By PC Deshmukh
The pioneering contributions of George Boole, Maurice Karnaugh, Claude Shannon, and Alan Turing have laid the groundwork for a transformative leap into the future. Over four decades ago, visionaries such as Richard Feynman, Paul Benioff, and David Deutsch set the stage for a new era in technology. Today, whether we realize it or not, quantum technologies—encompassing Quantum Computing, Quantum Communications, Quantum Sensing and Metrology, and Quantum Materials and Devices—have become integral to our daily lives. The ambitious National Quantum Mission initiated by the Government of India marks the dawn of a new age filled with possibilities.
While Newton’s laws offer a solid framework for understanding everyday phenomena, they fall short of explaining the complexities of macroscopic objects. This is where quantum theory, a monumental achievement by pioneers such as Planck, Einstein, Schrödinger, Heisenberg, and Dirac, comes into play. Distinguished scholars including Satyendranath Bose, C. V. Raman, and Meghnad Saha made significant contributions to its development, leading to the understanding of semiconductors and lasers and setting the stage for a societal revolution. Today, we are on the brink of another revolution as we begin to harness the quantum principle of superposition, which leads to the entanglement of objects. This ongoing transformation represents the burgeoning field of quantum sciences and technologies.
An algorithm, at its core, is a set of rules that processes inputs to produce outputs, performing computations that involve decision-making and data processing. Current computers use classical (Boolean) logic with bits (0 or 1), while quantum computers utilize quantum logic with qubits, which are quantum superpositions of 0 and 1. Quantum computing employs abstract mathematics but excels in describing nature, offering exceptional computational power. Although quantum computers are not expected to replace classical algorithms, they hold the potential to outperform classical machines in addressing the complex demands of our evolving world. Early quantum algorithms like the Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm (1992), Shor’s factorization scheme (1994), Simon’s algorithm (1994), and Grover’s search algorithm (1996) have paved the way for advanced schemes capable of tackling extremely complex problems.
The foundation for a quantum future was established a century ago, and we are now in a period of unprecedented technological innovation driven by quantum entanglement. This revolutionary technology promises wide-ranging applications, including efficient algorithms for drug discovery, indissoluble encryptions for information and wealth management, secure communication, and ultrafast sensors for rapid responses to unforeseen challenges.
Emerging quantum technologies are intrinsically interdisciplinary, necessitating that universities adapt and reinvent their curricula. Tomorrow’s professionals will employ novel tools and extraordinary ideas, making it essential for educational institutions to prepare them for this evolving landscape.
(The author is RV Chair Professor, Center for Quantum Sciences and Technologies, School of Computer Science and Engineering, RV University, Bengaluru)
