The D-Wave Two system in the D-wave shop... (via D-Wave Systems Inc)
Quantum computing is an intriguing concept. Using quantum bits, which can theoretically take the value of 1 and 0 at the same time, may be a little too much for most people to wrap their heads around. As a result, a computer using these mechanics to operate can also be a bit too much for some people to handle. D-Wave, a company based out of Burnaby, Canada has been in the business marketing quantum computers since 2011. However, due to the method used, known as adiabatic quantum computing, many critics have expressed doubts that the computer is actually harnessing the power of quantum computing.
Since quantum computing uses qubits, which work on the property of entanglement, it is not possible to directly measure their performance. Instead, it has to be indirectly shown which is exactly what was done at the Adiabatic Quantum Computing workshop back in March. In addition to this, D-Wave also had to show that this entanglement results in enhanced performance. Catherine McGeoch and colleagues from Amherst College in Massachusetts took a D-Wave Two computer and a high-end desktop computer and pitted the two against each other to solve an optimization problem. In addition, three of the leading algorithms used to solve the problem were used within the desktop computer.
It turns out the quantum computer crushed its competition in each trial. Each time they ran a trial, it took the D-Wave about a half second to equate the best results. On the other hand, it took the PC running with the best algorithm almost a half-hour to come up with the results. Furthermore, the computer's performance was tested with two other problems to solve. Each time the D-Wave came out on top solving the complex problems before its competition.
Nevertheless, some critics are still holding their grounds. They state that the competition was not fair due to the fact that the D-Wave was built to solve these exact problems. As a result, it will always hold an edge over normal desktops computers. In addition, some people state it still does not prove it uses the power of quantum computing. McGeoch was scheduled to present the results at this year's ACM International Conference on Computing Frontiers. It seems we will have to see what the ACM has to say about this.
C
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