Quantum computing will provide breakthroughs in chemistry. How?

It is Expected that quantum computing will allow us to solve computational problems that cannot be solved by existing classical methods of computation. Currently, it is considered that the first discipline that will get a boost from quantum achievements, it's quantum chemistry. In 1982, physicist and Nobel laureate Richard Feynman observed that simulation, and then the analysis of molecules so complex case for digital computer becomes practically useless for these cases.

And the problem was not that the equations governing these simulations, was sophisticated, no. In fact, they were relatively simple and straightforward, and I knew about them for many years. The problem was that most scientists are interested in molecules containing hundreds of electrons, and each of these electrons interacting with every other electron in a quantum mechanical way — that has led to millions of interactions that could not handle even the most powerful computer.

Quantum computers

To overcome the quantum nature of these equations, Feynman proposed to create a quantum computer that will perform calculations based on the laws of quantum physics, as the answer. Unfortunately, such a precise manipulation of individual quantum objects was virtually impossible from a technical point of view. The joke, which managed to bore many over the last 35 years, was the fact that quantum computers "will in ten years."

Over the last couple of years what once was a distant dream that slowly became a reality. Quantum computers begin to appear, millions of programs running via the cloud, useful applications gain forms.

The Power of a quantum computer, we can approximately assess the number of qubits, or quantum bits: each qubit can represent both 1 and 0 simultaneously. There are several promising hardware approaches to quantum computing, including superconducting, ion trap, and a topological transistor. Each of them has pros and cons, but superconductors occupy the first place in terms of scalability. Google, IBM and Intel use this approach to create quantum processors ranging from 49 to 72 of qubits. The quality of a qubit is also constantly improving.

a Breakthrough in chemistry

Breakthrough scientists from the Center for quantum computation Cambridge and their partners from JSR Corp lies in the ability to simulate Multireference state molecules. Multireference state, it is often necessary to describe the "excited States" that appear when molecules interact.

The Reason is that such modeling is important, is that classical digital computers virtually nothing to do with Multireference States; in many cases, classical methods of computation, not only quantitatively, but also qualitatively unable to describe the electronic structure of molecules.

An Important problem that was recently solved was to find ways in which a quantum computer could efficiently perform calculations with the desired chemical accuracy for the real world. The program was started 20-Cubana processor IBM.

Why is chemistry was in the field that interest? Chemistry is one of the most profitable commercial applications for a number of reasons. Scientists expect to find more energy-efficient materials that can be used in batteries or solar panels. There are also environmental benefits: about two percent of the world's energy goes into the production of fertilizers which are terribly inefficient and can be improved by sophisticated chemical analysis.

Finally, there are applications in personalized medicine, with the ability to predict how pharmaceuticals will affect people based on their genetics. In the long run — the opportunity to develop a drug for a particular person to maximize the treatment and minimize side effects.

The CQC and JSR Corp were two strategies that have allowed scientists to achieve a breakthrough. First, they used a proprietary compiler CQC for the most efficient conversion of computer program instructions for manipulating the qubit. Such efficiency is particularly important in modern malakouti the car, in which each qubit important and necessary, but execution speed is critical.

Second, they used quantum machine learning, special subfield of machine learning which uses vector amplitude, and not just probability. Used the methods of quantum machine learning has been specially developed for malakouti quantum computers, with partial unloading with traditional processors.

In the next few years is expected to significantly improve the quantum both the hardware and software. As soon as the calculations become more accurate, more and more industries can benefit from the applications of quantum computers, including quantum chemistry. Gartner predicts that in four years 20% of corporations will have the budget for quantum computation. In ten years they will become an integral component of technology.

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