Some Scientists Question Whether Quantum Computer Really Is Quantum 170
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."
Heisenberg Uncertainty principle is intact... (Score:5, Funny)
So they know where the D-Wave system is, but they cannot definitively measure whether it is actually a quantum computer or not...
Is any quantum computer really quantum? (Score:5, Funny)
A real quantum computer both is and isn't at the same time.
D-Wave's Dirty Little Secret (Score:5, Funny)
Re:If it works - it works (Score:5, 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...
Re:Is any quantum computer really quantum? (Score:5, Funny)
It is a quantum computer only when no one is looking at it.
Forget whether it is Quantum or not... (Score:2, 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.
Re:D-Wave's Dirty Little Secret (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.
Re:Is any quantum computer really quantum? (Score:5, Funny)
It is a quantum computer only when no one is looking at it.
That sounds like the invasion of Weeping Turings...
Re:Heisenberg Uncertainty principle is intact... (Score:5, 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.
Re:D-Wave's Dirty Little Secret (Score:3, Funny)
>using a 2-norm and looking then at the structure imposed on vectors by unitary transformations
Like, obviously!