Quantum State of Mind

Great thing about working in a technology company is that every year you have at least two or three mindblowing research areas starting to be widely recognized as a "the next big thing" that everyone whats to explore and understand. Just in last 365 days, we saw emerging topics of artificial Intelligence for the masses, blockchain topics where everyone wants to get rich over the night and lately... quantum computing in your living room.

Now, before sharing some interesting activities, links and topics, let me admit: quantum computing is indeed a fascinating area of development. Everybody is investing into it and everyone wants to create a new blue ocean based on it - and yet, only few companies are really pushing this one into the practical and useable reality.

Microsoft (where I work for quite some time) is not exception to that. We are looking at the opportunities where we can bring the QQ to the masses, and here is how we are looking at it:

• "Journey to Quantum Computing", Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO, Keynote @MSIgnite Conference, Sept 2017
• "Microsoft Machanics: Top 3 Breaktroughs in Quantum Computing" Krysta Svore, Principal Research, Quantum Computing
• "Future Decoded", Microsoft Sessions on Quantum Computing (5 great sessions on QQ)

And for those that are more "let me see how I can do this" oriented, here is Q SDK recently published by Microsoft. The quantum development kit contains the following components:

• Q# language and compiler Q# is a domain-specific programming language used for expressing quantum algorithms. It is used for writing sub-programs that execute on an adjunct quantum processor under the control of a classical host program and computer.
• Q# standard library The library contains operations and functions that support both the classical language control requirement and the Q# quantum algorithms.
• Local quantum machine simulator A full state vector simulator optimized for accurate vector simulation and speed.
• Quantum computer trace simulator The trace simulator does not simulate the quantum environment like the local quantum simulator. It is used to estimate the resources required to execute a quantum program and also allow faster debugging of the non-Q# control code.
• Visual Studio extension The extension contains templates for Q# files and projects as well as syntax highlighting. The extension also installs and creates automatic hooks to the compiler.

Now, it looks like a new playground field :) Look at this video to understand more about Quantum Development Kit. I Know many of you will deep dive and Research this interesting area and follow Microsoft Quantum Computing page. Lets stay in touch - share how you are progressing and what are you discovering along the way.