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Some Scientists Question Whether Quantum Computer Really Is Quantum

Posted by Unknown on from the qbits-all-the-way-down dept.

gbrumfiel writes "Last week, Google and NASA announced a partnership to buy a new quantum computer from Canadian firm D-Wave Systems. But NPR news reports that many scientists are still questioning whether new machine really is quantum. Long-time critic and computer scientist Scott Aaronson has a long post detailing the current state of affairs. At issue is whether the 512 quantum bits at the processor's core are 'entangled' together. Measuring that entanglement directly destroys it, so D-Wave has had a hard time convincing skeptics. As with all things quantum mechanical, the devil is in the details. Still it may not matter: D-Wave's machine appears to be far faster at solving certain kinds of problems (PDF), regardless of how it works."

10 of 170 comments (clear)

  1. Heisenberg Uncertainty principle is intact... by Stolpskott · · Score: 4, Funny

    So they know where the D-Wave system is, but they cannot definitively measure whether it is actually a quantum computer or not...

    1. Re:Heisenberg Uncertainty principle is intact... by plover · · Score: 4, Funny

      Its amazing to watch the confusion among scientists as the entire structure of the machine goes into a state of superposition with being real and not real all at the same time.

      All quantum computers are real, unless declared integer.

      --
      John
  2. Is any quantum computer really quantum? by dingen · · Score: 4, Funny

    A real quantum computer both is and isn't at the same time.

    --
    Pretty good is actually pretty bad.
    1. Re:Is any quantum computer really quantum? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      It is a quantum computer only when no one is looking at it.

    2. Re:Is any quantum computer really quantum? by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 4, Funny

      It is a quantum computer only when no one is looking at it.

      That sounds like the invasion of Weeping Turings...

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
  3. D-Wave's Dirty Little Secret by Greyfox · · Score: 5, Funny

    Their computer works not by quantum entanglement but by magic.

    --

    I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

    1. Re:D-Wave's Dirty Little Secret by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Is there really any difference between quantum entanglement and magic?

      You may have to ritually sacrifice the occasional intern to keep magic working, but otherwise, no.

    2. Re:D-Wave's Dirty Little Secret by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      >using a 2-norm and looking then at the structure imposed on vectors by unitary transformations

      Like, obviously!

  4. Re:If it works - it works by RDW · · Score: 4, Funny

    You may say that now, but wait until PETA find out about the number of cats and flasks of cyanide their prototype gets through every month...

  5. Forget whether it is Quantum or not... by Dareth · · Score: 1, Funny

    This crazy scientist kidnapped my cat and put it in a box! See if the D-Wave computer can tell me if my cat is alive or not.

    --

    I only look human.
    My mother is a halfling and my dad is an ogre, so that makes me an Ogreling