Quantum Computing @ MIT: The Past, Present, and Future of the Second Revolution in Computing

TL;DR

This paper reviews the history, theoretical foundations, and various implementations of quantum computers, emphasizing recent progress at MIT and providing expert insights into the field's development and future prospects.

Contribution

It offers an academic overview of quantum computing's evolution, highlighting MIT's recent advancements and expert perspectives on the field's trajectory.

Findings

Significant progress in quantum hardware at MIT

Expert insights into quantum computing's future directions

Clarification of misconceptions fueled by media hype

Abstract

This article provides an overview of the history, theoretical basis, and different implementations of quantum computers. In Fall 2018, four MIT faculty -- Isaac Chuang, Dirk Englund, Aram Harrow, and William Oliver -- at the forefront of quantum computation and information research were interviewed. They provided personal perspectives on the development of the field, as well as insight to its near-term trajectory. There has been a lot of recent media hype surrounding quantum computation, so in this article we present an academic view of the matter, specifically highlighting progress being made at MIT.