Why study “Quantum Computing”? We give you 6 reasons to do it

We hear about quantum computing more and more often: “it's the future”, “it's the revolution”. The news on the achievements of quantum computing are becoming more and more frequent : a few days ago the arrival of the quantum computer D-Wave in Europe, with 5000 qubits . More and more people are becoming interested in this branch of study, also using it as the subject of thesis and research .

But why should we study quantum computing? The question is legitimate given that the first important results are only now being achieved. The truth is that, with the future upon us, we should be prepared to welcome the revolution in the right way.

Quantum computing

Quantum computing is based on the laws of quantum mechanics, where the elementary unit is the quantum. Unlike classical computers, which work with two-state bits, quantum computers use the qubit as a unit of information. The qubit can assume, in addition to states 1 and 0, also a state of superposition of the two with a certain probability, transforming the memory of the machine into a "superposition of states". The superposition generates the phenomenon of interference: the states of the qubits can interfere with each other due to the probability amplitude of each state.

Another feature of qubits is quantum entanglement , which is the phenomenon whereby two or more physical systems are actually subsystems of a larger system whose state can be described as the superposition of the states of the individual elements that compose it. In quantum computing this means being able to measure the state of one qubit simply by knowing the state of another , without therefore measuring it directly.

Quantum computing - Quantum computers are based on the principles of quantum mechanics.
Quantum computers are based on the principles of quantum mechanics.

Qubits are generally made with systems such as the orientation of a photon or the spin of an electron . Thanks to entanglement and interference, it is possible to process information in a much shorter time than that required by classical computers, enabling parallel calculations. The amount of data that can be represented by a system of qubits grows exponentially as the units increase: the amount of information of n qubits is equal to 2 ^ n traditional bits.

While very powerful, qubits are also very fragile . Entanglement , although a fundamental phenomenon for this type of computation, can cause disturbances in the measurements, altering the system. New ways of constructing qubit hardware and methods for correcting errors in computation are currently in development.

Why Study Quantum Computing?

quantum computing
Quantum computing is the technology of the future, and there are at least 6 good reasons to study it.

Quantum computing is fascinating and the computing capabilities it offers are not comparable to classical computing. If it is true, however, that the advantages and possibilities are innumerable, it could be argued that quantum computers are not within everyone's reach. Why, then, should we study quantum computing? Here are 6 reasons to study quantum computing.

The market is global and constantly expanding

If it is true that at the moment only big tech companies have the possibility to access and exploit the technology, soon this exclusivity will disappear, and quantum computers will gradually become available to everyone. From a business point of view, the quantum computing market will continue to increase in value: by 2030 it is expected to reach 3700 million dollars.

Job opportunities are growing

As a direct consequence of the expanding market, demands will also increase for various positions in the sector, such as programmers, consultants and specialized managers.

The areas of application are cross-industry

The spread of quantum computing will reach many areas, such as communications, transport, the energy industry, the pharmaceutical industry, the financial one, and more. The new job opportunities will therefore not be limited to just one area, but will involve multiple sectors.

It is a safe investment

Talking about "investment" and "security" in the same sentence may sound strange, but in the case of quantum computing we can be sure that investing in it will be a great idea. Already now there is a strong enthusiasm for technology, which will only increase in the near future.

It is completely different from classical computation

Knowing only the classical computational principles will soon no longer be sufficient , for all the reasons already explained, and a brief knowledge of the subject will not be enough.

There is a revolution taking place

How can you ignore a revolution of this magnitude? With quantum computing, many new doors will open and the direction of progress will change forever. Better be ready! Well, why not? Quantum computing doesn't have to be scary and it's not as far from us as we think. The web offers various courses on quantum computing, such as the one that SIDI delivers through the School of Disruption , accessible and within everyone's reach to enter the world of computation of the future.

The article Why study “Quantum computing”? We give you 6 reasons why it comes from Tech CuE | Close-up Engineering .