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When using a quantum computer, what is the act of "observation" that collapses the qubits to 0s and 1s? Does the observer have to be a human?
by galaxyLogic 7y ago
When using a quantum computer, what is the act of "observation" that collapses the qubits to 0s and 1s? Does the observer have to be a human?
- fsh 7y agoHow the measurement is done depends on the physical implementation of the qubit. For example the state of the qubit could affect the resonance frequency of a coupled microwave cavity which can be measured using RF techniques. Obviously at some point the experimenter has to check the result of the measurement, which makes the question what would have happened without a conscious observer impossible to answer.
- galaxyLogic 7y agoVery interesting. Then does the observation of one qubit collapse them all at the same time, or is it possible to decide to read just one qubit at a time?
- UnFleshedOne 7y agoAs I understand it "observation" is any interaction that leads to decoherence. No complex neural wetware required.
- galaxyLogic 7y agoSo no Schrodinger's Cat? The cat is the observer! Sounds natural and obvious, so why haven't I heard this solution to Schrodinger's Cat many times before? Why is Schrodinger's Cat still considered a problem worth discussing ?
- UnFleshedOne 7y agoSchrodinger's Cat is Schrodinger's way of saying Copenhagen interpretation is probably wrong I think. That was an absurd example that got a life of its own.
- PeCaN 7y agoIt's actually done by little gnomes inside the qubits.
- galaxyLogic 7y ago:-)