Can we make quantum technology work? | Leo Kouwenhoven | TEDxAmsterdam
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Published 2015-11-29
So, what is a superposition? Quantum theory says that electrons can circle different atoms at the same time. That's the glue that keeps atoms together into molecules and stops our bodies from falling apart. It's how a green plant leaf can "process" light into oxygen in the fastest and most efficient way possible. If a plant can think that way, why can't a computer do that, too?
Leo Kouwenhoven is a professor of physics at TU Delft. His team at the QU Tech Lab designs experiments to place electrons in superpositions. Why? Because we need computers that can process information as quickly and efficiently as nature does, using quantum mechanics.
So, what is a superposition? Quantum theory says that electrons can circle different atoms at the same time. That's the glue that keeps atoms together into molecules and stops our bodies from falling apart. It's how a green plant leaf can "process" light into oxygen in the fastest and most efficient way possible. If a plant can think that way, why can't a computer do that, too?
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx
All Comments (21)
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This presentation was the first time I was able to grasp the power of quantum computing. Well done! Thank you so much.
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"Superposition is a good thing. You should 'Like' it on Facebook"
10:03 The animation on using Qbits to solve a maze problem. The first time I've ever actually understood how Qbits actually help you to do something useful. Thanks guy! -
I hadn’t realized that covalent chemical bonds are actually due to the superposition of electrons.
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Excellent talk! Highly accurate, highly understandable, highly interesting, and highly SIMPLE. Let us have more, please. Thank you.
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What Leo illustrated beautifully was classical machines vs quantum computers with the hand shakes, but what he did not disclose is since we are made of superposition particles, that is was possible to greet everyone in the room simultaneously via teleportation & entanglement methods, brain-to-brain instead of mechanically hand-to-hand, so we are far from the realization our mind & body is capable at least of quantum communication and subtle quantum energy but we limited ourselves and the expression of ourselves only in classical, Newtonian ways. Our thinking will gradually change...
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This video presentation is by far the best explanation and easy to understand the powerful nature of quantum computer. Thanks.
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Very sad, when a society decides that good people can be rejected based on a "lottery". But our society does many sad things. Your speech is easy to understand for beginners. Thank you!
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That one "ball" of a classical computer doesn't so much multiply as it becomes a wave function, according to quantum mechanics. When a quantum computer solves that "maze," i.e. finds the one solution that allows the ball to exit, that's called the collapse of the wave function.
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One of the best explanation of Quantum computing.
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Let's say there are 1024 possible paths in the labyrinth, which means we need 1024 qubits. This is realized by making a superposition of 10 electrons spins (the big difficulty in quantum computing is to keep this superposition stable because it takes just a little disturbance to destroy this superposition and this difficulty grows fast the greater the number of particles) meaning there are 2^10 (=1024) qubits (not electrons). Although there are also 1024 different combinations of 10 normal bits, we still just need 10 bits for each of these combinations, but when you make a computation with them you consider each combination in a sequence, which takes 1024 steps (or less) instead of 10 (or less). But my question is: at the points in the labyrinth where you can go in two directions, how is the superposition affected?
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Best examples I've seen to approach understanding quantum computing
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Outstanding lecture! Answered many questions for me and increased my understanding of quantum physics and quantum computers.
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Excellent, lucid explanation! I thoroughly enjoyed the talk. Looking forward to next generation of things that will change the world.
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Amazing presentation! One observation: the plants use photosynthesis to produce glicose, the oxigen is a (very important) byproduct. And the plant produce it for themselves not for us. But hey, he is into physics ;-)
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Great talk, by far the best explanation of quantum computers. Thanks
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A+ explaining. I can finally wrap my head around thinking this way.
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Just think about the number of children who are as brilliant as Leo born all over the world not lucky enough to be able to go on to study at university just because they were born in the wrong place. So much wasted human potential :(
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It's been a valuable pedagogical explanation. Thanks for that!
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Amazing, easy to follow talk, thank you!
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Best TED talk on quantum mechanics and superposition.
