If recognize the term quantum computing, you fall within a very small group. There are many that believe this is a new technology, That remains the case even though the foundation for QC and the resulting research dates back to the 1970s. Many point to the early 80s when in 1982, when Richard Feynman, a Nobel prize-winning physicist, Richard Feynman thought up the idea of a quantum computer (QC).’ Why the big fuss? A quantum computer can solve some problems 100,000,000 times faster than conventional computing methods.!
Currently the QC market is very limited and there are very few players. D-Wave Systems(Link http://www.dwavesys.com ) has staked their claim that it is the first company to make a commercial quantum computer. In 2014, MIT Review reported (link http://www.dwavesys.com ) that Google had initiated an effort to build its their own quantum computer. IARPA (Link http://www.iarpa.gov/index.php/research-programs/quantum-programs-at-iarpa?highlight=WyJxdWFudHVtIiwiY29tcHV0aW5nIiwicXVhbnR1bSBjb21wdXRpbmciXQ==) — the intelligence community research arm, — is another major player in the quest to develop QC.
Advances in the field of quantum computing are becoming more regular these days. A few months back the University of New South Wales (UNSW) published a piece covering a recent breakthrough in the Journal of Nature. This breakthrough was called “a game changer.” Here is a link that talks about the breakthrough – http://phys.org/news/2015-10-crucial-hurdle-quantum.html .
The implications of QC on national security are significant. Fundamentally, QC will be able to solve problems that are extremely problematic for even the most advanced computers that are in operation today. That is why the Defense Advanced Research Projects AgencyDARPA is also involved. There are published reports that the National Security Agency has quantum computer work underway. If successful, the application of QC to encryption wcould allow them agency to break almost any form of encryption. The ability to break quantum encryption is still highly questionable. For those of you that might be interested, here is a very nice primer on quantum encryption – http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/everyday-myths/quantum-cryptology.htm that should answer most of your questions.
This is another area of technology where the leadership role of the United States is in questioned. Some say the U.S. is not a leader in quantum computing, with some pointing to Canada, China or and Australia as being in the lead. How big of a risk do you think that is?
