The specs of the machine aren't all that impressive in many ways. Still, Lockheed Martin's got one now. I've heard that a quantum computer would make short work of any encryption done by a conventional machine. Don't know if that's true or not, but that certainly hints at one possibility.
Debate? All they have to do is attempt to observe it, and it'll collapse into either a state of existence or a state of non-existence.
So ka. It appears the next paradigm shift in computing technology has arrived on our doorsteps. Twenty years from now the computer I'm typing on will be as obsolete as an old punchcard machine taking up three rooms.
I work with GD, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon etc. equipment. They want a quantum computer because our battlefield command + control/security/weapons/logistical centers need to be faster and better than that of our enemy....pretty much the definition of "defense" these days.
I must be missing something but for all the talk about how great quantum computers will be, I haven't seen anything from the early models that sound all that great. I mean, if there's doubt that the damn things aren't just black boxes with flashing lights I just can't get that worked up over them. That admittedly could be because my tired old brain cells can't wrap themselves around anything to do with quantum physics. I'm afraid when the topic comes up all I hear is
AFAIK, only public-key encryption is vulnerable to quantum computing, and then only when it reaches scales of 1-4kqubit. I could be wrong about that, however.
