Quantum Computing

 

Quantum Computing is currently a hot topic with expectations to revolutionize high performance computing in important applications such as optimization, quantum chemistry for material, catalyst and drug design, machine learning and many others. The core idea is to use quantum states with their special properties such as superposition and entanglement as the basis for information processing, thus achieving an exponential parallelism and memory boost for selected applications.

The state of the art is nicely summarized by Google's recent demonstration of a quantum processor prototype that can perform a computational task that is prohibitively expensive when performed on a supercomputer. Where the accuracy measure used is 0.1% on a scale of 0 to 1. This machine had 53 qubits, while the best understood applications today require millions of qubits.

Within Germany, the Rhineland has recently emerged as the region for quantum computing, with the Cluster of Excellence ML4Q and several EU flagship projects being the most visible manifestations. RWTH and Research Center Jülich are the players with the strongest technology-oriented track record and ambition.