Scientists Dubious of Quantum Claims – International Business Times
Quantum computing is such an elusive goal that even the company claiming to have the “world’s first commercial quantum computer” acknowledged it isn’t entirely sure the machine is performing true quantum calculations.
…Many scientists believe that true quantum computing – which is based on the unusual properties of quantum physics – promises to solve certain factoring, simulation and other intensive problems faster than today’s machines that rely on classical physics. Most say it’s likely still years or decades away.
“Until we see more actual measurements, it’s hard to know whether they succeeded or not,” said Phil Kuekes, a computer architect in the Quantum Science Research Group at Hewlett-Packard Co.’s HP Labs.
D-Wave held its first public demonstration Tuesday of a machine it claims uses quantum mechanics to solve a certain type of problems, such as searching a database for matching molecular structures.
But the company did not make the machine available for inspection and instead showed video from a remote location, saying it was too sensitive to be easily transported.
And notwithstanding lofty claims in the company’s press release about creating the world’s first commercial quantum computer, D-Wave Chief Executive Herb Martin emphasized that the machine is not a true quantum computer and is instead a kind of special-purpose machine that uses some quantum mechanics to solve problems. [more]