Software for the quantum computer – Technical Weekly

 Leendert van der Ent | Thursday, September 3rd, 2015
ICT, R & amp; R & amp; D, Mathematics & amp; Physics

• Research QuSoft

 

• This year started

 

Worldwide, research into quantum computer. But few researchers focus on the software to run on it. Harry Buhrman, professor of computer science at the University of Amsterdam and at the Centre of Mathematics & amp; Informatica (CWI), is planning to introduce this year with the new research QuSoft change that. Intended annual budget: € 3 million

Buhrman:. “The promise of quantum computer is dizzying. Meet you at three hundred quantum bits (qubits) that simultaneously one and zero can be (superposition), you will get more opportunities than there are molecules in the universe. But if you look at outcomes, is called superposition piece. You destroy all outcomes except one. Repeated experiments can therefore give different results and you do not want. “Software can solve this in some cases. “With interference on the superposition can reinforce desired calculations and unwanted peter out, just as anti-noise filters out sound waves.

This makes the quantum computer are not suitable for all questions. “QuSoft browses through the applications for which quantum computer is compatible. In the research line few qubit applications’ we judge what is possible with ten to seventy qubits. It can run existing algorithms or that are suitable for this? The next question is: what are we going to do in five years with a hundred qubits? The quantum computer is a boulder in the decomposition of numbers into prime factors and probably also in materials for high-temperature superconductivity. Furthermore, it is largely a mystery.

By decomposing into primes you can crack the most current encryption methods. A significant software challenge is therefore to develop new quantum encryption. “Then comes the ‘quantum crypto group’ focus. A final line of research is quantum architectures’ that focuses on the layers between hardware and applications, these will largely determine the success of quantum computers.

University of Amsterdam, VU, the CWI and the Amsterdam Science Park support QuSoft initiative and there is support from Europe. “Because there is little concern for the software offers QuSoft opportunities for the Netherlands. Why quantum computer Microsoft would not come from the Netherlands? We here are well positioned to realize this, “says Buhrman.