure most of our digital communication (e.g., RSA encryption).
However, this challenge is also an opportunity to develop quantum-safe cryptography that is
resistant to both classical and quantum attacks.
• Optimization: Finding the optimal solution from a vast number of possibilities is a common problem in
fields like logistics, finance, and machine learning. Quantum computers, using algorithms like
Grover's algorithm, can find solutions to these problems much more efficiently.
5. Current Challenges and the Road Ahead
Despite the immense potential, building a practical, large-scale quantum computer is a monumental
challenge.
• Decoherence: Qubits are extremely sensitive to their environment. Any interaction with the outside
world, such as heat, vibration, or stray electromagnetic fields, can cause them to lose their quantum
properties and revert to a classical state. This "decoherence" introduces errors and is the primary
obstacle to building stable quantum systems.
• Scalability: Increasing the number of qubits in a quantum computer is incredibly difficult. Adding
more qubits magnifies the problem of decoherence and requires a high degree of precision in control
and fabrication.
• Error Correction: Current quantum computers are "noisy," meaning they are prone to errors.
Developing robust quantum error correction protocols is an active area of research, as it is crucial for
building a fault-tolerant quantum computer that can perform long, complex calculations reliably.
