Wealth, power and superpowers: how quantum computing is changing our lives

Holy grail of science

This is exactly the hype around quantum computing right now. The one who can do it first

develop a stable quantum computer,will hit a big jackpot. Cryptography and data hacking, search for new materials and drugs, optimization, risk assessment - the computer will find solutions to these problems almost instantly. This scares many people, and for good reason: all our data and savings will be at risk. This could lead to a global catastrophe, which has already been called the “quantum apocalypse.”

But while the power of quantum computers is toosmall, devices can only show the possibility of solving problems, and not solve them. It takes about 20 million qubits to break the cryptographic algorithm with the RSA public key (an abbreviation for the name of the creators). A qubit is a quantum analog of a bit, which can take on not only the values ​​0 and 1, but both of these positions at the same time. In the world of science, this is called superposition, and it is this feature that allows you to find the answer faster, but it is not easy to create it.

“While the power of quantum computers is too small”

For example, Google plans to release a quantuma computer with 1 million qubits in 2029 alone, and modern quantum computers have a maximum of a hundred qubits. The more there are, the more difficult it is to connect them directly. In addition, modern qubits are unstable and lose their quantum state over time, and the results of calculations contain a large number of errors. These factors greatly slow down the creation of a quantum computer.

"Quantum" benefit here and now

Mathematics and physics, without waiting for the day Q,learned to apply the benefits of quantum computing on a classical computer. Quantum-inspired algorithms find solutions in acceptable time frames. At the same time, the best modern algorithms already find them 95–99% close to optimal. The devices help to calculate the optimal route for spacecraft, they are used to develop new medicines and materials.

Location of wind farms, oilwells and emergency stations are also optimized with quantum-inspired algorithms. And this can be done with any schedule - for example, trains or vacations. Of course, sometimes a vacation plan in a small company can be done manually. But if there are too many variables and limiting factors, then it is impossible to do such a job with a simple enumeration: it will take decades to find the answer. Before the invention of quantum-inspired algorithms, there was only one way out - to deliberately refuse to take into account several indicators. Of course, this affected the quality and efficiency of the solution.

Optimize it

To use the algorithm, you need a specialhardware and software system. It is called a solver or solver. It is used to solve optimization problems when millions of combinations need to be considered. The solver allows you to take into account all the restrictions, and its work does not depend on the subject area for which the problem is being solved. The solver works according to a single logical scenario, using a vector of variables and a constraint matrix.

Solvers are divided into two types.The first is specialized, it includes the Yandex.Routing platform. It solves the problems of logistics and choosing the best route, taking into account traffic jams, traffic lights and road repairs. The second is industrial or general purpose solvers such as Fixstars or IBM CPLEX. They solve optimization problems with a large number of variables and constraints. They are used to find new materials or to schedule production. The Universal Solver is a cutting-edge optimization technology.

“Google plans to release a quantum computer with 1 million qubits only in 2029”

Russia does not yet have its own universal solvers.All enterprises use Japanese or American software and hardware systems. And in order to customize the quantum-inspired algorithms and control the entire computation process, you need to have access to the internal code of the solver. Therefore, our priority now is the development of a universal solver in Russia.

Need for solvers

Until the day Q, when the real quantumcomputers, humanity is still far away. But companies from different fields and countries are already using and implementing quantum technologies. It is no wonder that optimization is needed wherever there is planning and consistency, because it helps to save budgets, resources and reduces work time.

Read more:

Scientists filmed a strange creature with tentacles, which they mistook for a flower

The supersonic plane will fly at a speed of 2,000 km/h and cross the ocean in 3.5 hours

Created a quantum computer that "went beyond the binary system"