A few days ago I read about the quantum computing experiment which basically claimed to have used a “quantum based optical computer” to solve a problem - without even turning it on! Okay, that’s just crazy talk. I read the [original article]1 twice. I understood none of it. Today, a [3QD post]2 has culled a number of resources helping to explain the whole thing, including [this wonderful explanation]3. I still don’t get it, but I don’t get it less than before, which I think is good.
1: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-02/uoia-qcs022106.php
2: http://3quarksdaily.blogs.com/3quarksdaily/2006/02/quantum_computi.html
3: http://3quarksdaily.blogs.com/3quarksdaily/2006/02/quantum_computi.html

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