November 25, 2005

Quantum bubbles are the key to quantum computers.
posted by Chyren 19 years ago
  • Wow. That's a really fascinating read. And sounds like something that could actually, practically happen. Now when are they going to make my android body?
  • this is interesting, though the bubbles strike me as expensive to produce and maintain. is it likely quantum computers will ever be widely deployed? is it even necessary? the domain of problems that (a) are sufficiently interesting, (b) have enough reliable data, and (c) are sufficiently time-dependent seems limited to me. it should be possible to produce some very fast databases though. useful meteorological simulations as well, maybe?
  • I feel stupid.
  • is it likely quantum computers will ever be widely deployed? is it even necessary? Nah, it's just a gimmick, like those stupid "colour" monitors. Come on now, roryk, look me in the eye and tell me you don't want a computer that does "1000 billion billion billion operations all at once".
  • I don't think it's beyond the realm of possibility that this could become widely deployed. You're talking supercooled helium, yes. But you're talking bubbles the size of a few electrons. It probably won't be out in your local Wal Mart for next Christmas, but I think quantum computers will actually become reality.
  • And then they can get to work on my android body.
  • Lasers for eyes, madam?
  • Actually, y'know, I believe I did the finest computing of my life in good old 25 by 40 text mode. We could do things with DOS batch files in those days the young people just wouldn't believe. When 25 by 80 mode came in, I told 'em where it was leading, but would they listen?
  • I have NO idea what he's talking about...
  • Look everyone! An old man's talking! *sits at Pleggers feet, looks up with bright shiny eyes*
  • I bet in those days, all the women had tiiiiny little waists...
  • Though there again, if truth be told, DOS never had anything to equal the good ol' CP/M PIP command...
  • [He's rambling now, should we take him back to his room?]
  • Just get him a dish of steamed prunes and some warm slippers. He'll be ok.
  • And a hearty "hell, yeah" for the laser eyes.
  • Yeah, they tried quantum computers in the old days, too, but it didn't work then and it won't work now, I'm telling you!
  • Quantum bubbles are the key to quantum computers. Well, duh...
  • So will we be using those colored bubbles, or plain old bubbles? My vote for the colored ones! And remember, they don't stain when popped.
  • look me in the eye and tell me you don't want a computer that does "1000 billion billion billion operations all at once". i want two, one for each state (or should that be three?). don't get me wrong, i'm all for excessive processing power; i'm just not sure about the practicalities of supercooling the core of an xbox 2060 edition. we're at the point now with classical computers where we can solve problems deemed irresolvable ten years ago. previously defined "processing barriers" have been surmounted, and there are lots of new possibilities opening up in optical computing and wafer materials. hence my question as to whether quantum computers are necessary.
  • Our present computers will decide if they're necessary, and then figure out how to build them. We need only sit back and wait. Ah, technology.
  • Our present computers will decide if they're necessary, and then figure out how to build one. And they will call it: THE EARTH Oh, what a dull name.
  • Anyone else drooling over the kickass game of solitaire you could play on one these things?
  • Will that mean I can finally install the nude patch for my Sims?
  • As an undergrad in the process of applying to graduate schools for the very purpose of researching the quantum computation and quantum information field, the comments in these posts make me giddy. The latest Scientific American had a nice little piece about a new method of creating quantum dots that "cut the costs by 80 percent". The replaced the inordinately expensive octadene used to create them with the much less expensive Dowtherm A and Therminol 66. The amount processed is still small (only 20 milligrams per batch so far) but this is an exciting time for both experimentalists, theorists and every computer geek dreaming of the possibilities of entagled systems inside their boxes.
  • As an undergrad in the process of applying to graduate schools for the very purpose of researching the quantum computation and quantum information field, the comments in these posts make me giddy. Yeah, the nude patch does that to me every time.
  • roryk: we're at the point now with classical computers where we can solve problems deemed irresolvable ten years ago. <snip> hence my question as to whether quantum computers are necessary. If P != NP there's for sure a use for quantum computers: solving NP problems in polynomial time. Lara: You're talking supercooled helium, yes. But you're talking bubbles the size of a few electrons. Forgive me, I haven't RedTFA yet, but a single helium atom is vastly larger than a few electrons, and it takes at least several atoms to make a fluid. Right? Come to that, does an electron even have a size?
  • Yeah, you're right. But a few atoms is still pretty tiny if you get right down to it.
  • I still remember when intell was trying to figure out how to make a petium. Well you take a 386 teach it some math then dumb it down a shade, tie two of them together in tandom, and you got a pentium. Naw, that'll never work back to the drawing board. Why back in the old days before there was a "net" we had BBS and you had to phone a number or something. I just see an image of twelve hamsters on wheels running with a nazi cracking a whip screeming, "ha mule, ha mule!" ugh.good thing it's sunday tommorow.
  • I still remember when intell was trying to figure out how to make a petium. Well you take a 386 teach it some math then dumb it down a shade, tie two of them together in tandom, and you got a pentium. Naw, that'll never work back to the drawing board. Why back in the old days before there was a "net" we had BBS and you had to phone a number or something. I just see an image of twelve hamsters on wheels running with a nazi cracking a whip screeming, "ha mule, ha mule!" ugh.good thing it's sunday tommorow.