Quantum Supremacy
Quantum supremacy is a concept in quantum computing that refers to the point at which a quantum computer can solve a computational problem that is believed to be infeasible for classical computers to solve within a reasonable timeframe. It represents a significant milestone in the development of quantum computing and demonstrates the potential computational power of quantum systems.
The term "quantum supremacy" was coined by John Preskill in 2012 and gained prominence when Google announced in 2019 that they had achieved quantum supremacy using their quantum processor named Sycamore. The Google team claimed to have performed a specific computational task, called a random circuit sampling problem, in approximately 200 seconds using their quantum processor, which they estimated would take the most powerful classical supercomputers thousands of years to solve.
The achievement of quantum supremacy is not about solving practical problems with immediate real-world applications. Instead, it aims to demonstrate that a quantum computer can perform a specific computational task significantly faster than classical computers, highlighting the potential superiority of quantum systems for certain types of calculations.
Quantum supremacy is considered a crucial milestone because it signifies a shift in the capabilities of computing systems. It opens up possibilities for solving complex optimization problems, simulating quantum systems, factoring large numbers, and other tasks that are intractable for classical computers. However, it's important to note that practical applications of quantum computing are still in the early stages of development, and there are numerous challenges to overcome before quantum computers can solve meaningful, real-world problems at scale.
In summary, quantum supremacy represents the point at which a quantum computer can outperform classical computers on a specific computational task, showcasing the potential of quantum systems for certain types of calculations. It marks an important milestone in the advancement of quantum computing, but practical applications and widespread use of quantum computers are still a work in progress.
