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Quantum Development Kit preview

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Re: Quantum Development Kit preview

#21

Post by vtomole »

rficcaglia wrote: post #17

“toughest challenges, such as world hunger or the dangerous effects of climate change” How does quantum computing address world hunger or climate change? Convincing humans to not use fossil fuels or to eat less beef doesn’t need Shor’s algorithm.

Shor's algorithm is not the only potential application for quantum computers. Simulating quantum mechanics and optimization is what quantum computers will probably be used for in the next couple of years.

Regarding the world hunger and climate change claim. I think they are referring to the fact that quantum computers can simulate quantum chemistry more efficiently compared to classical computers. This article [0] talks about how quantum computers will be used for quantum chemistry; specifically nitrogen fixation.

[0]: https://cen.acs.org/articles/95/i43/Chemistry-quantum-comput...

Re: Quantum Development Kit preview

#22

Post by ahelwer »

I'm legitimately excited by quantum computing. The field is moving SO much faster than popular knowledge, which seems to believe a quantum computer will arrive at the same time as a workable fusion reactor. Real quantum computers exist RIGHT NOW. You can even write a program and run it on one from IBM![0] Google and Microsoft are both dumping resources into creating commercially-available quantum computers. Google says it will demonstrate a quantum computer in mere months which outperforms a classical computer on some problem.[1] The real value of quantum computers is not found in breaking RSA. Simulated molecular dynamics sees an exponential speedup over classical methods; this has huge ramifications for drug & material design.[2] What a time to be alive!

I have a BSc in Computer Science, and am teaching myself quantum computing. I'm really liking the book Quantum Computer Science: An Introduction by David Mermin. All this stuff is within your grasp! You aren't required to understand quantum weirdness to use a quantum computer.

[0] https://quantumexperience.ng.bluemix.net/qx/experience

[1] https://www.technologyreview.com/s/609035/google-reveals-blu...

[2] https://www.chemistryworld.com/feature/quantum-chemistry-on-...

Re: Quantum Development Kit preview

#23

Post by codekilla »

ahelwer wrote: post #22

I'm legitimately excited by quantum computing. The field is moving SO much faster than popular knowledge, which seems to believe a quantum computer will arrive at the same time as a workable fusion reactor. Real quantum computers exist RIGHT NOW. You can even write a program and run it on one from IBM![0] Google and Microsoft are both dumping resources into creating commercially-available quantum computers. Google sa…

I also strongly recommend 'Quantum Computing for Computer Scientists'...this is a really, really good book for those coming from a C.S. background.

Re: Quantum Development Kit preview

#24

Post by otakucode »

ahelwer wrote: post #22

I'm legitimately excited by quantum computing. The field is moving SO much faster than popular knowledge, which seems to believe a quantum computer will arrive at the same time as a workable fusion reactor. Real quantum computers exist RIGHT NOW. You can even write a program and run it on one from IBM![0] Google and Microsoft are both dumping resources into creating commercially-available quantum computers. Google sa…

I read a news announcement on, I believe, IEEE, that Intel had gotten a manufacturing process down for a 17-qubit chip and had shipped it to their research lab in the Netherlands. There are certainly developments left and right. It will be interesting to see where quantum computing ends up... I could certainly see big possibilities for it in the communications sphere, guaranteeing link integrity and things like that.

Re: Quantum Development Kit preview

#25

Post by thethirdone »

codekilla wrote: post #23
ahelwer wrote: post #22

I'm legitimately excited by quantum computing. The field is moving SO much faster than popular knowledge, which seems to believe a quantum computer will arrive at the same time as a workable fusion reactor. Real quantum computers exist RIGHT NOW. You can even write a program and run it on one from IBM![0] Google and Microsoft are both dumping resources into creating commercially-available quantum computers. Google sa…

I also strongly recommend 'Quantum Computing for Computer Scientists'...this is a really, really good book for those coming from a C.S. background.

I totally agree. It lays out the minimum of the physics and mathematics background needed to get into it as a computer scientist.

Re: Quantum Development Kit preview

#26

Post by dsp1234 »

ahelwer wrote: post #22

I'm legitimately excited by quantum computing. The field is moving SO much faster than popular knowledge, which seems to believe a quantum computer will arrive at the same time as a workable fusion reactor. Real quantum computers exist RIGHT NOW. You can even write a program and run it on one from IBM![0] Google and Microsoft are both dumping resources into creating commercially-available quantum computers. Google sa…

"Real quantum computers exist RIGHT NOW. You can even write a program and run it on one from IBM!"

Let's be a bit realistic. It's a 5 qubit processor. I'm not sure how excited the general population were when the first 5 bit processor was available. There is still a ways to go before actually useful quantum computers are generally available.

"You have access to one now with the Quantum Experience. It is small at the moment, with a five-qubit processor, but it is a work-in-progress that we are continually improving."[0]

[0] - https://quantumexperience.ng.bluemix.net/qx/tutorial?section...

Re: Quantum Development Kit preview

#27

Post by hobofan »

ahelwer wrote: post #22

I'm legitimately excited by quantum computing. The field is moving SO much faster than popular knowledge, which seems to believe a quantum computer will arrive at the same time as a workable fusion reactor. Real quantum computers exist RIGHT NOW. You can even write a program and run it on one from IBM![0] Google and Microsoft are both dumping resources into creating commercially-available quantum computers. Google sa…

> this has huge ramifications for drug & material design

Is the realistically any chance that a significant part of that innovation will happen in startups / new companies, or will this mostly play out in existing pharma/chemistry industry giants?

Re: Quantum Development Kit preview

#28

Post by dsp1234 »

vtomole wrote: post #18
nneonneo wrote: post #16

Possibly dumb question, but what do you actually run Q# code on?

Q# code is run on a quantum virtual machine; which is a program that simulates a quantum computer on a classical computer. Quantum computers can be simulated by classical computers up to a certain point. Like that article says, a 30 qubit quantum computer can be simulated on a laptop. Microsoft is simulating up to 40 qubits on Azure. Simulating around 50 qubits or so would need one of the world's most powerful superc…

Quantum computers can be simulated by classical computers up to a certain point.

Note that the 'certain point' here is a practical limit of time/efficiency. In terms of computability, anything that can be computed on a quantum computer can be computed on a classical computer with exponential slowdown. It's the exponential slowdown that results in the practical limit.

Re: Quantum Development Kit preview

#29

Post by pjmlp »

dsp1234 wrote: post #26
ahelwer wrote: post #22

I'm legitimately excited by quantum computing. The field is moving SO much faster than popular knowledge, which seems to believe a quantum computer will arrive at the same time as a workable fusion reactor. Real quantum computers exist RIGHT NOW. You can even write a program and run it on one from IBM![0] Google and Microsoft are both dumping resources into creating commercially-available quantum computers. Google sa…

"Real quantum computers exist RIGHT NOW. You can even write a program and run it on one from IBM!" Let's be a bit realistic. It's a 5 qubit processor. I'm not sure how excited the general population were when the first 5 bit processor was available. There is still a ways to go before actually useful quantum computers are generally available. "You have access to one now with the Quantum Experience. It is small at the…

At least they seemed pretty exited with Intel 4004.

Re: Quantum Development Kit preview

#30

Post by [deleted] »

pjmlp wrote: post #29
dsp1234 wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Real quantum computers exist RIGHT NOW. You can even write a program and run it on one from IBM!" Let's be a bit realistic. It's a 5 qubit processor. I'm not sure how excited the general population were when the first 5 bit processor was available. There is still a ways to go before actually useful quantum computers are generally available. "You have access to one now with the Quantum Experience. It is small at the…

At least they seemed pretty exited with Intel 4004.

[deleted]
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