Quantum annealing is a technology that makes use of quantum effects to solve optimization problems. It is based on the physical process of annealing, in which a material is heated and cooled in order to reduce its energy and reach its lowest possible energy state. This process is applied to the optimization problem by using quantum annealing algorithms. In quantum annealing, the problem is encoded into a quantum system, and the optimization process is achieved by using quantum tunneling to explore the solution space.

D-Wave Systems Inc. is a Canadian quantum computing company and the leading innovator in the field of quantum annealing technology. Founded in 1999, the company has built a reputation for developing and commercializing quantum technologies. D-Wave Systems’ products are built on the principles of quantum annealing, and they are used to solve optimization problems that are too complex for classical computers. Their flagship offering is the D-Wave 2000Q, a commercial quantum computer that utilizes quantum annealing to solve optimization problems. In addition to hardware, D-Wave also provides software tools, cloud access, and support services to help its customers make the most of their quantum computing solutions.