Quantum computing- A new era of computers

Computers are getting smaller and faster day by day because electronic components are getting smaller. But this process is about to meet its physical limit. The numbers of transistors incorporated in a chip will approximately double every 24 months. By 2020 to 2025, transistors will be so small and generate so much heat that standard silicon technology may eventually collapse. Intel has already implemented 32nm silicon technology. If scale becomes too small, electrons tunnel through micro-thin barriers between wires corrupting signals.
In 1981, at Argonne National Labs, a man by the name Paul Benioff used Max Planck's idea that energy exists in individual units, as does matter, to theorize the concept of quantum computing. Since that year, the mere idea of manufacturing quantum computers for everyday use is becoming more tangible with new technological advances in quantum theories. A quantum computer is a machine that performs calculations based on the laws of quantum mechanics. A theoretical model is the Quantum Turing machine – Universal Quantum Computer. Quantum computing focuses on the principles of quantum theory, which deals with modern physics that explain the behavior of matter and energy of an atomic and subatomic level. At this level particle behave differently from classical world taking more than one state at the same time and interacting with other particles that are very far away. Quantum Computers use quantum mechanical phenomena like superposition and entanglement.
Superposition – In classical computing, bits has two possible states either zero or one. In quantum computing, a qubit (short for “quantum bit”) is a unit of quantum information—the quantum analogue to a classical bit. Qubits have special properties that help them solve complex problems much faster than classical bits. One of these properties is superposition, which states that instead of holding one binary value (“0” or “1”) like a classical bit, a qubit can hold a combination of “0” and “1” simultaneously. Qubits have two possible outcomes zero or one but those states are superposition of zero and one.

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In quantum world, qubit don’t have to be in one of those states. It can be in any proportion of those states. As soon as we measure its value it has to decide whether it is zero or one. This is called superposition. It is the ability of the quantum system to be in multiple states at same time. In classical computing, for example, there are 4 bytes. The combination of 4 bytes can represent 2^4=16 values in total and one value a given instant. But in a combination 4 qubits all 16 combination are possible at once.
Entanglement – The way the energy and mass become correlated to interact with each other regardless of distance is called entanglement.
Entanglement is an extremely strong correlation that exists between quantum particles — so strong, in fact, that two or more quantum particles can be linked in perfect unison, even if separated by great distances. The particles remain perfectly correlated even if separated by great distances. Two qubits are entangled through the action of laser. Once they have entangled, they are in an indeterminate state. The qubits can then be separated by any distance, they will still remain linked. When one of the qubits is manipulated, the manipulation happens instantly to its entangled twin as well. What can quantum computers do?
Quantum computers can easily crack the encryption algorithms used today in very less time whereas it takes billions of years for best supercomputers to become available without any constraints nowadays. Even though quantum computers would be able to crack many of today’s encryption techniques, predictions are that they would create hack-proof replacements.
Experts see quantum computing as a major disruption to computing. According to Purdue University President, Mitch Daniels, Quantum Computing is “another explosion of computing power like that brought about by the silicon chip.”
D-Wave, a Canadian company, began selling quantum computers a few years ago. Price points to make quantum computers commercially viable are still a little ways away. But a fierce race is already underway for quantum supremacy and scientists are making great progress.
A new era of computing is just over the horizon. And as we grapple with information security challenges with the computers we have today, the hope is that effective quantum computer security will strengthen and not further weaken our digital interactions.