The approach for quantum computing has been in idea stage for several decades and it aims at using principles of quantum mechanics to process information. Quantum computing has recently attained considerable advancements primarily as a result of progress in semiconductor technology. Since researchers are working on development of the most advanced technologies in quantum computing, the role of semiconductor companies can be seen as significant for making a next generation of computation.
Quantum Computing: An Overview
Quantum computing is a fundamentally revolutionary approach from conventional computing based on bits of 0s or 1s. However, modern quantum computers are based on quantum bits or qubits which can be in the state 0 and 1 at the same time. Also, qubits are said to be entangled; thus, their states are correlated in a manner that cannot be duplicated using other basic units, called classical bits.
Quantum computers could help solve complex problems much quicker than a normal computer and this could be useful in cryptography, drug development, optimization and artificial intelligence among other fields. Nevertheless, the development of functional QCs, especially the outstanding complex engineering task, where practical evidence is required to be controlled by qubits and isolated from decoherence, which makes qubits lose classical quantum characteristics.
A potential application of quantum computing is depicted in the use of semiconductor materials.
It’s impossible to think of any computer, be it classical or quantum, without semiconductors – materials through which electricity can flow and be regulated. In classical computers, semiconductors are employed to build transistors, which are switching devices that may either be on or off. Indeed, as transistor sizes have moved into the nanoscale, further increases in the capacity and efficiency of classical computers has come from semiconductor development.
In quantum computers, semiconductors are playing a similar enabling role, with one critical difference: classical computers tell how many electrons are in a given place, while quantum computers must be able to control how, not just where, each electron is. This has in recent past resulted to the emergence of improved semiconductor material as well as technologies that can control electrons at the quantum level.
One promising approach is using semiconductor “quantum dots”-nanoscale regions in a semiconductor that can trap individual electrons. Quantum dots are highly suitable for construction of qubits because the behavior of electrons can be controlled with a great amount of precision. That same year, the University of Sheffield’s researchers stated the creation of a qubit – an essential step toward functional quantum computation.
Another kind of semiconductor technology is the superconducting qubits, which is also being explored for quantum computing. Here qubits are made from superconducting circuits, which are circuits that do not lose energy through resistance when carrying current, if they are cooled down to extremely low temperatures. This makes it easy to manipulate the qubits thus enabling building of robust and opt quantum computers. In 2019, IBM presented its 50-qubit quantum computer, which is based on superconducting qubits, which contributes to the real-world application of quantum computing.
Challenges and Opportunities
However, there is still a long way to go to make the communication and integration between quantum systems possible. Another challenge is with the size of the devices – current quantum computers are relatively minor and cannot be simply expanded for more qubits. The researchers are trying to develop new materials of semiconductors and innovative methods of their production, which will allow creating quantum computers with increased productivity and volume.
1 of these challenges is how to stabilize qubits. In quantum computing, small perturbations can change the state of qubits, and, thus, lead to the collapse of the quantum state, and computation errors may occur. Scientists are searching for ways to cut this “noise” and to increase quantum computing precision.
This drive towards more realistic quantum computing is also encouraging advances in other sectors of semiconductor technology. For instance, new kinds of transistors that are capable of functioning at higher frequencies and less energy than the existing ones are in research as a potential for future quantum computers. There is also the desire to come up with new materials, for example the two dimensional; ‘2D’ materials through which new forms of quantum computers can be produced.
It will be interesting to see how this evolves in future years but, semiconductors may remain an essential part of quantum computing. Semiconductors may also be used in the design of a new generation of Computers –Hybrid Classical-Quantum Computers which would draw from both the worlds of Quantum and Classical Computing to give the best of each world.
This paper as an outlook on the future of quantum computing.
There are numerous fields in which quantum computing could be used; from biology and materials chemistry to artificial intelligence and cryptography. Quantum computing is a relatively new field, and in the following years, more and more recognisable breakthroughs are expected, supported by the constant advancements of semiconductor technology.
However, for any new technological advancement such as quantum computing also come some issues in as regards its social and economic relevance. Some critics fear that with the help of a quantum computer many of the current cryptographic algorithms will be rendered unusable and personal information will become vulnerable. Some people believe that quantum computing will cause people to lose their jobs in some fields because some work will be displaced or becomes inefficient.
At the same time, it is also a technology that can result in new growth points ranging from fast progress in science to completely new industries. Now it is up to the policy-makers, industries and the society, as a whole, to weave their ways through these complexities and come out with the best advantages that quantum computing can offer to the fullest.
Conclusion
Semiconductor innovation is clearly identified to be at the center in the advancement of quantum computing as seen above. Scientists have applied semiconductors in the creation of qubits, from quantum dots to superconducting and everything in between.
Although there are still many difficulties to eliminate, development in quantum computing is a good example of the creativity and hard work of scientists all over the globe. Moving forward in the exploration of what semiconductors and quantum computing can perform currently indicates promising future developments.