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Quantum Computing Future: Real-World Impacts & Expectations in the UK
Stephen Mash
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April 20, 2023
Expectations are that quantum computing applications have the potential to be exponentially faster than even the very latest high-performance multi-core processors. However, it may be a while before you see a quantum computer for sale from HP.
Quantum computing basics
Introduction to the quantum world
Quantum computing is an exciting new field of research that has begun in recent years to yield practical processing devices. Quantum mechanics is the branch of physics that applies at the microscopic sub-atomic level. Here, the normal laws of physics that govern how we live no longer apply, creating exciting opportunities for the computing world.
The first quantum effect to consider is superposition. This is where a particle can exist in two different places simultaneously. Scientists can prove this by conducting experiments on a single particle that creates results that they can only explain if the particle occupies two locations simultaneously. However, they can't observe the particle in more than one location.
The second quantum effect to consider is entanglement. This is where two particles exhibit identical behaviour even though they are separate. So, for example, scientists affecting one particle can observe the same effect on the second different particle, irrespective of their physical separation.
Superposition and entanglement are effects only seen in the quantum realm, but they have the potential to revolutionise computing when harnessed.
Traditional vs quantum computers
The traditional computers we use at work and home perform calculations and process information by reducing everything to binary digits, a number that can be one or zero. This approach allows the construction of computers using switches that are either on or off, representing the two binary values. Fundamentally a computer is just billions of switches connected together to perform useful functions.
Most computer innovations have revolved around making these switches smaller and faster, these two properties being interdependent. For example, scientists used valves to make the first computers, followed by individually packaged transistors to reduce the size and improve reliability. A computer chip can now contain billions of transistors in a few square millimetres.
Quantum computing attempts to use subatomic particles' unique properties and interactions to go beyond simple on-off switches. As a result, quantum computers can completely revolutionise processing by using two-state units, known as a qubit, for data processing. The critical difference is that a qubit can simultaneously represent the digits one and zero through the quantum superposition phenomenon.
In principle, this means that 10 qubits can express the same amount of information as 2 to the power of 10, which equals 1024 binary bits. However, when you physically observe and measure the qubits, the challenge is that they will revert to behaving like 10 binary bits.
This qubit principle overcomes the main limitations of binary processing in that they only process one bit at a time. The latest multi-core processors compensate for this by running several processors in parallel and combining the results using programming logic. This approach makes them fast enough for most ordinary computer tasks.
However, some applications require so much processing power that the traditional binary approach will never scale up performance using multi-core technology fast enough to meet demand.
Quantum computer advantages
Qubits allow you to compress more information into a single unit of data. In addition, qubits can use superposition to represent uncertainty in data and entanglement to perform simultaneous operations instantaneously.
Quantum computers can theoretically perform operations that take traditional computers many years in seconds.
Potential applications of quantum computing in the UK
The computational speed potential of quantum computing can make processes faster and attempt calculations that have been impossible until now due to the time they would take. Below are a few examples of the positive benefits of quantum computing.
Healthcare
Developing new drugs is a slow and costly process thanks to the complexity of creating new chemical candidate treatments and trialling their safety and effectiveness. However, fast computational techniques can improve drug development and implementation turnaround times, responding more quickly and bringing therapies to market faster.
Fast computational processes can also allow vaccine manufacturers to react and respond faster to new and evolving viral and bacterial threats, halting future pandemics quicker before they gain a foothold in populations.
Finance
The world of finance operates around algorithms and data processing for everything from investment decisions to lending risk assessments. Quantum computing offers the ability to analyse vast data sets to extract useful information in seconds.
Finance systems will benefit significantly from quantum computers performing complex algorithmic processes that feed from fast-changing live data streams. For example, real-time equity prices can be highly volatile with high superimposed near-random fluctuations, making analysing underlying changes challenging. As a result, an ultra-fast quantum computer could give the user a significant market advantage over traditional technology users.
Energy
Energy systems rely on optimisation processes to manage diverse supply technology feeding complex distribution networks. In addition, there is an increasing reliance on unpredictable generation technology such as solar, wind or wave energy sources instead of stable, but non-sustainable, carbon-emitting sources such as coal, oil and gas.
This shift requires significant computational resources to balance generation supply and consumer demand. Quantum computing can support this transition by improving the optimisation process speed, responsiveness and accuracy through faster and more complex processing.
Transportation
Traffic management systems will see dramatically increased complexity with the rise of automated transportation, including self-driving cars and driverless public transport.
Quantum computing can support this evolution of transportation networks with faster processing of complex demand forecasting, optimised routing and scheduling and network management processes.
Cybersecurity
When it comes to cybersecurity, quantum computing is a two-edged sword. The expected processing capabilities of a quantum computer will render existing encryption algorithms ineffective. Brute force cracking of the current standard of cryptography technology will be possible in minutes. This negates encryption's protection, based on cracking keys taking too long to be a practical attack vector.
However, the same processing capability will allow quantum computers to create more powerful encryption methods to counter brute force attacks. Cryptography technology depends on factorising prime numbers, which traditional computer technology can't handle efficiently. However, quantum computers are ideal for this task, creating the potential for implementing quantum-resistant cryptography systems using quantum computing.
Artificial intelligence
The most common application of artificial intelligence is machine learning techniques for processing large data volumes to extract information and identify patterns that are not observable using manually defined deterministic processes.
The challenge with machine learning is that the greater the volume of learning data, the more accurate the model it creates and the better the results it will generate. In addition, traditional computer techniques can take significant time to process and analyse learning data, making machine learning techniques time-consuming and challenging to adapt to dynamically changing environments.
Quantum computers will enhance the performance of machine learning techniques by allowing faster consumption of vast volumes of data to produce more accurate results and react to change.
Challenges and limitations of quantum computing
Quantum computers exist in the laboratory but are far from commercial, scalable products that will be affordable to businesses. So, they remain research tools for government agencies and multinational conglomerates.
One significant challenge is the interconnectivity requirements for the hardware of the quantum computer. Each qubit needs multiple connections through wires or light paths, meaning a million-qubit processor will require millions of links.
The next physical challenge is that quantum computer technology requires superconductor principles which are only practical at very low temperatures with the available materials. Cryogenic cooling requirements will constrain quantum computers unless functional high-temperature superconductor materials become available.
Another challenge is that manufacturing techniques cannot create error-free qubits, which means error correction techniques are required to detect random qubit errors. Current technology produces qubits where the error rates exceed the success rates, preventing effective processing at scale.
The hardware interconnectivity challenges and qubit error rate in current quantum computing technology are also significant barriers to scalability, requiring resolution before a large-scale quantum computer capable of reliably producing results will be feasible.
HP's role in quantum computing and UK tech market
Here at HP, we are currently exploring two parallel collaborative research paths.
The first is seeking new quantum computing applications as the basis for real-life products and applications. The second is researching various routes for building actual quantum computing technologies.
The first quantum computing applications involved very modest processing combined with quantum communication. We're also researching distributed computing for functional and secure transactions and tasks, including the recent innovation of optical distribution of computing.
Until quantum computer becomes a practical reality for consumers, HP offers many high-performance options in the HP UK store for traditional computer technology-based products to support the UK tech market.
The HP ZBook Firefly G9 16-inch offers professional-level performance in a mobile, sleek, powerful laptop.
The HP ZBook Power G8 15.6-inch offers an impressive computational performance in a mobile computing package.
The Z2 Tower G9 Workstation offers outstanding performance levels for your professional workflows. We have engineered this desktop system to seamlessly run multi-threaded apps with room to expand and toolless access, allowing easy upgrading and adding components as your quantum processing needs evolve.
The HP Z8 Tower G4 Workstation is the top-of-the-line performance computer we've designed to fuel those who reimagine our world. This workstation can run complex simulations, manage advanced Machine Learning algorithms and process vast amounts of data. In addition, with up to 56 processing cores and up to 1.5TB of high-speed memory, it can handle the most demanding computing tasks.
Summary
When refined to the point that it is suitable for widespread adoption, quantum computing technology will offer users a step change in processing power, making the most challenging computational tasks significantly faster.
From a security perspective, anyone with a quantum computer can defeat standard encryption techniques. The security challenge is ensuring quantum computing is used to improve security, not overpower it for ordinary users.
The changes that we can expect in our daily lives from quantum computing will likely start with more accurate weather forecasts and climatic change predictions, and better public transport.
Eventually, expectations are that quantum computing will become widespread and affordable, replacing traditional computer technology. For the average user, this will mean incredible lifelike images on any size display and instant response to any command, irrespective of the complexity of the required task.
