Article About New Developments in Quantum Mechanics

I just saw this topic and will withdraw my PNT and put it here.
I was reading Discover Magazine a few days ago and found a reference to Google Quantum Computer Studies. Probing further, I found the same information repeated here.
This was the basic fact presented:

quote:

---

Our Sycamore processor takes about 200 seconds to sample one instance of a quantum circuit a million timesour benchmarks currently indicate that the equivalent task for a state-of-the-art classical supercomputer would take approximately 10,000 years. This dramatic increase in speed compared to all known classical algorithms is an experimental realization of quantum supremacy8—14 for this specific computational task, heralding a much-anticipated computing paradigm.

---

Though the quantum computers are currently unstable enough for long term reliability, the glitches are being ironed out. Does anyone here know any more about this technology?

Thanks for that link. I now have a better grasp of the challenges.

quote:

---

And one day, perhaps decades from now, quantum computers with many millions of qubits could undermine the widely used encryption technique based on factoring very large numbers. Anyone with a sufficiently powerful quantum computer could then steal credit card numbers and other sensitive data sent over the internet. As a result, we may need to use new quantum techniques to keep our information safe (SN: 10/15/16, p. 13).

---

I'm intrigued, but don't really understand encryption technology, to begin with. Frankly, I never have really understood computers except that they were getting faster and better. I will never forget my fascination with calculators and how fat they could solve math problems.

quote:

---

the team is now setting its sights on another goal: a technique known as quantum error correction that would tame the mistakes that do slip through. By combining several qubits into one effective qubit, researchers could detect when an error occurs and fix it.

---

And that sounds more useful and solid.
The articles sum up these latest results:

quote:

---

Whether it’s here or just around the corner, quantum supremacy has been compared to the Wright brothers’ first flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C., in 1903. Airplanes became a reality but weren’t practically useful yet the milestone still made the history books. In the same vein, quantum computers haven’t yet achieved their revolutionary potential.

---

Does anybody else speculate on the advances (and challenges) that this speed and complexity of computing power will lead to?Edited by Thugpreacha, : No reason given.Edited by Thugpreacha, : revised focus