2016-04-27
Quantum Computing: Myth or Reality?
Reply to John Hodgson
It seems to me that your link, like all sources I have referenced, tells of a mathematical lullaby where concepts like superposed states, probabilities and such are woven tightly together. I do not doubt the validity of the mathematical models, still, I wonder, how would you realize, materially, a qubit? Do we know of any material that would do with quantum computers as , say, silicon, does for classical computers?
I am genuinely interested in the answer because I think it would represent a miracle. Back to the simple example of 11111111, again, I will believe mathematicians on their word if they tell me that there are formulas to diminish the uncertainty of interpretation of such data. But first, you have to implement it in a material substrate, a permanent one. And be able to read it off that substrate. Where is Heisenberg's  Principle in all this? In one of the references indicated by your link, "Linear optical quantum computing", the author presents a very dense argumentation based on the simple properties of mirrors. But in the end, it all comes down to the possibility of implementation of quantum gates, which is a pure mathematical construction. Also, there are many references elsewhere to quantum effects and how it is possible to distinguish between the two states of ,say, a photon. I certainly do not doubt this possibility. Otherwise even the existence of two quantum states should be relegated to the trash bin of the history of science. The whole point is, superposition is allegedly a natural state, and what we need is an artificial one which we can manipulate at will.
Please enlighten me.