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>You realize quantum computing is ultimately just a few linear algebra operations right? Quantum systems have wavefunctions though, which collapse to a state.
by hdivider 5y ago
>You realize quantum computing is ultimately just a few linear algebra operations right?
Quantum systems have wavefunctions though, which collapse to a state. And before collapse, these can interfere. The math of this involves way more than normal linear algebra. Especially when you consider the things we've simplified away -- e.g. how exactly the wave function collapses. (We just say it's 'abrupt' and kinda leave it there. But it's possible this has implications for quantum computing, once we think in quantum theory terms rather than CS.)
- foxes 5y agoA significant part of quantum computation is just a sequence of unitary transformations, represented by matrices. So essentially just a series of big matrix multiplications. The nonlinearity is introduced in the measurement. You have to repeat the calculation several times to build up a probability distribution.
- krastanov 5y agoWave functions are just another type of vectors. Measurement (and collapse) is just an application of matrix diagonalization. It has its complications and its own beauty, but it is indeed just fanciful linear algebra (I work professionally on this).