What’s So Great About Quantum Computing? A Q&A With NIST Theorist Alexey Gorshkov

He discusses efforts to design quantum computers and why we all should be excited about them.

View as a Web Page Taking Measure Blog What's So Great About Quantum Computing? A Q&A With NIST Theorist Alexey Gorshkov As the rise of quantum computers becomes the subject of more and more news articles — especially those that prophesy these devices' ability to crack the encryption that protects secure messages, such as our bank transfers — it's illuminating to speak with one of the quantum experts who is actually developing the ideas behind these as-yet-unrealized machines. Whereas ordinary computers work with bits of data that can be either 0 or 1, quantum computers work with bits — called qubits — that can be 0 and 1 simultaneously, enabling them to perform certain functions exponentially faster, such as trying out the different "keys" that can break encryption. Simple quantum computers already exist, but it has been extremely challenging to build powerful versions of them. That's because the quantum world is so delicate; the tiniest disturbances from the outside world, such as stray electrical signals, can cause a quantum computer to crash before it can carry out useful calculations. Read More IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Quantum Information Science: A Q&A With NIST's Carl Williams Sept. 25, 2018 Quantum information science will contribute to one of the next revolutions in computing, but realizing that promise will stretch our scientific understanding and technological skills to their limits. We sat down with NIST Physical Measurement Laboratory Acting Director Carl Williams to get his take on the potential and challenges of this disruptive new discipline. Read More

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