Quantum Computing and Quantum AI

Quantum computing, in this era where technology is growing at a very significant pace, also stands at a place where it promises to revolutionize computational power and capabilities. We found Quantum computing at the intersection of Quantum physics and  Computer science. It can only be understood with a deep knowledge of mathematics, theoretically. These are the areas people often find themself exhaustive to read or study, so the topic becomes taboo to discuss from there on. In contrast, if we try to understand the significance of these mathematical equations we will realize how beautiful and exciting these equations are which are telling us so many things that we can't understand, yet. Quantum AI is yet another term discussed by many Quantum and AI Enthusiast is nothing but an intersection of Quantum Computing and AI technology, this offers unprecedented opportunities for innovation and advancement.

 Fiction and Facts about Quantum Computers

Glorification of Quantum technology in the fictional world is nothing new, we have seen the same in the past with various other subjects too. Where the fiction world allows characters to loop in time and all the possibilities we are not allowed to do so, considering the restraints we have in the practical world. Fiction often takes the tech of the current world and amplifies its capabilities to attract more audiences, whereas the reality of these innovations in research laboratories is way slower. The fact seems boring but it is the way going forward, fiction seems interesting and that is the way to motivate.

History of Quantum Technology

The history of quantum technology traces back to the early 20th century with pioneering work by scientists like Max Planck, Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, and Erwin Schrödinger. This work laid the foundation for the fundamentals of quantum mechanics. The practical journey towards building quantum computers began in the 1980s and has since accelerated with advancements in quantum algorithms, error correction, and hardware development. Richard Feynman was the first one to propose the concept of a quantum computer. Later on, after further advancement was done, people were writing different algorithms for these quantum computers. Peter Shor was the first to introduce Shor’s algorithm, which efficiently factors integers into their prime components. Following that, Lov Grover developed an algorithm known as the Grover’s algorithm. The First Implementation of Shor’s algorithm was done in the 2000s, Here D-wave along with Stanford University built a 16-qubit quantum computer.

India's Presence in the Global Quantum Race

India has emerged as a significant player in the global quantum race, with both governmental and private initiatives gaining momentum. Institutes like the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are actively conducting research in quantum computing and quantum communication. Collaborative efforts between academia, research labs, and industry are paving the way for India to make substantial contributions to this transformative technology.

Quantum Technology is based on the principles of Quantum mechanics developed in the early 20th century to describe nature at the scale of atoms and elementary particles. Using quantum superposition, a set of unbreakable codes, or super-speedy information processing, quantum computers are able to mimic several classical computers working in parallel. Quantum technology is manifested through applications in secure communication, disaster management through better prediction, computing, simulation, chemistry, healthcare, cryptography, and imaging among others. Scientists have expanded quantum theory to understand biological phenomena such as smell, consciousness, enzyme catalysis, photosynthesis, avian navigation like that of the Robin, the origin of life, and the effects of coronavirus. 

Some stalwart quantum Indians include Professor Satyendra Nath Bose, Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, and Professor Meghnad Saha. India is currently at the forefront of tapping the second quantum revolution through massive investments in the field. Union Budget 2020-21 proposed to spend ₹8,000 crore ($ 1.2 billion) on the newly launched National Quantum Mission (NQM) and ₹ 3660 Crore for the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS). Advanced Quantum technology frontier are QuIC Lab, TIFAC, IISc, ISRO, DRDO, IIT Bombay, TIFR, and CDAC. 

What is Quantum Computing?

For people who are new to quantum computing and want to learn on what is quantum computing, the answer is simple; Quantum computing is a multidisciplinary field comprising aspects of computer science, physics, and mathematics that utilizes quantum mechanics to solve certain complex problems faster than on classical computers. The field of quantum computing includes hardware research and application development. Quantum computers can solve certain types of problems faster than classical computers by taking advantage of quantum mechanical effects, such as superposition and quantum interference. Some applications where quantum computers can provide such a speed boost include machine learning (ML), optimization, and simulation of physical systems. Eventual use cases could be portfolio optimization in finance or the simulation of chemical systems, solving problems that are currently impossible for even the most powerful supercomputers on the market. Quantum computing uses specialized technology—including computer hardware and algorithms that take advantage of quantum mechanics—to solve complex problems that classical computers or supercomputers can’t solve, or can’t solve quickly enough.

Fundamental Concepts Of Quantum Computing

How are qubits different from classical bits?

In classical computing, a bit is an electronic signal that is either on or off. The value of the classical bit can thus be one (on) or zero (off). However, because the qubit is based on the laws of quantum mechanics it can be placed in a superposition of states.

What are the principles of quantum computing?

A quantum computer works using quantum principles. Quantum principles require a new dictionary of terms to be fully understood, terms that include superposition, entanglement, and decoherence. Let's understand these principles below.

Superconductors

Your desktop computer likely uses a fan to get cold enough to work. Similarly, quantum processors need to be very cold–about a hundredth of a degree above absolute zero—to avoid “decoherence,” or retain their quantum states. To achieve this, we use super-cooled super-fluids. At these ultra-low temperatures, certain materials exhibit an important quantum mechanical effect: electrons move through them without resistance. This makes them "superconductors."

When electrons pass through superconductors they match up, forming "Cooper pairs." These pairs can carry a charge across barriers, or insulators, through a process known as quantum tunneling. Two superconductors placed on either side of an insulator form a Josephson junction.

Entanglement

Quantum entanglement occurs when two systems link so closely that knowledge about one gives you immediate knowledge about the other, no matter how far apart they are. Quantum processors can draw conclusions about one particle by measuring another one. For example, they can determine that if one qubit spins upward, the other will always spin downward, and vice versa. Quantum entanglement allows quantum computers to solve complex problems faster.

When a quantum state is measured, the wave function collapses and you measure the state as either a zero or a one. In this known or deterministic state, the qubit acts as a classical bit. Entanglement is the ability of qubits to correlate their state with other qubits.

Interference

In an environment of entangled qubits placed into a state of superposition, there are waves of probabilities. These are the probabilities of the outcomes of a measurement of the system. These waves can build on each other when many of them peak at a particular outcome, or cancel each other out when peaks and troughs interact. These are both forms of interference.

Computation on a quantum computer works by preparing a superposition of all possible computational states. A quantum circuit, prepared by the user, uses interference selectively on the components of the superposition according to an algorithm. Many possible outcomes are canceled out through interference, while others are amplified. The amplified outcomes are the solutions to the computation. 

Decoherence

Decoherence is the loss of the quantum state in a qubit. Environmental factors, like radiation, can cause the quantum state of the qubits to collapse. A large engineering challenge in constructing a quantum computer is designing the various features that attempt to delay the decoherence of the state, such as building specialty structures that shield the qubits from external fields.

Need for Quantum AI Software

It's time to understand how and why, this Schrodinger's cat can be a pain to understand so many times. 

1. Complexity of Quantum Mechanics

• Quantum mechanics is described mathematically using complex numbers and operators, making it significantly more abstract and challenging than classical physics. Concepts such as wavefunctions, Hamiltonians, and quantum operators are central to its formalism.

• Quantum mechanics introduces the concept that particles, such as electrons or photons, exhibit both wave-like and particle-like behavior. This duality challenges our classical intuition, where objects are typically either waves or particles, but not both simultaneously.

• In quantum mechanics, certain physical quantities, such as energy levels in an atom or the angular momentum of particles, are quantized. This means they can only take on discrete, specific values rather than a continuous range of values as seen in classical physics.

2. Abstract nature of Quantum concepts

• Quantum entanglement describes a phenomenon where particles become correlated in such a way that the state of one particle instantaneously influences the state of another, regardless of the distance between them. This non-local correlation challenges classical notions of locality and independence.

• Quantum mechanics predicts that particles can pass through energy barriers that would be classically impossible to overcome. This phenomenon is crucial in explaining radioactive decay, electron transport in semiconductors, and other quantum processes.

3. Limited access to Quantum resources

• Cloud-based Access: There are some companies and research institutes that offer access to quantum computers on cloud-based platforms. User can start using such platforms and running their quantum algorithm and experience the learning without any need for physical hardware.

• Open-Source Tools and Software: To bridge the barrier between researchers and developers, Open-source tools, software libraries, and educational resources are developed through many initiatives, Quant Pracar being one of them, which we will talk about in this article further below.

• Education and Training: Many universities and organizations have already started expanding their educational programs and workshops to train the next generation of quantum scientists and engineers. Quant pracar is one such contribution that will help people get familiar with these new technologies.

• Government and Industry Investments: Governments and private companies are investing in quantum research and development, we have already discussed how GOI is seeing this in our future development point of view and their implementation. Globally companies such as IBM, Google, etc are doing a great job in terms of investments and innovation.

Quant Pracar, the world's first educational application powered by Quantum Artificial Intelligence developed by Paanduv R&D. Designed to support both academic research and a wide range of industries, from healthcare to banking, Quant Pracar is a versatile tool for advancing quantum knowledge and applications. Our mission is to democratize quantum computing, ignite global enthusiasm, and establish India as a forefront leader in quantum computing and software development.

Key Features

• Variety of Quantum-AI Algorithms: Choose from a diverse range of algorithms including QSVC, QNN, and more. Tailor your approach to suit your unique data and problem.

• Intuitive Graphical User Interface: Dedicated User Interface specifically designed to Educate people during implementation with the help of flowcharts.

• Training and Model Creation: Train your datasets with ease and create powerful models using our intuitive interface. Take control of your AI journey and harness the potential of quantum algorithms.

• Hyperparameter Tuning: Fine-tune your models with precision using our hyperparameter tuning capabilities. Optimize performance and unlock new insights from your data.

• Real-Time Quantum Circuit Visualization: Witness the magic of quantum computing in action with our real-time quantum circuit visualization. Gain a deeper understanding and insight into the inner workings of quantum algorithms.

Dedicated Prediction Window: Make predictions effortlessly with a dedicated prediction window. Streamline your workflow and make informed decisions with just one click. 

Customizable Options: 

• Classical Optimizers: Select from a range of existing classical optimizers and their repetitions.

• Encoding Feature Maps: Select from a range of existing Encoding Feature Maps and their repetitions, 

• A number of iterations of the model.

• Datasets.

• Datasets Filtration within the software.

• Select Test/Train Split within the software.

• Select a Random State to easily reproduce results.

The application offers unparalleled control over the learning journey. Users can tailor the training process by customizing every aspect of the model to align with preferences. The ability to choose from a diverse range of classical optimizers, feature maps, and iterations of the application provides flexibility and full control to the user.