USC Professor Sees Quantum Computing as a Specialized Tool Rather Than Consumer Technology

Insider Brief

• Professor Daniel Lidar at USC is advancing quantum computing research, which has the potential to solve complex global challenges, such as drug discovery and energy efficiency, far beyond the capabilities of traditional computers.
• Quantum computers use qubits that exist in superposition states, allowing for much faster computations, but maintaining these delicate states requires precise control to avoid decoherence, which can disrupt the process.
• Lidar sees quantum computing as a specialized tool for solving hard computational problems, with potential applications in areas like energy transmission and superconductors, positioning USC at the forefront of this transformative technology.

At the University of Southern California, where the first operational quantum computer in academia resides, Professor Daniel Lidar is helping shape the future of computing technology that could disrupt how we tackle global challenges — from drug discovery to energy efficiency.

Traditional computers, while capable, face significant limitations when solving complex problems. As Lidar explained during a recent interview: “It’s not that ordinary computers can’t solve this problem, it would just take them the age of the universe to try to figure it out. We don’t have that long.”

What sets quantum computers apart is their use of quantum bits, or qubits, which operate on principles that seem to defy classical physics. 

“Those quantum bits are very special they can exist in what we call superposition states,” Lidar noted. “It’s basically coexisting in two or more states at once.”

However, maintaining these delicate quantum states presents significant challenges. The quantum environment must be precisely controlled, as Lidar described: “That’s why it’s very hard to build quantum computers because decoherence destroys superpositions, but we need these superpositions — that’s sort of the secret sauce that gives rise to the quantum computational power and speed up.”

USC stands at the forefront of quantum computing research, with unique resources at its disposal. 

“USC is unique in that we have access to two types of quantum computers,” said Lidar. “We have roughly 25 different faculty with different levels of engagement and interest and many students and postdocs who are working on quantum computing related problems.”

Looking to the future, Lidar sees quantum computing as a specialized tool rather than a consumer technology. 

“Quantum computing is probably not going to be like AI in the sense that everybody’s going to use it for everyday tasks,” he explained. “The way we understand quantum computing right now is it’s basically an accelerator, a computational accelerator for really hard computational problems.”

The potential applications are vast, from developing room-temperature superconductors to revolutionizing energy transmission. Such breakthroughs could transform power grids, transportation, and more. Despite the challenges, USC’s research community remains dedicated to advancing this transformative technology, addressing everything from hardware development to theoretical algorithms.

As quantum computing continues to evolve, USC’s pioneering work under researchers like Lidar positions the university at the cutting edge of this revolutionary field, promising solutions to some of humanity’s most pressing challenges.