Quantum computing has been a hot topic amongst eager tech-savvy entrepreneurs and academics alike for decades. In recent years advances in nanofabrication techniques have made the concept of quantum computing a reality.
However, it remains to be seen which approach will yield the most commercially viable quantum computer – will it be superconducting systems, ion-traps, neutral atoms or something else?
Why is quantum computing desirable?
The first quantum computers already exist and some are even available for purchase or use online – so why has it not yet taken off?
All quantum computers can function only if they have the ability to create, maintain, and control qubits. What your computer uses as a qubit defines your modality of quantum computing, and each type of qubit has its own benefits and drawbacks.
Of all the problems that each modality faces, the chief issue holding them back is scalability. Great strides have been made in the maximum number of qubits that modern quantum computers can sustain, but the fact remains that we will not see the true benefits of quantum computing until large numbers of qubits can be produced, maintained, and interacted with.
