Real-world Applications You’ll Study in a Quantum Computing Course
⚛️ 1. Cryptography and Cybersecurity Shor’s Algorithm threatens RSA encryption by efficiently factoring large integers. Quantum key distribution (QKD) (e.g., BB84 protocol) ensures secure communication. Post-quantum cryptography is also studied as a defense against quantum attacks. 🧠 Real-world impact: Critical for national security, banking systems, and secure communication. 🧬 2. Drug Discovery and Molecular Simulation Simulating molecules and chemical reactions using quantum chemistry. Solving the Schrödinger equation for complex molecules more accurately than classical methods. 🧪 Use cases: Accelerating discovery in pharmaceuticals, such as protein folding, enzyme activity, and new materials. 📊 3. Optimization Problems Quantum algorithms like Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) and Grover’s Algorithm help solve large-scale optimization problems. Applications in logistics, finance, energy grids, and supply chain management. 📦 Example: Optimizing deliver...