Quantum Computers: Unrealistic Dream or Established Truth?

UFOs from outer space, America and the USA kissing and making up, Brexit happening sooner rather than later and Donald Trump showing some humility. We know they aiyn’t gonna happen. So say those who doubt quantum computers’ future in our world, tooPhoto by Mar Cerdeira on Unsplash

As Likely as UFOs

I’m no computer scientist, nor a physicist, so maybe my ten cents doesn’t matter in the long run, but I can still have an opinion, and I do about quantum computers.

The world of quantum computing is a relatively new one. Every day, fresh theories and claims are put out there, both in well-established publications and blog posts. Naturally, this can lead to various attitudes and positions on where the discipline is heading. Most — or at least from the ones I have read — advocate a bright future for quantum computers and how they will play an important part in our lives in the coming decades when they reach a new complexity class. Articles that dispel the myth of how crucial they will be, however — maybe not few and far between — are far less than of those championing QC.

Why is this?

One of the main justifications as to why quantum computers are as much a fantasy as UFOs visiting our planet is because some physicists argue qubits are phenomena that play to their own tune, that to get them to do what we want, to manipulate their quantum essence and behaviour is asking too much of them. Such computers, factoring in the cost of construction and other unknowns, will make the likely task a futile project fuelled by man’s arrogant notion that he can control the quantum world.

Think again, men in white coats, with your eggheads, chaotic labs, hair unkempt and so Gödelian in your insanity and quest for truth you forget to eat.

Quantonovich and Futurio

“What did you say there?”

I turn to my left: A man is standing. Five-ten, of slim build, wearing glasses.

“Who are you?” I ask him.

“Professor Sergei Quantonovich, at your disposal, sir,” he answers.

“And what are you doing here?” I say.

“I just told you.”

“You told me what?”

“I am at your disposal.”

“For what?”

“Your doubts, your questions.”

“Are you Russian?” I then ask.

“Yes, Professor of Quantum Computer Doubt Theory at the University of Sceptalia.”

“The University of Scept-”

“I know, it’s hard to fathom,” Quantonovich interjects.

“And what is Quantum Computer Doubt Theory?”

“A bullshit school of thought that should be cast to the dark ages!” a voice calls out to my right.

I turn in that direction:

“Who are you?” I say to the black woman next to me. She is young, elegantly dressed, looking very much like Rihanna with intense eyes I could die for.

“His opposite. The future.”

“And what’s your name?”

“Azelia Futurio, Professor of Quantum Technologies at the University of You Better Be Ready People ’Cause We’re In For A Change.”

“That’s a long title.”

“I didn’t choose it.”

“Then why are you two people here.”

“We’re here to argue, sort things out,” Quantonovich says.

“Is that right?” I ask Futurio.

“Sure is, honey… Why are you interested in all this, anyway?” she says.

“I’m just a tech journalist, a blogger, trying to get to the bottom of all this.”

“The bottom,” Quantonovich says, “there is no bottom. Only paradoxes and counterclaims that go on forever.”

“Take a seat, please,” Futurio says to me.

Out of nowhere, a chair appears.

Magic.

“Am I to sit?” I ask.

“Yes,” Quantonovich states.

I get comfortable.

“What now?” I say.

“You go first, Professor Quantonovich,” Futurio says.

“Fine… Listen here, do you believe quantum computers will be reality?” Quantonovich asks me.

I think for a second, before saying:

“I hope so, yeah.”

“Think about this for a moment, then: Now, I am taking this stance as a trained computer scientist, esteemed physician and mathematician, too, so hear me out… The main issue we have when it comes to a fully functioning quantum computer, constructed out of non-quantum architecture, is the noise. Do you realise that all physical systems are noisy buggers, and that to maintain the delicate position of qubits in their quantum state of superpositions and entanglement means they will unavoidably be, at some time, corrupted by external forces of noise.”

“Can’t we just turn the noise down?” I ask, naively, I know.

“No, because it is not just a question of getting the physical engineering right of the architecture… You see, there are different levels of noise. And noise, at least in the quantum world, is more about errors in the processes that can affect the quantum state of the qubits to perform what we want them to perform during their entanglement stage.”

“I’m a bit lost?”

“Basically the noise, or error rate, can affect the state of the qubits in their entangled positions which corrupts them and makes them useless.”

“So what you’re saying is that you need to lower errors?”

“Something like that, yes. Error correction will be the key to the kingdom and I don’t think we have the scientific know-how now or ever will have to accomplish it. It’s a matter of two distinct phenomena: physical qubits and logical, or operational, qubits.”

“And what’s the difference?” I ask as my brain starts heating up.

“The logical qubits are where or the computational power will come from. The physical qubits will just be expendable dummies, created for the sole purpose of being eliminated on account of their errors so the logical qubits can get to work.”

“Nice theory,” I comment.

“But here’s the rub — to do it, to achieve operational coherence, would take many more physical qubits than logical ones.”

“How many, exactly?”

“Who knows? Five hundred to one. A thousand to one. Maybe more. Whatever the number, it’s scientifically impossible.”

“He’s talking crap,” Futurio butts in.

“You know I’m not… Say we could reach ten logical qubits, which would be operational, we need a hell of a lot more physical qubits to counter that. But let’s be conservative: you’ll need 1⁰² for fault tolerance issues,” Quantonovich goes on.

“D-Wave already reckons they have over a thousand qubit machine?” Futurio says to Quantonovich.

“D-Wave is a company with its head in the clouds. Even with Google and IBM resources, it will be computationally impossible… Do you understand now what I’m talking about?” Quantonovich asks me.

“More than before, but it’s still very hard going,” I answer.

“What is more, the two camps are split: the one, where I am, of scientists and mathematicians, don’t believe it. The venture capitalists and people out to make money from it, on the other hand, take the unrealistic view. It’s simply, how do you say it in English, ‘chalk and cheese’. Quantum supremacy is an impossible feat.”

Source: storyblocks.com

“Don’t listen to him, sir — there are plenty of physicists and computer scientists in my camp. He’s just jealous because we’re stealing his thunder!” Futurio says to me.

“And don’t listen to her!” Quantonovich shouts, angry now and with his finger pointing accusatorily at Futorio.

“Will how the qubits are created be an obstacle in the ratio of physical qubits to logical qubits within the architectural system make a difference?” I ask.

“You mean whether they are made from superconductors, trapped ions, optic methodology or any other way?” Quantonovich answers.

“Yes?”

“It hasn’t been proven that it affects the outcome.”

“That is a shame.”

“I think I’ve said enough. Professor Futurio, would you like to defend your lost cause now?” Quantonovich says.

“I certainly would… So, are you trained in science, sir?” Futurio asks me as she’s walking up to me slowly.

“No, I am not.”

“And what is your profession?”

“I am a writer, a teacher, too.”

“Of what, if I may ask?”

“English and business.”

“English… Interesting. And where did your interest in quantum computing come about?”

“From books, physics at school. Reading Richard Feynman’s work which is so accessible to the ill-trained.”

“I agree. The man was a genius… Do you know I had a crush on him when I was younger — at least his picture?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“And what books do you like?”

“Surely You’re Joking, Mr Feynman! Adventures Of A Curious Character and The Character Of Physical Law.”

Richard Feynman. Source: hackaday.com

“Great books,” Futurio says with a smile.

“Are you going to start, Futurio, or talk about the literary qualities of a man who didn’t even write his own books — they were all transcribed.”

“All right, okay, calm down, Quantonovich… So, you’ve got to believe it when I tell you we’re going somewhere with these machines. Maybe at the moment we’re in the Turing era of quantum computing, back in the late 30s or early 40s in realistic terms, but we’re moving fast and soon we’ll be where we want to be.”

“I hope so,” I say.

“Ever heard of Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum devices?”

“No, never,” I answer.

“Well, they will solve the problem that Professor Quantonovich thinks exists with quantum architecture now.”

“They will never solve the high physical to logical qubit ratio. I gave ten to one example because I was being respectful to you, Professor Futurio. I believe it will be thousands to one, let’s say 20,000 physical qubits to create a fully operational logical qubit — and you think NISQs are going to help you there?”

“I thought it was my turn to talk?” Futurio says.

“Continue.”

“No, I won’t. I won’t, and do you know why?” Futurio says, looking at me, her beautiful eyes sad now — it’s not a nice thing to look at.

“She’s defeated. Science has won out in the end,” Quantonovich says.

“I’m leaving,” Futurio announces as she starts to walk off.

“That’s it, do it. Go and tell all the money men, all the dreamers in IBM, Google, and Intel that they’re wasting their time, that quantum technology is just a faux science, a way to cheat VCs out of their money…”

“What is your name, by the way, son?” Quantonovich says to me, his arm around me now, the smile on his face smug in its academic deplorability.

“James,” I reply.

“Well, James, I better be going now. He looks at his watch. “I’ve got a lecture in an hour.”

“A lecture on what?”

“Advanced quantum field theory. Do you want to come?”

“Yes, please,” I answer before we walk off.

Quantum Computers: Unrealistic Dream or Established Truth? was originally published in Hacker Noon on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.