THE NUCLEUS Issue 2 Spring 2024

Unravelling the Potential of Quantum Computers A Leap into the Future of Computing

WHAT CHALLENGES ARE PREVENTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF QUANTUM COMPUTING?

Quantum computers are extremely vulnerable to external factors such as temperature and electromagnetic radiation which causes decoherence (decoherence is where qubits lose their quantum behaviours and return to behaving like normal bits that can only represent 0s and 1s). Another problem with the development of quantum computers is scalability. Currently researchers such as IBM are using superconducting circuits to help create larger quantum computers that are still reliable. However, IBM is still only able to make a quantum computer with around 1000 qubits, whereas for a quantum computer to have the computational power to be commercially viable it will need to have at least 1 million qubits.

Conclusion Quantum computers represent a paradigm shift in computing, promising unprecedented computational power that could revolutionise various industries. While the technology is still in its infancy, the rapid pace of advancements and growing interest from both industry and academia suggest a future where quantum computers become an integral part of our technological landscape. As researchers continue to tackle the challenges associated with quantum computing, but the potential applications and benefits are vast, offering a glimpse into a future where complex problems can be solved at speeds and efficiencies previously thought impossible. If you would like to learn more about quantum computers, I would recommend going to either the Microsoft or IBM websites as they are both companies that are developing quantum computers and have both published lots of informative articles on the topic.

by Rupert Hooper

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