The Current Landscape of Quantum Hardware Development - An Overview

Abstract

Quantum computing has developed since the 1980s, with significant progress in its theoretical and practical applications. A critical aspect of this field is quantum hardware development, which supports research and real-world applications. One notable example of quantum computing's potential is cryptography, where the RSA protocol has been employed to secure browsers and other internet applications. The private key of the RSA protocol is based on two prime numbers that are so large that even supercomputers cannot factor them to their prime factors in a reasonable amount of time. In 1994, Caltech alumnus Peter Shor proposed Shor's Algorithm, which exploits the unique properties of quantum computers to factorize large numbers quickly and efficiently [1, pp. 5–8]. Implementing this algorithm on quantum hardware would compromise the security of the RSA protocol. Quantum computing has been touted as revolutionary, but understanding the progress of different quantum hardware types is vital. This paper aims to analyze the types of quantum hardware and applications they are best suited for, presenting a comprehensive look into most quantum hardware in development. By understanding the current state of quantum hardware, we can gain valuable insights into the potential applications of quantum computing.