The Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute has begun building the region’s first quantum supercomputer which is seen as a significant achievement for the Arab world.
As machines, Quantum computers use the properties of quantum physics to store data and perform computations and are extremely advantageous in outperforming best supercomputers.
Abu Dhabi is building the quantum computer in collaboration with Barcelona-based Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech which can prove invaluable in diverse fields — from discovering new medicines to designing better batteries and helping in multiple artificial intelligence applications.
The Quantum Research Centre (QRC) is spearheading the advanced technology project.
For the computers, two helium dilution refrigerators arrived from Finland earlier this week in massive wooden crates, an essential component that uses helium isotopes to cool the quantum chips or the “brain” of the computer and maintain the quantum information.
A quantum computer uses quantum mechanics of ‘superposition’ and ‘entanglement’ to generate and manipulate subatomic particles like electrons or photons to create exponentially stronger processing powers.
It also helps perform complex calculations that would take much longer to solve even by the world’s most powerful classical supercomputers.
