Working with IBM Qiskit SDK, the Toolkit for Quantum Computing

Quantum computing is miles ahead of conventional computing when it comes to speed and ability. The IBM Qiskit SDK is a free and open source toolkit for quantum computing, and provides a set of handy tools for developers working with quantum computers.

- Dr Gaurav Kumar

Quantum computing uses quantum mechanics principles to do certain tasks quicker than conventional computers. Although quantum computing is still in its infancy, it has the potential to transform industries such as cryptography, materials research, and drug discovery.

In a quantum computer, the fundamental unit of information is called a qubit (short for ‘quantum bit’). Unlike traditional bits, which are restricted to a value of 0 or 1, qubits can occur in a superposition of 0 and 1. This superposition characteristic is what allows quantum computers to outperform conventional computers in terms of exponential speed. Qubits have another unique quantum feature known as entanglement. This is a phenomenon in which two or more qubits get coupled in such a way that their state can be correlated even though they are physically apart. Superconducting circuits, entrapped ions, and quantum dots are just a few of the physical systems that may be utilised to construct qubits. In terms of scaling, coherence time (how long a qubit can keep its quantum state), and error rates, these physical systems have various strengths and limitations.

The need for quantum computing stems from the fact that some computational problems are exceedingly difficult to solve with traditional computers. These issues frequently include complicated systems such as molecules, substances, and subatomic particles, and thus need a large amount of processing power to solve.