Running calculations and being at the center of the entire industry, computers have everything to offer in today’s fast-paced world. On the other side, with data and computation growing in magnitude so fast, classical computing has found its limits. Enter the stage facing supercomputer, the next-gen marvel - the quantum computer.

In this blog, we will cover:

• What is a quantum computer?

• In which way is it different from a classical and super computer?

• Supercomputer versus quantum computer: Which helps in the real world?

• Where is the future of computing headed?

What is a Quantum Computer?

A quantum computer is one class of computers capable of applying quantum mechanics to the processing of information. Unlike classical computers that use bits or 0 and 1, the quantum computer uses qubits that can be in both 0 and 1 or states simultaneously, which is called superposition.

Another most powerful tool used in quantum computing is called entanglement, where qubits get entwined, which allows performing complex calculations much faster than the best classical computers available today.

Key Features of Quantum Computers:

• Qubit-based computation

• Uses superposition and entanglement

• Can tackle problems insoluble by classical computing

• Currently experimental and early in their commercialization path

What is a Supercomputer?

A supercomputer is of highest rank in the computer ranks, meant to make massive calculations with very high speed. It has thousands to millions of classic CPUs/GPU working in parallel.

Mainly, supercomputers are used for:

• Climate modeling

• Genomics analysis

• Drug discovery

• Nuclear science, space research, and weather forecasting simulations

Basic Features of Supercomputers:

• Measured in FLOPS: Floating Point Operation Per Second.

• Handle very large data sets

• Constructed with classical computing technology

Supercomputer vs Quantum Computer: Key Differences

Where is Quantum Computation Used?

Although still in development, it looks to be promising in:

• Cryptography: Breaking encryption or making unbreakable ones

• Pharmaceuticals: Modeling complex molecules for new drugs

• Financial Modeling: Risk Analysis, and High Frequency Trading

• AI & Machine Learning: Solving Optimization Problems Faster

Will Quantum Computers Replace Supercomputers?

Well, not entirely-for now, at least.

Supercomputers are still needed for many real-world problems whose solution works with classical logic and high-speed processing. Quantum computers, however, work well in certain areas such as quantum simulations, factoring large numbers, or solving complex optimization problems.

So think it this way:

• Supercomputers are like Formula 1 cars: extremely fast and absolutely optimized for today’s roads.

• Quantum computers may be flying vehicles: something of a revolution, still figuring out how to ascend.

• Future of Computing: Classical + Quantum Collaboration

A hybrid is not an either-or; hence supercomputers and quantum computers come together to provide solutions that are too intricate to be solved quickly and efficiently.

Conclusion:

​Quantum computing is not of science fiction it is a scientific fact. Supercomputers would remain the kings of high-performance classical computation for now whereas quantum computers are paving the way toward a new world of problem solving.