The true effects of quantum computers
on
Quantum Computers
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· Score: 4
First, I'd like to point out that quantum computation and quantum encryption are two almost completely separate concepts. Quantum encryption is based on the fact that quantum states cannot be measured without altering. The most common example is the polarization of a photon, but it will work for any quantum state, so long as there exist, effectively, two unique states that can transmit the data.
Quantum computation, however, is much more complex and much more interesting. Quantum computers are based on the concept of quantum entanglement, the ability of a quantum state to exist in a superposition of all of its mutually exclusive states: It's a 1 and a 0. However, this is not as easy to use as one might think. While it's true that if you have n quantum logic gates you have the ability to input 2^n data values simultaneously (as opposed to only 1 piece of data if you have n digital logic gates), this is not going to be the end of classical computing for a few reasons. First, quantum computers have to be perfectly reversible. That means for every output there's an input and vice versa. And there has to be no way of knowing the initial states of the data. You don't process data, you process probabilities in a quantum computer; if you know exactly what any one value is throughout the computation, you can find out all of the values: the superposition ends and you're stuck with a useless chunk of machinery. This means YOU CAN ONLY GET ONE RESULT FROM ANY QUANTUM COMPUTATION, THE END RESULT. You can't see what the data in the middle is or the computer becomes useless. (Landauer's principle makes heat loss data loss. When your processor gets hot, it's losing data. If the same thing happened to a quantum computer, it wouldn't be quantum anymore.) Decoherence is what happens when you randomly lose data to the environment by design, not by choice, and the superposition ends. This is bad for Q.C. Oh, and quantum computers can only do *some* things faster, like prime factorization and discrete logarithms. Not multiplication or addition. Plus, the circuits that would do basic arithmetic would be bigger and slower than what you've currently got.
So what does this all mean? It means that quantum computers are going to provide some advantages (real quick big number factorization), and some disadvantages (that whole RSA standard). The most realistic initial use of quantum computers will be as add-ons to existing super-computers to resolve certain types of NP-Complete headaches that regular math can't simplify yet. At best they will someday be an add-on to your PC; but they will never replace the digital computer.~
If you want more info, check out ahttp://www.qubit.org, it's got some decent tutorials.
What to do with your collection of AOL CDs, an antique drill and a flourescent bulb? Anxious to know what happened to the missing Enigma rotors? Want to go digging with gopher, but with your Web browser?
That must have been a pretty interesting ride. However, when I first saw the news item and read it, I could have sworn they were talking about skiing in Everquest!
Thanks, but that's from 1913. Eighty-seven years later, astronomy is a lot different. In 1913 people didn't even have any idea that there were extrasolar planets.
actually, you're wrong. More and more people are accessing the internet through ethernet every day.. most of these people come through broadband connections (cable/dsl) and have to use a NIC. I'm sure IPv6 is a while off for the public, but it's never too soon to start worrying.
This nonsense about "my computer is better than your computer" that raged through the 80's and still lives on today is just counter productive and wasteful.
Uhh.. right! Where does this guy think we'd be without competition? If I just stood by while all my friends got more and more powerful computers, I wouldn't be able to keep up with them. I think this guy needs to get his head out of his ass!
I've noticed, as I'm sure you have as well, the large number of free ISPs popping up lately. While most of these aren't non-profit such as this one, they are still free. The main problem with these free ISPs is the lack of service. Try calling the tech support for freei.net and you'll be on hold for hours. (They're also not toll-free many times.) If these free providers could straighten their acts up in regards to tech support, they'd be a lot better. Another helpful thing would be to get more bandwidth. I like the idea of free internet, but something tells me it's a long way from being perfected.
Slashdot Mirror
First, I'd like to point out that quantum computation and quantum encryption are two almost completely separate concepts. Quantum encryption is based on the fact that quantum states cannot be measured without altering. The most common example is the polarization of a photon, but it will work for any quantum state, so long as there exist, effectively, two unique states that can transmit the data.
Quantum computation, however, is much more complex and much more interesting. Quantum computers are based on the concept of quantum entanglement, the ability of a quantum state to exist in a superposition of all of its mutually exclusive states: It's a 1 and a 0. However, this is not as easy to use as one might think. While it's true that if you have n quantum logic gates you have the ability to input 2^n data values simultaneously (as opposed to only 1 piece of data if you have n digital logic gates), this is not going to be the end of classical computing for a few reasons. First, quantum computers have to be perfectly reversible. That means for every output there's an input and vice versa. And there has to be no way of knowing the initial states of the data. You don't process data, you process probabilities in a quantum computer; if you know exactly what any one value is throughout the computation, you can find out all of the values: the superposition ends and you're stuck with a useless chunk of machinery. This means YOU CAN ONLY GET ONE RESULT FROM ANY QUANTUM COMPUTATION, THE END RESULT. You can't see what the data in the middle is or the computer becomes useless. (Landauer's principle makes heat loss data loss. When your processor gets hot, it's losing data. If the same thing happened to a quantum computer, it wouldn't be quantum anymore.) Decoherence is what happens when you randomly lose data to the environment by design, not by choice, and the superposition ends. This is bad for Q.C. Oh, and quantum computers can only do *some* things faster, like prime factorization and discrete logarithms. Not multiplication or addition. Plus, the circuits that would do basic arithmetic would be bigger and slower than what you've currently got.
So what does this all mean? It means that quantum computers are going to provide some advantages (real quick big number factorization), and some disadvantages (that whole RSA standard). The most realistic initial use of quantum computers will be as add-ons to existing super-computers to resolve certain types of NP-Complete headaches that regular math can't simplify yet. At best they will someday be an add-on to your PC; but they will never replace the digital computer.~
If you want more info, check out ahttp://www.qubit.org, it's got some decent tutorials.
What to do with your collection of AOL CDs, an antique drill and a flourescent bulb? Anxious to know what happened to the missing Enigma rotors? Want to go digging with gopher, but with your Web browser?
No.
err.. okay it was just me! Sorry for the crap post :(
Either this place has zero bandwidth or it's already been slashdotted. I'll try and set up a mirror of the frog mpeg if I can get it!
That must have been a pretty interesting ride. However, when I first saw the news item and read it, I could have sworn they were talking about skiing in Everquest!
Thanks, but that's from 1913. Eighty-seven years later, astronomy is a lot different. In 1913 people didn't even have any idea that there were extrasolar planets.
Thanks!
actually, you're wrong. More and more people are accessing the internet through ethernet every day.. most of these people come through broadband connections (cable/dsl) and have to use a NIC. I'm sure IPv6 is a while off for the public, but it's never too soon to start worrying.
and I give it an A+! go Carnivore!
Yeah, that guy was a total moron. Let's continue this thread talking about what an idiot that guy is.
What about Slashcock?
This nonsense about "my computer is better than your computer" that raged through the 80's and still lives on today is just counter productive and wasteful.
Uhh.. right! Where does this guy think we'd be without competition? If I just stood by while all my friends got more and more powerful computers, I wouldn't be able to keep up with them. I think this guy needs to get his head out of his ass!
offtopic?! are you mad?! It's anything BUT offtopic! The topic here is my love of pie, and that's what I was talking about. PIE PIE PIE!!!!
Insightful? Where's the insight?
of high school. I still make $250,000 a year, though. What do I do, you ask? I poop in your mouth!
YUO = FAGOT
I've noticed, as I'm sure you have as well, the large number of free ISPs popping up lately. While most of these aren't non-profit such as this one, they are still free. The main problem with these free ISPs is the lack of service. Try calling the tech support for freei.net and you'll be on hold for hours. (They're also not toll-free many times.) If these free providers could straighten their acts up in regards to tech support, they'd be a lot better. Another helpful thing would be to get more bandwidth. I like the idea of free internet, but something tells me it's a long way from being perfected.