How IBM built its new ‘tech-baby’: the most powerful quantum computer in the world

By Jean-Jacques DeLisle, contributing writer

Quantum computing may sound like something from a popular animated series involving a mad scientist, but this fantastical concept is becoming a reality, thanks to IBM. On November 10, IBM announced two new quantum processor upgrades for the IBM Q, an industry-first quantum computer for early-access commercial systems and science. These enhancements present a rapid advancement in quantum hardware as they continue to push for progress across the entire quantum computing field. IBM primarily focuses on the quantum systems, its software, applications, and future implications. However, the most intriguing part of these quantum computers is how IBM has designed and manufactured them. 

Image source:IBM.

Unlike a typical household computer that essentially utilizes the same decades-old technique for processing information, IBM’s new quantum ‘tech-baby’ computer harnesses the complexities of quantum mechanics to produce faster computing than a run-of-the-mill computer could ever do.

According to IBM, “Quantum computers will deliver solutions to important problems where patterns cannot be found and the number of possibilities that you need to explore to get to the answer are too enormous ever to be processed by classical computers.” It’s a pretty bold statement, but it’s not unbelievable.

Quantum computing can more holistically conquer new types of algorithms, develop the means to process difficult mathematical problems, and interpret indecipherable information. IBM said that, one day, IBM Q may lead to revolutionary breakthroughs in material manipulation, the discovery of new drugs and medicine, any type of hardware/software systems, and artificial intelligence.

Standard computers encode information in bits that can take the value of 1 or 0, or binary code. The two-number codes behave like a power lever, turning on or off electrical signals. Instead, the concept of quantum computers uses qubits, which operate according to two key principles of quantum physics: superposition and entanglement. Superposition means that each qubit can portray itself as if it were a 0 and a 1 simultaneously. The state of one qubit, either being represented as a 1, a 0, or both can depend on the state of another using the entanglement principle. This means that superpositioned qubits can correlate with each other by using each of these two principles. The qubits are then able to act as highly sophisticated switches, enabling the quantum computers to accomplish difficult, or even impossible, tasks that were previously unheard of.

Client systems with 20 qubits are currently ready for use and the next-generation IBM Q system is in development: the first working 50-qubit processor prototype. IBM Q computers will help chemists, doctors, scientists, and even teachers all over the world to a degree that not many other forms of advancements in technology can compete with. IBM expands its open-source quantum software package QISKit that offers the world’s most advanced ecosystem for quantum computing that is available on IBM’s website for testing.