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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."

9 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...