The Road to Useful Quantum Computers

Fuente: arXiv
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Bibliographische Detailangaben
Hauptverfasser: Proctor, Timothy, Blume-Kohout, Robin, Baczewski, Andrew
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2026
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author Proctor, Timothy
Blume-Kohout, Robin
Baczewski, Andrew
author_facet Proctor, Timothy
Blume-Kohout, Robin
Baczewski, Andrew
contents Building a useful quantum computer is a grand science and engineering challenge, currently pursued intensely by teams around the world. In the 1980s, Richard Feynman and Yuri Manin observed independently that computers based on quantum mechanics might enable better simulations of quantum phenomena. Their vision remained an intellectual curiosity until Peter Shor published his famous quantum algorithm for integer factoring, and shortly thereafter a proof that errors in quantum computations can be corrected. Since then, quantum computing R&D has progressed rapidly, from small-scale experiments in university physics laboratories to well-funded industrial efforts and prototypes. Hype notwithstanding, quantum computers have yet to solve scientifically or practically important problems -- a target often called quantum utility. In this article, we describe the capabilities of contemporary quantum computers, compare them to the requirements of quantum utility, and illustrate how to track progress from today to utility. We highlight key science and engineering challenges on the road to quantum utility, touching on relevant aspects of our own research.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_22540
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The Road to Useful Quantum Computers
Proctor, Timothy
Blume-Kohout, Robin
Baczewski, Andrew
Quantum Physics
Emerging Technologies
Performance
Building a useful quantum computer is a grand science and engineering challenge, currently pursued intensely by teams around the world. In the 1980s, Richard Feynman and Yuri Manin observed independently that computers based on quantum mechanics might enable better simulations of quantum phenomena. Their vision remained an intellectual curiosity until Peter Shor published his famous quantum algorithm for integer factoring, and shortly thereafter a proof that errors in quantum computations can be corrected. Since then, quantum computing R&D has progressed rapidly, from small-scale experiments in university physics laboratories to well-funded industrial efforts and prototypes. Hype notwithstanding, quantum computers have yet to solve scientifically or practically important problems -- a target often called quantum utility. In this article, we describe the capabilities of contemporary quantum computers, compare them to the requirements of quantum utility, and illustrate how to track progress from today to utility. We highlight key science and engineering challenges on the road to quantum utility, touching on relevant aspects of our own research.
title The Road to Useful Quantum Computers
topic Quantum Physics
Emerging Technologies
Performance
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.22540