Google Claims to Have Proved That Its Quantum Computer Actually Works

[RaptorJGW]

[QUOTE][IMG]http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--dDdfkjlW--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/g8znsrjygmbj8m0w5zfa.jpg[/IMG]

[B]A team of researchers from Google’s artificial intelligence labs has published results which it claims demonstrate that its controversial D-Wave quantum computer really works.[/B]

Google bought one of D-Wave’s quantum computers back in 2013. Claimed to be the “[B]world’s first commercial quantum computer[/B],” the device sits at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, where it’s coded to tackle optimization problems that quantum computers are supposed to be good for. [B]In theory, D-Wave’s hardware is supposed to be lightning fast—potentially 3,600 times faster than a supercomputer.[/B]

[B]Quantum computers can, theoretically, be so much faster because they take advantage of a quirk in quantum mechanics.[/B] While classical computers use bits in 0 or 1, quantum computers use “qubits” that can exist in 0, 1 or a superposition of 2. In turn, that allows it to work through possible solutions more quickly.

[B]But D-Wave’s chips have proved controversial. Teams of researchers have been unable to prove whether or not the computer actually takes advantage of true quantum effects.[/B]

Now, the team from [B]Google has published results on the arXiv server that it claims demonstrate that the computer does indeed use quantum effects[/B] to solve problems at speed. In a series of experiments, the team pitted its D-Wave quantum computer against a regular computer with a single processor and had them race through optimization problems known as annealing.
[/QUOTE]

[URL="http://gizmodo.com/google-claims-to-have-proved-that-its-quantum-computer-1747043625"]The entire article here[/URL]

[URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhHMJCUmq28"]In case you have no idea what a quantum computer really is, watch this educational video by Kurzgesat[/URL]

[Nahash]

So assuming this actually works, this would render all encryption moot from what I've heard?

[old_hag12]

[QUOTE=Svinnik;49279450]So assuming this actually works, this would render all encryption moot from what I've heard?[/QUOTE]

Most. But no, we can always make the encryption harder to crack. The encryption just needs to keep up with the current level of technology.

Your phone could crack an an old encryption technique that once took a supercomputer to do.

On the other hand if this technology was withheld from the public...

[The fox]

Isn't it speculated that the NSA already has quantum computing available? Or something to that end? Still interesting if it does pan out.

[mcgrath618]

Introducing: The Quantum Chromebook

[pentium]

[QUOTE=mcgrath618;49279547]Introducing: The Quantum Chromebook[/QUOTE]

*requires a dual core Quantum processor to run with graphical enhancements.

[ZpankR]

The Quantum Computer both works and doesn't at the same time

[srobins]

[QUOTE=The fox;49279497]Isn't it speculated that the NSA already has quantum computing available? Or something to that end? Still interesting if it does pan out.[/QUOTE]

I don't think so, but the NSA has been vocal about the need to use newer encryption standards and move towards stuff like elliptic-curve cryptography in order to avoid a future where everyone's encryption is immediately nullified by quantum computers. Though some people have speculated the reasons for their advocacy of certain algorithms is because they contain NSA backdoors and so the NSA has an ulterior motive for their public recommendations on algorithms.

[Asgard]

Even the kurzgesagt video doesn't explain to me how quantum computing works.

There's a giant gap between "there's a superposition of 0 and 1" and "this allows it to compute things faster" that hasn't been explained to me at all yet.

[Occlusion2018]

[QUOTE=Svinnik;49279450]So assuming this actually works, this would render all encryption moot from what I've heard?[/QUOTE]

All quantum computers are pretty task specific at the moment, the D-Wave is geared towards simulated annealing (ie optimisation), so it's not for finding prime factors (which would break RSA etc). Src: Doing a masters in Quantum Computing, ask away if you have questions.

[Killer Monkey]

[QUOTE=Asgard;49279740]Even the kurzgesagt video doesn't explain to me how quantum computing works.

There's a giant gap between "there's a superposition of 0 and 1" and "this allows it to compute things faster" that hasn't been explained to me at all yet.[/QUOTE]

It calculates every possibility at once instead of in a series. However its also not right all the time so it has to double check sometimes.

[Karmah]

[QUOTE=Asgard;49279740]Even the kurzgesagt video doesn't explain to me how quantum computing works.

There's a giant gap between "there's a superposition of 0 and 1" and "this allows it to compute things faster" that hasn't been explained to me at all yet.[/QUOTE]

Then go look up an actual video on quantum mechanics? There are thousands of them.

[Scot]

I had no idea quantum computers were even being made yet.

[Sableye]

[QUOTE=Svinnik;49279450]So assuming this actually works, this would render all encryption moot from what I've heard?[/QUOTE]

Not exactly, these chips only work on select problems and you also need enough qbits to process the entire key, these are just starting to mature

[Fhenexx]

Yeah, we're still very far off from an actual consumer quantum computer that works like a conventional one but just faster. There's a chance that, based on what exactly quantum computers do to calculate and solve problems, that there will never be a pure quantum computer but instead a hybrid of quantum and conventional chips that will power computers in the future

[Mingebox]

One of the drawbacks of quantum computers is you'll never be able to find one with a specific speed.

[Tetsmega]

[QUOTE=ZpankR;49279576]The Quantum Computer both works and doesn't at the same time[/QUOTE]

Thank god we already have quantum USB slots.

[Str4fe]

Its a quantum computer, but only when it's not observed.

[Sableye]

[QUOTE=Fhenexx;49280889]Yeah, we're still very far off from an actual consumer quantum computer that works like a conventional one but just faster. There's a chance that, based on what exactly quantum computers do to calculate and solve problems, that there will never be a pure quantum computer but instead a hybrid of quantum and conventional chips that will power computers in the future[/QUOTE]

Ive always thought that if anything it'll be another card, like we have cpus and gpus, next we will have qpus, and they will find a way to use them for something

[proboardslol]

[QUOTE=The fox;49279497]Isn't it speculated that the NSA already has quantum computing available? Or something to that end? Still interesting if it does pan out.[/QUOTE]

NSA and Boeing both have purchased quantum computers that do really specific tasks.

read more at: [url]http://www.dalestory.org/3310/Misc/2014,2,24,The%20Quantum%20Quest%20for%20a%20Revolutionary%20Computer.pdf[/url]

[Bradyns]

Just remember that ArXiv is preprint for journals, it still needs to be properly published then peer reviewed and replicated.

I don't doubt that they've done it, you just can't make a scientific statement at this stage.

[JohnnyMo]

[QUOTE=Karmah;49279947]Then go look up an actual video on quantum mechanics? There are thousands of them.[/QUOTE]

Knowing quantum mechanics by itself is not really going to help much. I've had a year of formal quantum mechanics courses and studied about another semester's worth of quantum field theory myself and I couldn't tell you how the fuck quantum computing works. Quantum computing is pretty much its own thing and I think most explanations of it out there are pretty poor.

[Novangel]

[QUOTE=The fox;49279497]Isn't it speculated that the NSA already has quantum computing available? Or something to that end? Still interesting if it does pan out.[/QUOTE]

There wouldn't be a need for them to force backdoors out of companies then.

[Cutthecrap]

[QUOTE=JohnnyMo1;49283433]Knowing quantum mechanics by itself is not really going to help much. I've had a year of formal quantum mechanics courses and studied about another semester's worth of quantum field theory myself and I couldn't tell you how the fuck quantum computing works. Quantum computing is pretty much its own thing and I think most explanations of it out there are pretty poor.[/QUOTE]

Johnny, I always wanted to ask you this. And I must derail the thread in order to do so:

If you got lost into a jungle after a plane crash (assuming you are the only survivor), could you engineer or science the shit out of that situation?

No, I'm asking this seriously.

By the way, where is the difference between studying quantum mechanics and quantum computing? Can you study quantum computing without quantum mechanics?

EDIT: Like, could you build a radio from parts? Or a house/shelter with materials found inside the plane?

[ardosos]

[quote]
But D-Wave’s chips have proved controversial. Teams of researchers have been unable to prove whether or not the computer actually takes advantage of true quantum effects.[/quote]

Maybe it's just me but if these run at potentially 3,600 times faster than a supercomputer, who cares if it takes advantage of true quantum effects or not?

[apierce1289]

[QUOTE=Occlusion;49279755]All quantum computers are pretty task specific at the moment, the D-Wave is geared towards simulated annealing (ie optimisation), so it's not for finding prime factors (which would break RSA etc). Src: Doing a masters in Quantum Computing, ask away if you have questions.[/QUOTE]

Does it run an OS that we'd be familiar with? Like Linux or Windows (probably not but figured I'd ask).

[cody8295]

[QUOTE=apierce1289;49283740]Does it run an OS that we'd be familiar with? Like Linux or Windows (probably not but figured I'd ask).[/QUOTE]

I'm guessing theres some low level assembly like language.. QIPS maybe?

[Sableye]

[QUOTE=Ardosos;49283637]Maybe it's just me but if these run at potentially 3,600 times faster than a supercomputer, who cares if it takes advantage of true quantum effects or not?[/QUOTE]
the question has always been, are these just really efficient chips that take advantage of being superchilled, or are they actually using quantum effects, its important to make the distinction because if they wanted to make these more general purpose, they have to be sure its not just due to the chip layout

[Curls]

The computer both works and doesn't work until you look at it

[Zeke129]

[QUOTE=JohnnyMo1;49283433]Knowing quantum mechanics by itself is not really going to help much. I've had a year of formal quantum mechanics courses and studied about another semester's worth of quantum field theory myself and I couldn't tell you how the fuck quantum computing works. Quantum computing is pretty much its own thing and I think most explanations of it out there are pretty poor.[/QUOTE]

[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhHMJCUmq28]This Kurzgesagt video about quantum computers came out yesterday.[/url] I can't really say I learned anything from it, but maybe I wasn't paying enough attention. Is it better/worse than existing explanations? Anything it gets glaringly wrong?