What is a quantum computer, and What is a quantum computer, and do I want one?do I want one?

Chapter 9 – Chapter 9 – Quantum MechanicsQuantum Mechanics

The discovery that waves have discrete energy packets (called quanta) that behave in a manner similar to particles led to the branch of physics that deals with atomic and subatomic systems which we today call quantum mechanics.

It is the underlying mathematical framework of many fields of physics and chemistry.

The foundations of quantum mechanics were established during the first half of the twentieth century by Werner Heisenberg, Max Planck, Louis de Broglie, Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, Erwin Schrödinger, Max Born, John von Neumann, Paul Dirac, Wolfgang Pauli and others.

It is currently necessary to use quantum mechanics to understand the behavior of systems at atomic length scales and smaller.

For example, if Newtonian mechanics governed the workings of an atom, electrons would rapidly travel towards and collide with the nucleus.

However, in the natural world the electrons normally remain in an unknown orbital path around the nucleus, defying classical electromagnetism.

From Wikipedia

Unique Features of Quantum Unique Features of Quantum MechanicsMechanics

Reductio ad absurdum?

Planck’s Constant (6.63 X 10-34 joule-seconds)

Heisenberg’s Uncertainty

Principle

Shrodinger’s Box Paradox

Spooky Action at a Distance

(entanglement)

Measurement ProblemMeasurement Problem

Quantum Particles (quanta of energy)

Particle Wave Duality

The Double-Slit Test

UncertaintyUncertainty

Quantum Attributes (properties of quantum particles)

Position Spin Velocity Momentum

Is the Moon really there if nobody is looking?

Probability WavesProbability Waves

Probability Distributions

Eigenstates (such as position and momentum)

Wave Functions

Wave Function Collapse

Spooky Action at a DistanceSpooky Action at a Distance

Entanglement

Quantum teleportation

Quantum computing

Faster than light communication

Quantum Interrogation

Quantum RealityQuantum Reality

Copenhagen Interpretation

Bohr-Einstein Debates

Multiple Universe Interpretation

Quantum Decoherence

More ProbabilityMore Probability

Quantum probability

Randomness

Chaos

Stochasticity

Emergent properties

QuizQuiz

1. T or F, according the Heisenberg, wherever you go, there you are.

2. T or F, according to Shrodinger, you should own a dog instead of a cat.

3. T or F, according to Einstein, ghosts exist only at a distance.

4. T or F, in a different reality, I’m a duck.

5. T or F, beam me up Scotty!