Chapter 277: Quantum Computer
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Planet Haierfa.
Base of Operations.
After artificial intelligence Nuwa returned the alien s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p from Mars unscathed.
Nuwa and Alice expended a considerable amount of resources in examining the various advanced technologies surrounding the alien s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p.
Using a few months’ time combining their findings with the technological information they already mastered, they achieved a major scientific breakthrough as of recently – a quantum computer.
A 128-qubit quantum computer.
Only 128 qubits?
Wasn’t that a little too less?
In fact, the 128-qubit over here bear similar meaning to the “bit” as in the term “32/64-bit operating system”. It meant that it could operate up to a maximum of 128 quantum bits at an instance.
At least a few trillion photons resided inside the quantum computer in front of Chen Jin, which was about the size of a fridge, but it could only control up to 128 quantum entangled particles at a time in performing serial calculations.
“Nuwa, Alice, in my knowledge, the computing power of a quantum computer is 2 to the power of N, and N is the number whereby how many quantum entangled particles the computer could control at an instant. This quantum computer of yours is 128 qubits, so its computing powers will be 2 to the power of 128…”
“How much is 2 to the power of 128?” Chen Jin looked at the two artificial intelligence in front of him and asked.
“It equals to 3.4028 times 1038, which is 340.28 trillion quadrillion times, 340 million times that of me and Alice’s computing speed.”
Holy moly~
Chen Jin had his mouth wide opened, “This tiny device is equivalent to having 300 million you and Alice’s?”
The quantum computer was too niubi!
“You can take it this way. The quantum computer cannot completely replace traditional computers. It excels in some unique fields in Mathematics, for example factorization, solving logarithms, cracking complex encryption systems, building molecular models, particle physics, and even simulating particle collision… it is a very powerful tool, but not omnipotent. You must not overstate its functions.”
“But why? I remember there were scientists that said that a quantum computer can accomplish just everything,” Chen Jin was baffled.
“That’s just commercial exaggeration.”
Nuwa explained, “It is similar to what had happened on Haierfa. In early stages of the development of quantum technology, anything that goes down into the microscopic scale was seemingly linked to the word ‘quantum’, such as quantum water, quantum television, quantum air purifier… many quantum products emerged, but in fact, none of them had anything to do with the word ‘quantum’. It was just a concept created to induce hype and had in fact no correlation with real quantum technology.”
“The true strength of quantum computers is in first, data processing, and second, communication encryption. There’s nothing to write home about the other aspects.”
“Here’s a simple example. A traditional computer is composed of three units: storage unit, control unit and calculation unit. Quantum units cannot be stored because it takes on an indefinite form, a superposition state of 0 and 1. Our data on the other hand is definite and therefore can only be stored in traditional data storages.
“Of course, we could add a ‘quantum computing module’ on the basis of traditional computers. By then, we can actually call it a ‘quantum computer’. It will indeed be much more powerful than an unmodified traditional computer.”
“Hence, both me and Alice are now ‘quantum computers’, because we both have a few ‘quantum computing modules’ in us.”
Listening to Nuwa’s somehow ridiculous words, Chen Jin was stupefied.
Quantum computers wasn’t a complicated thing to begin with. But many fake experts and commercial organizations jumbled up its simplicity, rendering it unintelligible for their own benefits. It made people regard quantum computers as something beyond this world and even omnipotent.
The was no issue of who would be replacing who in between traditional computers and quantum computers. They both have their own boons and banes and could compensate for each other. The advent of quantum computers would not cause traditional computers to decline or be eliminated. Both will coexist as long as time flows.
Of course, the power of the quantum computer cannot be repudiated because most problems in this world can ultimately be solved with mathematics.
The essence of this universe itself was mathematics!
Now, the computing powers of both artificial intelligence Nuwa and Alice was raised 340 million-fold. This would undoubtedly impart a huge thrust towards the development of the Base of Operations and planet Haierfa.
It could even save them enormous amounts of energy. For instance, after Nuwa and Alice was incorporated with quantum computing modules, both of their energy consumption was reduced by 50% and above as they perform most complex calculations in their quantum computing module.
The speed of scientific research in various fields would also be significantly accelerated.
But Chen Jin wasn’t quite satisfied.
“Nuwa, isn’t 128 qubits at a time a little too less? Why can’t it be increased to 256 or 512 qubits? Won’t computing powers be more… spectacular in that way?”
“128 qubits is sufficient, master.”
Nuwa explained, “The more the number of qubits, the faster the decoherence (ie, exiting the entangled state), and the lower the error correction accuracy. 128 qubits is almost just right. The system can be very self-sustaining and attain an error correction rate of over 99%, the best balance that can be achieved.”
“The quantum modules in the computer on the alien s.p.a.cecraft are even 64-bit. The crystal brainers thought that 64 qubits would be enough for small-scale usage. A 128-qubit quantum computer would almost be able to solve all mathematical problems… it would suffice for now by the very least.”
Chen Jin nodded.
It was indeed enough for the time being. If they were to discover that it was not enough, they could think of ways to create a quantum computer with higher qubits.
With a quantum computer, the Base of Operations had broken through the bottleneck of computing power, with literally translates into unlimited “computing power”. It signified that the work progress of all their projects would improve by leaps and bounds.
Suddenly, Chen Jin thought of something. He murmured to himself, “I remember that back on Earth, all powerful nations are presently making their own quantum computers. Some countries had attained 10 qubits while some had broken through 20. Whoever that reaches 50 qubits would announce that they had realized quantum supremacy… as of now, the country nearest from achieving quantum supremacy is the Z nation. I heard that we have already broke through 39 qubits, and therefore quantum supremacy is already in sight.”
Besides, he also discovered that in the field of quantum computers, its development on Earth seemed exceptionally fast and up to snuff.
Alice however, said with disdain, “This kind of supremacy is only laboratory supremacy, it has no big significance. There were countries on planet Haierfa that achieved quantum supremacy very early on, the highest qubits they achieved were even 198. But after a long time, commercial quantum computers could only process 32 qubits at the same time. Even 200 years later, n.o.body had yet achieved 50 qubits… quantum technology does have a bright future. But reaching 64 qubits or above for commercial usage is very difficult.”
Its progressive growth in computing power might even fall behind that of traditional computers, rendering the technology stuck in laboratories for long periods of time.
“Really?”
Chen Jin was meagerly shocked. Why would such a promising technology be frozen in laboratory phases?
In spite of that, he still decided to build a “Quantum Computer R&D Center” back on Earth and strive to realize commercial quantum computers with 50 qubits and above within one to two years… he will be taking away quantum supremacy.