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What is quantum supremacy?


Published on 2024-12-28 05:02:36 - MSN
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  • However, several of these assertions, including Google's, have since been rejected, after researchers developed novel classical algorithms that go toe-to-toe with quantum computer

Quantum supremacy refers to the point at which quantum computers can perform tasks that classical computers practically cannot, due to the immense computational power and different operational principles of quantum mechanics. This concept was thrust into the spotlight when Google claimed in 2019 to have achieved quantum supremacy with its 53-qubit Sycamore processor, which reportedly solved a specific problem in 200 seconds that would take the world's most powerful supercomputer approximately 10,000 years to complete. However, this claim has sparked debate within the scientific community about what constitutes true quantum supremacy, with critics arguing over the practical utility of the task performed and the scalability of quantum systems. Quantum computers leverage quantum bits or qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously (superposition) and can be entangled, allowing them to process vast amounts of information in parallel. Despite the excitement, significant challenges remain, including error rates, qubit coherence times, and the need for extremely low temperatures to maintain quantum states, all of which must be overcome to realize the full potential of quantum computing in real-world applications.

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