IonQ’s record-breaking quantum computer Forte Enterprise was unveiled on December 5, 2024 in its data center at Arlesheim, Switzerland. A major development in Europe’s quantum-computing, the Forte Enterprise has hit the milestone of #AQ 36. To put this in perspective, a quantum computer with this level of power can consider more than 68 billion possibilities simultaneously. With this, IonQ expanded their global presence to Europe ,and is becoming a major company in the world of quantum computing. It has the potential to become the leading company in the field of Quantum computing considering they have already revolutionized the power of Quantum computers.
The difference between a Classical computer and a Quantum computer is how they store data. A classical computer stores data by using bits which are either 1 or 0 called like a light bulb that is either on or off. Quantum computers are a lot more complicated, they use qubits which are units of information that use 1 and 0 at the same time like a lightbulb which is on and off concurrently. They do this by exploiting the quantum mechanical phenomena. In simple terms, the quantum mechanical phenomena refers to the unique behavior of atoms and subatomic particles like them being in multiple states at the same time (superposition). Fully realized quantum computers are made to be able to solve issues that even modern supercomputers can’t do. They could solve issues that would take classical computers millennia in minutes. Quantum computers work by using qubits. However, qubits are pointless without quantum gates. Quantum Gates are a series of fundamental logic questions that are used to do quantum calculations. Qubits properties are then connected . Simply, this allows the qubits to affect each other even when they are separated allowing for the quantum computer to process through vast amounts of information quickly. Then, the qubits are measured which means that they force the qubit into a conclusive state of either 1 and 0. The results are then processed to provide the solution to the problem that they were used to solve.
Quantum computing has made many contributions to society including improving cryptography, expanding AI, helping create more effective energy sources, and predicting the outcomes of the stock market. Cryptography, also known as cyber security, has been one of the most affected fields by quantum computers. One way that quantum computers affect the world of cybersecurity is by helping to detect potential cyber attacks early. This will help make sure that no significant damage is done by the cyber attack Another way that quantum computers help change cybersecurity is the new protections when it comes to encrypted communications. The quantum key distribution, or QKD for short, helps secure the communication between two individuals ,but it could also be used to decode messages. QKD encrypted messages are theoretically undecodable which is a huge breakthrough in the field of cybersecurity. However, there is a negative in the field of quantum cryptography. This is individuals using quantum computers to hack systems. Due to quantum computers being so powerful, quantum computers computers can efficiently hack traditional encryption algorithms such as RSA comprising security traditionally encrypted communications, data storage, and transcriptions. It can even hack key exchange matters which have been widely used to help encrypt communications. The solution to these problems is to establish another wall of encryption that would protect against cybersecurity on top of the traditional encryption that protects against classical computer hacking. Another field that quantum computers have affected is AI by expanding the abilities of AI. Quantum computers do this by eliminating limitations that AI have. AI can now store more data, process more complex data, and solve problems faster. Researchers have found use in the now quantum computer enhanced AI by using it to help them research faster and get adequate results. In the Cleveland clinic, they used quantum computing AI to help them predict protein structures. This allowed them to predict the folding of the Zika virus protein quicker and more efficiently than the most advanced classical computers on the market. Quantum computers also helped to revolutionize the field of energy. Quantum computers help to simulate the properties of interacting atoms. MIT news believes that this could lead to the design of better superconductors, semiconductors, and insulators which would revolutionize electronics. Professor Babak has discovered that if they could develop materials that could develop materials that could superconductors at room temperature that they could use quantum computers to make exponentially energy-efficient electronics and powerful magnetic applications like MRI’s. The numerous possibilities of quantum computers in the field of energy that have been yet to be discovered would revolutionize the electronics that we possess at the current time. The final big contribution that quantum computing makes is in the stock market. Quantum computing in the world of stocks has been rapidly rising and has been effectively predicting stock markets. It does this by effectively analyzing historical trends, current market trends, and real-time sentiment analysis to predict which stocks are going to rise and which stocks are going to fall. Quantum computers are great at recognizing complex patterns that mimic the stock market and can analyze vast amounts of data in mere seconds. It also helps integrate social media analysis to predict the stock market as social media has a huge impact on the stock market.
As seen above, the possibilities that quantum computers bring are endless and will revolutionize the technology industry in the world. IonQ’s record breaking quantum computer can revolutionize many industries. Another thing that the new supercomputer did was to help IonQ gain fame as can be seen by its stock trends. IonQ stocks started at a mere $10 ,and even dropped to $3 in December 2022. Today however IonQ’s stock price is not at $33. For the average European citizen, IonQ will now be able to provide service from its data center in Switzerland. The European quantum computer was a great step for IonQ and will help them become a multinational company.
Written by Samarth Irani
