Quantum computing and communications – Introduction and challenges

Computer engineers are continuously seeking new solutions to increase available processing speed, achievable transmission rates, and efficiency in order to satisfy users’ expectations. While multi-core systems, computing clouds, and other parallel processing techniques dominate current technology trends, elementary particles governed by quantum mechanics have been borrowed from the physicists’ laboratory and applied to computer engineering in the efforts to solve sophisticated computing and communications problems. In this paper, we review the quantum mechanical background of quantum computing from an engineering point of view and describe the possibilities offered by quantum-assisted and quantum-based computing and communications. In addition to the currently available solutions, the corresponding challenges will also be surveyed.