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A new phase of matter: Physicists show non-Abelian anyons in quantum processor

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Re: A new phase of matter: Physicists show non-Abelian anyons in quantum processor

#31

Post by Vecr »

Loughla wrote: post #29
jessriedel wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My impression as physicist in a different field is that quantum computing with non-Abelian anyons is notable because the error correction can be done mostly passively rather than actively. All error correction is, in a certain abstract sense, a form of cooling (i.e., sucking out entropy and thereby driving a system to a preferred subspace). These computers are notable in that the error correction literally is just co…

Can someone please explain quantum computing like i am a small Labrador puppy with a head injury? Because I read about it all the time, but just can't grasp.

I'm pretty sure they can't. What it's not, though, is running all the programs at the same time.

Re: A new phase of matter: Physicists show non-Abelian anyons in quantum processor

#33

Post by jes5199 »

Loughla wrote: post #29
jessriedel wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My impression as physicist in a different field is that quantum computing with non-Abelian anyons is notable because the error correction can be done mostly passively rather than actively. All error correction is, in a certain abstract sense, a form of cooling (i.e., sucking out entropy and thereby driving a system to a preferred subspace). These computers are notable in that the error correction literally is just co…

Can someone please explain quantum computing like i am a small Labrador puppy with a head injury? Because I read about it all the time, but just can't grasp.

no, it can’t actually be made simple. Qbits are fundamentally unfamiliar. They have restrictions like “you cannot copy them” and “all operations must be reversible”. And what you get at the end is basically flipping a weighted coin, where the probabilities are constrained by the operations you did earlier. The only way to understand it is to immerse yourself in it. Think: motivated grad student, not puppy.

Re: A new phase of matter: Physicists show non-Abelian anyons in quantum processor

#34

Post by apognwsi »

cynicalkane wrote: post #30
blovescoffee wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a bachelors in math (i.e. I know what an non-abelian group is and what operators are) but don't know much physics, can you explain more?

As a former math-head, let me chime in. The parent poster is probably not looking for an explanation of what exchange operators are, which are rather abstract and uninteresting in a physical vacuum, but rather how they are related to physical reality. I’ve learned a lot about both and still am not sure why exchange operators and physical meaning are related. Why does the fermion care if you do an exchange operator to…

the statistics of a collection of particles, ie fermions or bosons, depends on their symmetry under commutation. that is, the wavefunction of the collection of particles, which does have physical meaning isofar as its square is the real density of the particles, must also obey this symmetry, ie it must negate (-1*) under exchange of two identical fermions. so it's not that the 'fermion' cares, but that the consequence of (anti)symmetry under exchange affects the density of a collection of such particles, which leads to a measurable difference in their statistics (how likely they are to be close to each other) compared to non-symmetric (normal) counterparts.

Re: A new phase of matter: Physicists show non-Abelian anyons in quantum processor

#37

Post by shostack »

pyinstallwoes wrote: post #21

> The cows decided to solve the arms race problem by performing a single-party arms race in a way that caused minimal damage and, preferably, was not noticed at all by anyone. This is why their 'winner take all' approach to neural network AI also describes their overall strategic approach, a semantic detail which which at least some of them found funny. The results of this arms race could then be forever locked away…

What did I just read?

Re: A new phase of matter: Physicists show non-Abelian anyons in quantum processor

#38

Post by plank »

jes5199 wrote: post #33
Loughla wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can someone please explain quantum computing like i am a small Labrador puppy with a head injury? Because I read about it all the time, but just can't grasp.

no, it can’t actually be made simple. Qbits are fundamentally unfamiliar. They have restrictions like “you cannot copy them” and “all operations must be reversible”. And what you get at the end is basically flipping a weighted coin, where the probabilities are constrained by the operations you did earlier. The only way to understand it is to immerse yourself in it. Think: motivated grad student, not puppy.

A former physicist myself (with a PhD gotten for theoretical research into quantum optics): I really like the ‘weighted coin’ methaphor.

Re: A new phase of matter: Physicists show non-Abelian anyons in quantum processor

#39

Post by fifteen1506 »

shostack wrote: post #37
pyinstallwoes wrote: post #21

> The cows decided to solve the arms race problem by performing a single-party arms race in a way that caused minimal damage and, preferably, was not noticed at all by anyone. This is why their 'winner take all' approach to neural network AI also describes their overall strategic approach, a semantic detail which which at least some of them found funny. The results of this arms race could then be forever locked away…

What did I just read?

LLM summary, not verified:

1. Theoretical physicists created a new phase of matter, non-Abelian topological order, using a quantum processor.

2. They demonstrated non-Abelian anyons, which are neither bosons nor fermions but have properties of both.

3. Non-Abelian anyons are important for quantum computing as they are inherently stable and can "remember" their pasts.

4. The team used 27 trapped ions in a quantum processor and manipulated the system with measurements to create the desired particles.

5. This breakthrough connects foundational quantum mechanics to new particle ideas and could lead to better quantum computing.

Classic physics examples:

* Bosons: Photons (light particles)

* Fermions: Electrons, protons, and neutrons

* Non-Abelian anyons: Hypothetical particles with properties of both bosons and fermions.

Imagine a room full of light particles (bosons) and tiny, stable balls (non-Abelian anyons) that can remember their past positions as they move around. This is similar to the new phase of matter created by the researchers.

Re: A new phase of matter: Physicists show non-Abelian anyons in quantum processor

#40

Post by a_tartaruga »

Loughla wrote: post #29
jessriedel wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My impression as physicist in a different field is that quantum computing with non-Abelian anyons is notable because the error correction can be done mostly passively rather than actively. All error correction is, in a certain abstract sense, a form of cooling (i.e., sucking out entropy and thereby driving a system to a preferred subspace). These computers are notable in that the error correction literally is just co…

Can someone please explain quantum computing like i am a small Labrador puppy with a head injury? Because I read about it all the time, but just can't grasp.

Start by learning quantum mechanics for dogs: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/8243716

Then go here: https://qubit.guide/index

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