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Quantum Computing Breakthrough in Japan
An anonymous reader writes "A research team funded by NEC and RIKEN, Japan's Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, are the first to demonstrate a Controlled NOT (CNOT) quantum gate. The CNOT gate when coupled with a rotational gate would create a universal gate. The universal gate would be the basis for quantum computing. ETA for the first quantum computers: 10 to 100 years." When quantum computers first come to fruition, the best part will be reminiscing about how terrible computers were "back in the day."
String Theory computers composed of pure energy. Instant answers to everything! Renders useless not only encryption, but also everything else! I think I'm going back to DOS...
Now pointing out cliche jokes on /. is what's comming. Anybody think this really funny. Sorry Uncle Rage, The ironing _is_ delicious.
NetBSD has been running on it for years.
When the first quantum computer is completed, will it be retroactive?
Meaning, once they exist, will they have always existed?
Also, once they exist, won't every computation possible be instantaneously computed?
Will we know what the billionth, trillionth, quadrillionth, millionth digit of Pi be known, before the question is even asked?
Will this create a parodox in terms of general relativity? Einstein theorized that time travel wouldn't be possible because of the potential for creating such a paradox. Meaning, if we learn how to travel back in time, we can then take the knowledge of time travel back with us to a time before it was known. If I could go back to yesterday, I could tell myself (from yesterday) how to go back to his yesterday (for me the day before yesterday), there he could tell the me from that day how to go back to his yesterday, and so on and so on.
The whole idea of quantum computing, though very cool, makes me nervous.
LK
"Hi. This is my friend, Jack Shit, and you don't know him." - Lord Kano
Imagine a beowulf cluster of those.