Quantum computers do not simply calculate faster. They follow different rules – the rules of quantum physics – and for certain problems those rules open up entirely new solutions.
Five questions, short answers
What is a qubit?
A classical bit is either 0 or 1. A qubit, the basic unit of a quantum computer, can be in a superposition of both states at once. Only when it is measured does it take a definite value.
What is entanglement?
Qubits can be linked so that their states can no longer be described separately: measuring one tells you something about the other. Entanglement lets a quantum computer process information in ways no classical computer can copy efficiently.
What are qubits made of?
There are several ways to build them. Munich Quantum Valley develops three in parallel: superconducting circuits cooled close to absolute zero, single neutral atoms held by laser light, and electrically charged atoms (ions) held in traps.
What will quantum computers be good for?
Promising areas include simulating molecules and materials, for example for new medicines or batteries, and hard optimisation problems in logistics or energy. Which applications pay off first is an active research question.
Why is it so hard to build one?
Qubits are extremely sensitive. Heat, vibration or stray fields disturb them and cause errors. Building larger machines therefore needs better hardware, precise control electronics and error correction – work that spans physics, engineering and computer science.
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