introduction to quantum computer - 计算理论实验室.docVIP

INTRODUCTION to Quantum Computer Particle-wave duality We normally think of electrons, atoms and molecules as particles.? But each of these objects can also behave as waves. This dual particle-wave behaviour was first suggested in the 1920s by Louis de Broglie. This concept emerged as follows.? Thomas Youngs experiments with double slits in the early 1800s shows that light behaves as if it is a wave. But, strikingly, Einsteins explanation of the photoelectric effect in 1905 shows that light consists of particles. In 1923 de Broglie suggested this dual particle-wave property might apply to all particles including electrons. Then in 1926 Davisson and Germer found that electrons scattered off a crystal of nickel behaved as if they were waves. Since then neutrons, atoms and even molecules (including bucky balls) have been shown to behave as waves.? The waves tell us where the particle is likely to be found. This dual particle-wave property is exploited in quantum computing in the following way. A wave is spread out in space. In particular, a wave can spread out over two different places at once. This means that a particle can also exist at two places at once. This concept is called the superposition principle - the particle can be in a superposition of two places. Bits and Qubits The basic data unit in a conventional (or classical) computer is the bit, or binary digit. A bit stores a numerical value of either 0 or 1. An example of how bits are stored is given by a CD rom: ``pits and ``lands (absence of a pit) are used to store the binary data. We could also represent a bit using two different electron orbits in a single atom.? In most atoms there are many electrons in many orbits.? But we need only consider the orbits available to a single outermost electron in each atom.? The figure on the right shows two atoms representing the binary number 10.? The inner orbits represent the number 0 and the outer orbits represent the binary number 1.? The position of the electro