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If the NSA wanted to do something really interesting with a quantum computer, they would invest in scientific research instead. Quantum computing allows specif
by Xcelerate 13y ago
If the NSA wanted to do something really interesting with a quantum computer, they would invest in scientific research instead.
Quantum computing allows specific types of quantum simulations to be performed in polynomial time instead of exponential time. The most powerful classical computers cannot get around what is known as the fermion sign problem.
I think super-accurate simulations would be very exciting; imagine a world where experiments are conducted using computers, but give the same exact results as their "real-life" counterparts.
- mturmon 13y ago"they would invest in scientific research instead" They already are, and have been for many years now. Here's one example from a couple of years ago (https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=637e87ac1274d030ce2ab69339ccf93c https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&i...) but there have been much larger-scale investments too. Because of its coding and codebreaking relevance, this stuff is squarely within their charter. They are all over it.