Sorry for asking but what exactly makes all these "quantum" things 'quantum' to begin with?
Is this just a much better form of computing that allows for better overall combat capabilities/detection?
Again I am by no means an expert, but I have watched many documentaries on space and quantum physics as it’s one of my favorite past times and this is what I have gathered.
Modern computers use a combinations of 0 and 1s at their “atomic level” (a bit/byte) .
Quantum computers use the laws of quantum physics to develop a “qubit” or a quantum bit. Instead of a system of 0’s and 1’s the qubit can be both a 0 and 1 at the same time. This “spooky” nature is how particles work at sub atomic level (both a particle and a wave at same time). This unlocks massive power potential when no longer restricted to a definitive bi-nominal probability (0 or 1).
If you tell a modern day supercomputer to guess a password it will go through trying each combination one after another till it finds the password.
If you tell a modern day quantum computer to guess a password it will create simultaneous parallel “worlds” and find the password and bring it into this “world”.
Quantum communication relies on this as well as a thing called quantum entanglement another aspect of quantum physics which basically states if two particles are “entangled” (ie have a relationship with one another) that when you manipulate one the other reacts instantly to that manipulation as if it “knows” the other has already been manipulated.
This opens up very important doorways in communication basically quantum encryption which would make it nearly impossible for any adversary to intercept communications between two devices that are using this process.
Quantum computers and quantum technology is going to be
one of the greatest technologies created by mankind. I cannot stress enough, how game changing it will be from accurate simulations to predicting water physics in real time, to Artificial intelligence.
A fully mastered quantum computer could hack nearly any military grade encryption device in seconds and contain a power in the millions of times greater than modern traditional computers.
It will be one of mankind’s greatest inventions