Quantum computing has long been a topic of fascination and excitement, and promises to solve complex problems far beyond the capabilities of classical computers. As we head into 2025, this transformative technology is poised to take a big step forward, moving from physical qubits to logical qubits. This change marks a pivotal moment in the quantum industry's journey, setting the stage for exciting advances across various industries and addressing technical challenges that have, until now, limited the potential of quantum computers.
Predict the jump from physical to logical qubits
Similar to how classical computers use bits to store information, quantum computers rely on the use of physical qubits to store quantum information. Unfortunately, physical qubits are sensitive to environmental noise, making them error-prone and not suitable for solving large computational problems. This limitation can be overcome by using quantum error correction, which encodes information into multiple physical qubits to create more reliable and error-resistant units called logical qubits. This transition will allow quantum computers to address real-world problems, moving the technology from experimental applications to large-scale practical applications.
To effectively create many logical qubits, quantum computing hardware must incorporate multiple advanced technologies and algorithms and provide sufficient reliable computing resources in a sustainable manner. Recent technical advances in the quantum industry, high-profile industry partnerships, and a growing number of scientists and engineers working on quantum error correction have accelerated the timeline for creating logical qubits much sooner than expected.
Product Director, Atom Computing.
What the shift to logical qubits will allow
The transition to logical qubits in 2025 will dramatically improve the capabilities of quantum computers, with far-reaching implications across multiple sectors.
Quantum chemistry is expected to be one of the first applications of quantum computing that takes advantage of logical qubits to simulate chemical reactions much more accurately than classical computers. The first wave of studies will be highly scientific, but there will be a rapid turning point in exploring real-world applications that will have tangible economic and social value.
Another field that will benefit from the transition to logic qubits is renewable energy and battery development. By simulating quantum physical processes, such as the behavior of electrons in new materials, quantum computers will help accelerate the development of more efficient batteries and energy storage solutions. This could lead to advances in electric vehicles, renewable energy networks and the search for sustainable energy solutions.
The list of applications expands further as the number of logical qubits and quality increase. For example, accelerated exploration of vast chemical spaces for potential drug identification for pharmaceutical applications, modeling of complex systems in the financial sector, optimization of interconnected supply chain problems for the manufacturing industry, modeling of physical properties of new materials and improving machine learning performance. applications. All of this will be accelerated by the availability of logic qubits, allowing users to run deeper and more complex algorithms than before.
Aside from the growing interest in quantum computing applications, a key issue that has become increasingly prominent is the question of the sustainability of quantum technologies themselves. As we have seen with advances in AI and data centers, the physical and ecological footprint of digital technologies can be drastic, and quantum computing will have to find its place in a much more environmentally friendly way. Sustainably scalable modalities, such as neutral atom computing, are gaining popularity in the quantum field due to their rapid advances in technical performance and relatively small ecological footprint: a large-scale neutral atom system fits inside a conference room typical and consumes less energy. than a single data center rack.
2025: a big leap forward
As we approach the year 2025, the quantum computing industry is on the verge of a significant transformation. The move from physical to logical qubits will be a game-changer and address the error rate and scalability challenges that have held back quantum computing for years. With forward-thinking companies leading the way, the next generation of quantum systems will be more stable, sustainable and powerful than ever.
This transition will open the door to a new era of quantum computing, in which problems that previously had no solution will be addressed head-on. By the end of 2025, we may witness quantum computing move from theoretical promise to practical reality, transforming industries and reshaping the future of technology.
We have rated the best business laptops.
This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel, where we feature the best and brightest minds in today's tech industry. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing, find out more here: