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| Image from: Steve Jurvetson |
In the beginning of this year, Google and NASA jointly purchased a "quantum computer" from D-WAVE, a Canada based, world-first quantum computer provider. Although some scientists still keep skeptical whether their products so far are strictly "quantum", this progress is no-doubt extraordinary that the working principles clearly set it apart from normal computers.
The D-WAVE quantum computer relies on superconductivity. This is a phenomenon that the electric resistance disappears. In a structure named "Josephson junction", it results in a controllable oscillations which can be then manipulated for computational purpose. D-WAVE divide their quantum processor into three major component: qubits which stores the information based on the behavior of the Josephson junction, coupler which connects multiple qubits to form a system, and programmable magnetic memory which is the peripheral supporting circuitry to all users to program the processor. The essential feature setting it apart from conventional computers is that each qubit stores 0 and 1 simultaneously as their superposition. They can be slowly tuned into a classical state (either 0 or 1) once the work is done so that the results can be read out.
This feature makes it particularly suitable for optimization problems and potentially boosting artificial intelligence. Indeed, this early-stage product is far from a general purpose computer. According to NASA, their researchers will use this system to investigate quantum algorithms that might someday help solve difficult optimization problems in aeronautics, Earth and space sciences and space explorations. Google is trying to use this technology for even faster Internet experience. Two teams were set up to race each other within Google, one using D-WAVE, the other using classic computers.
The researchers at both Google and NASA are excited with the new possibilities brought by this quantum computer. They release a video as an introduction and to express the excitement. Another interesting video is posted on the Google+ page for Google Quantum A.I. Lab Team. They build a "quantum world" in a game named Minecraft, thus becoming the qCraft as they named it. Rupak Biswas, the deputy director of the Exploration Technology Directorate at Ames, called this time "the dawn of the quantum computing age."
Despite of the enthusiasm, this is indeed the very "dawn". D-WAVE is super cool, or more precisely, extremely cold. It works at a temperature more than 200 degrees below zero. It also needs careful calibration; booting it up takes over one month. Although NASA and Google both have plans, they are also both unclear what is really going on in the core and how it can be utilized. Tons of experiment are ahead. Nevertheless, this is our first step, and a first step that doesn't seem bad at all. Stay excited.
