Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Justin Trudeau explains the basics of quantum computing to reporters

macleans.ca

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 54 posts

Re: Justin Trudeau explains the basics of quantum computing to reporters

#41

Post by q4h555qh5 »

osweiller wrote: post #7

While this seems planted and trite (much like the "because it's 2015" answer), I have to confess that I don't get quantum computing. A qubit can hold multiple values, it seems. Okay, that's a data density improvement (presuming a quibit is as dense as a traditional bit). How does that improve computing power (especially by the many magnitudes)? Do you multiply a qubit of infinite values against a quibit of infinite v…

I'll try to answer this by presenting two types of computations a quantum computer is good at.

1) Quantum Simulation. So in a quantum system, your state can be in a superposition of states ("because waves"). There is a lot of information that resides in the way this system is in superposition and it determines how the system will interfere and evolve (amplification or destruction of certain states). Mathematically, it means you need to keep track of the complex amplitude of each of the 2^n states of a n-qubits system. On a classical computer, this means 2^n complex numbers are necessary to represent the quantum state.

However, on a quantum computer, you only need n-qubits to represent the quantum state, because qubits can be in superposition the same way any quantum state in nature can be. You can now do careful operations on your n-qubits state and simulate any quantum mechanical phenomena. It is therefore way easier to simulate quantum mechanics on a quantum computer than on a classical computer. This could be useful in many areas, like chemistry to simulate protein-folding.

2) Factorization (Shor's algorithm). It is possible to engineer a quantum state that is the superposition of all possible inputs. Then, it is also possible to carefully create interference so that non-solution of the factorization problems get lower amplitude, while solutions get bigger amplitude. At some points you can measure the state and collapse it in one of the state. Since the amplitude of the solutions is big compared to the amplitude of non-solutions, you get the solution with significant probability. You can then verify it using any classical computer because multiplying two numbers is easy. This algorithm breaks most of today public key cryptography used on the internet.

Re: Justin Trudeau explains the basics of quantum computing to reporters

#42

Post by gjkood »

dnautics wrote: post #34

The statement itself is pure technobabble. "A regular computer bit is either a one or a zero, either on or off. A quantum state can be much more complex than that, because as we know, things can be both particle and wave at the same time and the uncertainty around quantum states allows us to encode more information into a much smaller computer." To be sure, there are statements in there that are correct, but they don…

Isn't getting funding for science actually politics and not science? Using the funding is science, but getting the funding is politics, no?

Re: Justin Trudeau explains the basics of quantum computing to reporters

#43

Post by dnautics »

gjkood wrote: post #42
dnautics wrote: post #34

The statement itself is pure technobabble. "A regular computer bit is either a one or a zero, either on or off. A quantum state can be much more complex than that, because as we know, things can be both particle and wave at the same time and the uncertainty around quantum states allows us to encode more information into a much smaller computer." To be sure, there are statements in there that are correct, but they don…

Isn't getting funding for science actually politics and not science? Using the funding is science, but getting the funding is politics, no?

You're conflating a strict definition of politics with "playing politics".

Re: Justin Trudeau explains the basics of quantum computing to reporters

#44

Post by gjkood »

Torgo wrote: post #30

Trudeau is reasonably smart, and admitted his knowledge was basic. It's everyone else that's acting ridiculous. >“I was flabbergasted,” Laflamme says. “I don’t know how he does in other subjects, but in quantum physics, he knows the basic pieces and the important questions.” Maybe he read a single article about quantum theory in an issue of Popular Science. Maybe, before an event at a facility where he knew he would…

Canada should be congratulated for selecting a PM who atleast takes the trouble to educate himself before spouting an opinion.

Here in the US, we elect politicians who actively deny science and are proud of their lack of knowledge.

Re: Justin Trudeau explains the basics of quantum computing to reporters

#45

Post by thevibesman »

gjkood wrote: post #39
thevibesman wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I see no evidence that his knowledge is any better than a layman's Really? I got the impression that he didn't really get the significance of Q-bits and just thought of it as 'stores more stuff than a digital-bit; MORE GB!!!'. At the same time, I'd be surprised if a man-on-the-street interview would give anywhere near as good of an answer. > It's pretty sad that people are surprised or impressed when a politician h…

Thank you for the link to the video. Its probably the most intellectually stimulating 20 minutes I have spent in a long time. I loved the conversation around politicians, religion, ufos, aliens and their particular proclivities. I am reminded of the choice of selecting Rev. Palmer Joss instead of Dr. Arroway for the mission in 'Contact' because he represents the 99% of the world who have some sort of religious faith…

The anti-procrastination feature kicked me off after my last post, but I was planning on submitting the video link to HN after my comment; here it is: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11511570

Interesting note about 'Contact'; the film came out the summer before I was in 7th grade so that and the book are far away in my memory.

Re: Justin Trudeau explains the basics of quantum computing to reporters

#46

Post by gjkood »

dnautics wrote: post #43
gjkood wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't getting funding for science actually politics and not science? Using the funding is science, but getting the funding is politics, no?

You're conflating a strict definition of politics with "playing politics".

I am just suggesting that both politicians and scientists may need to do things that they may despise to get what they want.

Politicians may need to kiss babies to get elected and scientists may need to kiss politicians (metaphorically) to get funding :).

Isn't the ability to "play politics" a significant factor in rising up a hierarchy (scientific or otherwise)?

Re: Justin Trudeau explains the basics of quantum computing to reporters

#47

Post by TheOsiris »

daeken wrote: post #5
fragsworth wrote: post #2

I see no evidence that his knowledge is any better than a layman's, and this really feels like a promotional piece. It's pretty sad that people are surprised or impressed when a politician has a layman's understanding of something in science.

Do you honestly believe that the majority of people (hell, even 10% of people) could explain it to even the level he did? It's still a layman's level -- his response is clearly over-simplified and I doubt he could show the math behind any of it -- but it's far and above what the average person could tell you about the subject.

yes, in fact I believe that everyone who is giving a speech at an institution like that to know everything he talked about if not not more.

he didn't mention anything that you can't find on the first page of a cliffs notes on quantum physics

Re: Justin Trudeau explains the basics of quantum computing to reporters

#48

Post by sospep »

TheOsiris wrote: post #47
daeken wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you honestly believe that the majority of people (hell, even 10% of people) could explain it to even the level he did? It's still a layman's level -- his response is clearly over-simplified and I doubt he could show the math behind any of it -- but it's far and above what the average person could tell you about the subject.

yes, in fact I believe that everyone who is giving a speech at an institution like that to know everything he talked about if not not more. he didn't mention anything that you can't find on the first page of a cliffs notes on quantum physics

> he didn't mention anything that you can't find on the first page of a cliffs notes on quantum physics

ummm, i think the idea was to give a "cliff's notes/ELI5" explanation of the subject

If you watched the video[0], a reporter asked a question about a political issue but prefaced his question with a sarcastic question along the lines of "I was going to ask you to explain quantum computing When do think Canada's ISIS mission will ...."

When Trudeau answered the question, I think many were somewhat surprised.

[0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRmv4uD2RQ4

Re: Justin Trudeau explains the basics of quantum computing to reporters

#49

Post by dnautics »

gjkood wrote: post #46
dnautics wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're conflating a strict definition of politics with "playing politics".

I am just suggesting that both politicians and scientists may need to do things that they may despise to get what they want. Politicians may need to kiss babies to get elected and scientists may need to kiss politicians (metaphorically) to get funding :). Isn't the ability to "play politics" a significant factor in rising up a hierarchy (scientific or otherwise)?

http://calteches.library.caltech.edu/51/2/CargoCult.htm

"I would like to add something that’s not essential to the science, but something I kind of believe, which is that you should not fool the layman when you’re talking as a scientist. I’m not trying to tell you what to do about cheating on your wife, or fooling your girlfriend, or something like that, when you’re not trying to be a scientist, but just trying to be an ordinary human being. We’ll leave those problems up to you and your rabbi. I’m talking about a specific, extra type of integrity that is not lying, but bending over backwards to show how you’re maybe wrong, that you ought to do when acting as a scientist. And this is our responsibility as scientists, certainly to other scientists, and I think to laymen....

So I wish to you—I have no more time, so I have just one wish for you—the good luck to be somewhere where you are free to maintain the kind of integrity I have described, and where you do not feel forced by a need to maintain your position in the organization, or financial support, or so on, to lose your integrity. May you have that freedom."

After quitting traditional academic science, so far I have found that I haven't had to compromise my integrity in the pursuit of science. It hasn't been easy, but I am happy with where I am, so far.

Re: Justin Trudeau explains the basics of quantum computing to reporters

#50

Post by alistproducer2 »

osweiller wrote: post #7

While this seems planted and trite (much like the "because it's 2015" answer), I have to confess that I don't get quantum computing. A qubit can hold multiple values, it seems. Okay, that's a data density improvement (presuming a quibit is as dense as a traditional bit). How does that improve computing power (especially by the many magnitudes)? Do you multiply a qubit of infinite values against a quibit of infinite v…

There are some great explanation here, but I wanted to add an article that gave me some insight about the subject: http://arstechnica.com/science/2010/01/a-tale-of-two-qubits-...
Post reply on HN