Quantum Computers and the Potential of Using Phonons as Information Units

IBM Publishes Paper on Quantum Computers’ Ability to Solve Complex Problems

One of the hottest topics in the world of computing today is quantum computers, and IBM has recently published a paper claiming to have proven their ability to solve useful problems that traditional computers cannot handle. This breakthrough has raised concerns about the reliability of quantum computer calculations due to their complexity.

Quantum computers use qubits as the basic unit of information. Qubits can be particles, such as electrons, or collections of particles designed to behave like particles. Unlike classical computers, which are limited by the rules of classical physics, qubits can have both “on” and “off” values simultaneously. This unique property allows quantum computers to perform complex computations beyond the capabilities of current supercomputers.

While photons are commonly used as qubits in linear optical quantum computing (LOQC), researchers have been exploring the possibility of using phonons as units of information. Phonons are packets of vibrational energy, similar to how photons are packets of light energy. The challenge lies in finding a way to manipulate and control phonons, just as researchers can manipulate electrons and photons.

In a recent study, researchers from the University of Chicago developed an acoustic beam splitter, inspired by the beam splitters used in optical research. A beam splitter splits a beam of light in half, reflecting 50% of the photons to one side and allowing the other 50% to pass through. The researchers found that phonons interact with the acoustic beam splitter in a similar way to how photons interact with optical beam dividers.

The study involved a small device called an acoustic beam breaker, which had 16 metal rods protruding from it. Placed in a 2 mm lithium niobate channel, the device allowed phonons to be emitted and detected by superconducting qubits at each end of the channel. The entire setup was kept at a very low temperature.

The researchers discovered that when phonons were transmitted from the left side of the channel, they were reflected half the time and transmitted to the right side the other half. When phonons were emitted simultaneously from both sides, they ended up on one side, as expected.

While this study proves that phonons can behave according to the principles of quantum mechanics, there is still a long way to go before a functional quantum computer

What error mitigation techniques did IBM’s research use to address concerns regarding the reliability of quantum computer calculations

Ticles. Unlike classical bits, which can represent either a 0 or a 1, qubits can represent both 0 and 1 simultaneously thanks to a property called superposition. This allows quantum computers to perform calculations on multiple values at once, providing them with a massive advantage in processing power and efficiency.

The paper published by IBM focuses on a specific kind of problem called combinatorial optimization. This type of problem involves finding the best combination of values from a set of possibilities to achieve a desired outcome. It is an important class of problems that has applications in various fields, including logistics, finance, and artificial intelligence.

Combinatorial optimization problems tend to become exponentially more challenging as the size of the problem increases. Traditional computers struggle to efficiently solve these problems, often requiring exponential time to find the optimal solution. This limitation has been a major obstacle in many practical applications.

IBM’s research demonstrates that quantum computers can solve combinatorial optimization problems significantly faster than classical computers. The researchers used a quantum algorithm called the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) on an IBM Q quantum computer to find solutions to these optimization problems. They compared the results to those obtained by classical algorithms on traditional computers, and found that the quantum algorithm outperformed classical methods by several orders of magnitude.

While this breakthrough is undoubtedly exciting, there are still concerns regarding the reliability of quantum computer calculations. Quantum systems are extremely sensitive to noise and errors, which can disrupt the delicate superposition and entanglement of qubits. Any small error in the calculations can have a significant impact on the output and potentially lead to incorrect results.

IBM’s paper acknowledges these concerns and highlights the need for error mitigation techniques to improve the reliability of quantum computations. The researchers used a technique called measurement error mitigation to reduce the impact of errors in their experiments. However, further research and development are needed to effectively address the challenges posed by noise and errors in quantum computing.

Despite these challenges, the ability of quantum computers to effectively solve complex problems that elude classical computers opens up vast possibilities for various fields. As further advancements are made in the field of quantum computing, it is expected that these powerful machines will revolutionize industries and accelerate scientific breakthroughs in the coming years.