How do experts explain 'quantum computer' to people with different knowledge and experience?

" Quantum computer " which enables super high-speed calculation using quantum mechanical superposition is attracting attention as a means to realize computation speed far exceeding the conventional computer. About such a quantum computer, a movie which experts describe according to each level is released to YouTube for five people having completely different backgrounds as children, teenagers, university students, graduate students, researchers It is.

Quantum Computing Expert Explains One Concept in 5 Levels of Difficulty | WIRED


Talia Gershon , senior manager at IBM's Quantum Computer Development Division, will explain the quantum computer in this movie.

The first person to describe is "child".

8 years old Genesis Brown who appeared before Gershon. Brown points to the quantum computer behind "What is this?"

Gershon says, "We call this a joke" Chandelier ", but if we answer" The name is "quantum computer" ... ...

Mr. Brown makes a look that muttered "Quantum ...... Con ...?"?

"This is a tremendous computer, doing calculations in a way different from previous computers," Mr. Gershon continues, but Mr. Brown remained a subtle expression as ever.

Then, "What is this?", Mr. Gershon will take out a piece of paper written as "A".

When Brown answers "A?", Gershon answers "That's right!"

Gershon, who said "The computer is thinking about" A "like this," will show the paper on which 0 and 1 are repeated.

Mr. Brown murmurs as "0 ...... 1 ......" and laughs.

"A normal computer represents one each, 0 and 1, for example, like the front side of this coin, but since the coin is running around the quantum computer, you can represent 0 and 1 together "Gershon explains.

Mr. Brown soon asked, "Is it possible to do a terribly difficult homework?" "Oh yes!" Gershon answered, "It is really useful for homework to calculate something, quantum computer will help to make new medicine to help people," he talks about the possibilities of quantum computers It was.

Gershon's explanation to the second person is a teenager.

According to Gershon's question, "What kind of computer do you usually use?" 15-year-old Iesse Perlmutter answered "It's an iPhone - almost always using an iPhone for SNQ or homework investigations" It was.

"Our team is developing a new computer that is different from the previous one." Gershon asks, "Do you understand what this is behind?"

Perlmutter answering while laughing "I do not understand!"

Perlmutter answered, "I have never heard" even if explained to Gershon, "This is a quantum computer", "There is not anything at all" in the question "I heard the word quantum" And that.

Gershon, who told us that we are applying a field of quantum physics and making a new computer, took out one oversized 1 cent coin.

"Coins have front and back, as long as they are placed on the palm or on the desk, you can say," This coin is a table "and" This coin is the back "? Perlmutter says," Yes I will answer. "Well, what will happen if you turn the coin?" Perlmutter seems to have a question mark "Mr.?" Around the head.

Gershon actually shows the coins. Perlmutter replies to Gershon who asks "Do you see this coin or the back?" Confidently as if it is "Table?"

Mr. Gershon stops the rotation of the coin, and asks "I wonder if this can be said to be" turning "? Then, Perlmutter seems to have noticed hesitatingly, "Oh, it is not, I do not know which is the front or back," I answered.

"We are making a new computer called a quantum computer taking advantage of the quantum nature" I do not know which side of the table or the bottom "," says Gershon.

"In fact, we know that the phenomenon" quantum entanglement "occurs in the quantum," Gershon handed another coin to Perlmutter.

"Even if two of us are turning coins away, if we determine that your coin is a" table, "my coin is also determined to be a" table. "That is called quantum entanglement." And Gershon explains ... ...

"Is there such a thing!?" Perlmutter was surprised.

When Gershon adds a comment that the quantum computer is in a very cold state and it is like a refrigerator, Perlmutter says, "When I explain to my friends about today," What is quantum!? " I think I am laughing. "

It is an active college student who appears in the third person.

To Amanda Liu majoring in computer science, Mr. Gershon pointed to the quantum computer behind and asked, "What do you think this is?"

Mr. Liu who answered "Do something's experimental circuit?" Gershon says, "I am doing a good line, this is a quantum computer," Liu nodded with a convincing opinion of "Oh."

Liu who is studying computer science mainly learns machine learning, and although the quantum computer is not specialized, it seems that "Quantum computer is a high-performance computer using quantum superposition" understanding.

"Well, do you know the word" quantum entanglement "?" Asked Mr. Gershon, Liu answered, "I have never heard of it."

"Quantum tangled is a state where two quanta interfere with each other, Do you understand the word of interference?" Gershon asked, "I do not know much," Liu replied.

"Well then, do you know how noise cancellation works?" Gershon asked, "Mr. Liu was to cancel the frequency of the noise by hitting the noise of the frequency to cancel it. ___ ___ 0 "That's right! That is interference," Gershon responded pleasantly.

"We are making quantum computers using quantum superposition, quantum entanglement, etc." explained Gershon.

Then, Liu asked, "I am mainly studying programming, but will quantum computer contribute to the programming site?" Is asked.

"It is a good question! Even if it is a very difficult calculation on a classical computer, there is plenty of possibility that it can be solved by doing it with a quantum computer.If you are studying machine learning etc, Affinity may be high, "Gershon replied.

"How long after the quantum computer is installed in my notebook PC or coming to the dormitory's room after years? After 5 years? After ten years?" Liu's question is ... ...

"The era of being mounted in a notebook PC or coming to a dormitory room is going to be a long way ahead, but the era of accessing quantum computers in the laboratory from the cloud is coming soon," Gershon answered It was.

Next is a graduate student.

Greg Kocher, a graduate student, said he is engaged in machine learning-related research.

Mr. Gershon also seems to be interested in machine learning, asking "What do you think about the limits of machine learning?" And "My colleagues also have studied about neural networks of machine learning I will have a conversation saying "I will do it.

"I think that quantum computers are also closely involved in the field of machine learning," Gershon said, Kocher also said that "I am also interested in quantum computers".

"But since we do not accurately grasp the theory about quantum computers, there is a doubt about the encoding of information," Kocher asked.

Gershon looks back on the model of the quantum computer behind ... ...

Explanation "Quantum information is stored in this chip". We are using microwave pulses to observe quantum states.

Kocher who receives explanation listens to Gershon's story while holding in conspiracy with "I see".

Kocher also hits the specialized question "What kind of algorithm works with?" Gershon replied, "We use quantum computer algorithms such as" Shore 's algorithm "and" Grover' s algorithm ". I will continue to show the position that research is necessary for the algorithm to operate quantum computer.

It is the active researcher who appears last.

Steven Girvin is a professor of physics at Yale University .

Mr. Girvin, a theoretical physicist, has studied quantum optics in recent years in addition to research on superconductors and magnetic forces.

Mr. Gershon who was in front of a special professor inquired "How do you think about quantum computers?"

Quantum computers are known to have inevitable "noise" and to make the calculation out of order. In order to avoid that, I explained that fault-tolerant quantum computation method that corrects mistakes in quantum computation and gives correct computation result is necessary, and that Girvin is conducting the research.

Although the reliability of the quantum computer decreases compared with the conventional computer, Girvin says that he wants to be able to give the calculation result of the "perfect" quantum computer.

Quantum state which can be said to be the Achilles tendon of quantum computer is very susceptible to influence from the surroundings, so it is necessary to keep stable condition.

"It's a very frustrating work, but I have to research patiently," said Girvin.

Gershon says with laughter that "In the world, quantum computers solve the weather problem within five years, rumors saying that eradicating cancer is being whispered" is laughed ......

Mr. Girvin also laughed and said, "In the field of quantum computers there is definitely great progress, but it is too short for five years to bring such big achievements," he replied.

Gershon's question "How do you think people use quantum computers?" Says, "I can not predict anything in the coming decades.If thirty years ago, iPhone was like magic That's because it's something, "Girvin laughed.

It seems that Gershon himself was also a very interesting experience to explain the quantum computer to people with different knowledge and standpoint.