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NSA and Army On Quest For Quantum Physics Jackpot
coondoggie sends this excerpt from NetworkWorld:
"The US Army Research Office and the National Security Agency (NSA) are together looking for some answers to their quantum physics questions. ... The Army said quantum algorithms that are developed should focus on constructive solutions [PDF] for specific tasks, and on general methodologies for expressing and analyzing algorithms tailored to specific problems — though they didn't say what those specific tasks were ... 'Investigators should presuppose the existence of a fully functional quantum computer and consider what algorithmic tasks are particularly well suited to such a machine. A necessary component of this research will be to compare the efficiency of the quantum algorithm to the best existing classical algorithm for the same problem.'"
They want you to write the code for their new computer. I for one welcome our newly dominate government overlords
NSA and Army wants quantum computations researchers to do exactly what they have been doing for the last 15 years.
That's probably what they're trying to figure out with this.
Why should we fund this? I mean look at the depression we're all in, they're obviously trying to make budget cuts and aren't sure if they should drop quantum computing.
'Investigators should presuppose the existence of a fully functional quantum computer and consider what algorithmic tasks are particularly well suited to such a machine.'
Presupposing the existence of new technology is the same process I (and I imagine others) use to think of new business idea's ahead of the curve.
A chemist, a physicist and a mathematician are stranded on a desert island, and all they have is a can of beans. They need to open the can so that they can eat, so they each in turn set about devising a method to open the can.
The chemist comes up with a method that involves making seawater acidic enough to get the top off (while neutralizing the acid with some basic coconut juice from a nearby tree.)
The physicist comes up with a complicated rock apparatus to basically smash open the can.
The mathematician scratches his head, and walks around the beach for a while considering the problem. Finally, he comes and sits down next to his fellow castaways and says, "Assume a can opener..."
"Investigators should presuppose the existence of a fully functional quantum computer," huh?
...?
Does anyone else here read this as "NSA has a nifty, shiny new toy and are looking for ways to use it"
Paleotechnologist and connoisseur of pretty shiny things.
I'm not sure on the exact complexities.. but yea, isn't it that quantum computers are the next thing because they only give the superimposed electrons always take the path that's watched?
Defective Logic
Start brute forcing crypto keys and infiltrating enemy networks.
Isn't that quantum computing's claim to fame?
Can dual state of particles be used to create an army of zombie soldiers that are both alive and dead?
Can particle entanglement be weaponized?
Can "Godparticles" be used to lighten aircraft to save fuel?
Are these proposals brilliant or stupid or does it depend on the observer?
...that quantum computing is pure crackpottery.
Jim "well it is this new quantum encryption software, everytime I open a new subject the encrypted output window is already full of encrypted text and I havent even typed anything.
IT Support "ah yes that is normal, it is a side effect of quantum state data transfer, you know, it arrives before it leaves etc, just ignore it"
Jim "out of curriosity has anyone ever tried decrypting the text before they have actually written the message"
IT Support "God no, dont ever do that, laws of time and space become screwed up, the last guy who tried that vanished with a sucking noise and was replaced by a plush cookie monster toy"
Quantum computing has been getting quite a lot of grant money in recent years, ever since IBM's Peter Shor found a quantum algorithm to factor products of large primes in polynomial time, threatening to break a lot of public key cryptosystems. The money that this unlocked has supported a lot of neat basic physics research, but at present Shor's algorithm remains the only known killer app for quantum computers. It's about time somebody asked for more applications. If none are found soon, funding for QC will probably drop quite a bit, and probably should.
Break current encryption in linear time and disintegrate people. The first one is pretty obvious from the specs, the second one is just something the Army has always wanted to do.
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
I think cracking codes is one of the least meaningful purposes quantum computers will have. Simulation of quantum systems, for basic research as well as for engineering, will make a much bigger impact. Yet people always seem to focus on the promise it holds for code-cracking. I think most people just don't appreciate how important quantum mechanics has been in creating the technologies that are all around us in the modern world. Being able to more 'naturally' simulate these systems that rely on quantum phenomena could potentially open up whole new fields of study.
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If a black hole forms over my house, it was the CIA.
Although we here in Your Army are constantly exploring new ways to make your job as a soldier better, safer and more effective, there might still be times when you'll be expected to push a bayonet through another person's heart while looking right at them. Just like your father or grandfather might have had to. We call that "tradition", and it's really hard to hide that behind technological bling in green paint.
We now return you to the regularly scheduled election. Good night.
That means they have a working quantum computer and need additional code to throw at it.
So in about 10 to 15 years we will start seeing quantum computers available for the masses.
COOL!
Because it's crap, that's why. hahaha...
Here's a good book on Quantum computing (November 5, 2003)
All about what you can and can't do with quantum computing (and how to implement it)
If you don't want to wade through everything, skip to Chapter 11
my associative arrays can kick your hash - TCL
...And there isn't a Quantum Computer that can do this computing.
Both the existence and non-existence on the state of the application can be pre-supposed, but the recognition of the answer is going to take a larger computer -- which cannot reveal its solution, otherwise the existing, non-existing Quantum Computer will collapse.
The Quantum Computer will be really great, at recognizing a face and returning an answer immediately, from a database of 50 million. The answer will be; "Yes." Then a traditional computer will search through the database, to find which one got the right answer. If the answer is "No" -- well, you don't have to search the database. So a Quantum Computer will save you 50% of the time (on average) by NOT doing things for which you don't have an answer.
>>"ad space available -- low rates!!!"
Why is subatomic decay probalistic? If you don't know the answer to these questions, then every interpretation (e.g., MWI, state superposition, etc.) that you or other physicists may have is suspect at best and mere superstition at worst. IOW, quantum computing is based on wishful thinking and ignorance. It is not science. It's voodoo Star-Trek physics, religious hocus pocus masquerading as science.
These DoD proposals are all fake. They have friends that have already done the research and now they're publishing a fake solicitation because they're required to, by law. After a fake bidding process, the money will be awarded to their buddies who have already completed the research and they'll use the money to do their next research project, which will be funded retroactively with another fake solicitation like this one.
I've seen thousands of these over the years and the truth is that any proposal you submit will either be swept under the rug or stolen and repackaged. Period!