Starts With A Bang Podcast #101 – Quantum Computing – Big Think

Starts with a bang – January 6, 2024

Here in the 21st century, quantum computing is quickly moving from a dream to a reality. But what is hype and what is actually true?

This illustration shows Rigetti's widely used Novera quantum computer with nine superconducting physical cubits inside. The big hope is that by scaling to a larger number of physical qubits, quantum advantage will be an achievable milestone in the relatively near future.

The central theses

• While normal “classical” computers encode information using bits, with binary states of “0” and “1” determining how calculations are possible at a fundamental level, quantum computers are different.

• They also allow for “mixed” states, where things are not just either “0” or “1” but can be a simultaneous superposition of both, allowing not only new states but also new operators.

• Many people mistakenly believe that quantum computers will one day replace classical computers, but this is far from the truth. Break through the quantum computing hype and find out what's really true!

Happy New Year everyone and with a new year comes a spectacular new podcast! Normally we cover a complicated and underrated aspect of astrophysics on the podcast, but I had the opportunity to bring a real expert in the field of quantum computing and I just couldn't pass it up.

You've probably heard a lot of noise about quantum computers and the benefits they will bring, with buzzwords like “P=NP”, “quantum supremacy” and “quantum advantage”, but also a lot of what you'll probably hear about it Hype and not real science. Good thing I called Dr. Riccardo Manenti was able to win us as a guest for our podcast!

Riccardo is the author of a cutting-edge textbook on quantum computing, holds a PhD in quantum computing from Oxford and has been working for the quantum computing startup Rigetti for several years. Join him as he helps demystify some of the recent advances and problems, on the cutting edge of this promising new arena of physics, here on the Starts With A Bang podcast!