Why Quantum Computing Was Delayed by 30 Years - Michael Nielsen
Michael Nielsen explains that quantum computing emerged in the 1980s rather than the 1950s because it required the convergence of two separate technological developments: widespread personal computing and the ability to manipulate single quantum states through techniques like ion trapping.
Summary
Nielsen addresses why quantum computing didn't develop in the 1950s despite pioneers like John von Neumann having expertise in both computation and quantum mechanics. He argues that the field emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s due to a historically contingent convergence of two key developments. First, computation became much more salient to the general public during this period as personal computers like the Apple II and Commodore 64 became commercially available, making the power of computational devices apparent to many more people. Second, this same period saw crucial advances in quantum physics, particularly the development of ball traps and techniques for trapping single ions, which gave scientists the ability to manipulate individual quantum states for the first time. Nielsen illustrates the excitement around early computing with an anecdote about Richard Feynman, who was so enthusiastic about getting one of the first PCs that he tripped and injured himself while carrying it. Nielsen suggests that having someone as talented as Feynman who understood quantum mechanics and was simultaneously excited about these new computational machines naturally led to thinking about quantum computing possibilities. He emphasizes that this convergence was historically contingent - the necessary conditions simply didn't exist a decade earlier.
Key Insights
- John von Neumann was a pioneer in both computation and quantum mechanics, writing important works in both fields, yet quantum computing didn't emerge in the 1950s despite his dual expertise
- Computation became much more salient to people in the late 1970s and early 1980s because personal computers like Apple II and Commodore 64 became commercially available, making computational power apparent to the general public
- The development of ball traps and ion trapping techniques around 1980 gave scientists the ability to manipulate single quantum states for the first time
- Richard Feynman was so excited about getting one of the first personal computers that he tripped and hurt himself badly while carrying the device
- The emergence of quantum computing required a historically contingent coincidence where advances in personal computing and quantum state manipulation both matured around the same time period
Topics
Transcript
[0:00] Why was quantum computing not a thing in the 1950s? Like it could have been. John Vonoman good example. Absolutely pioneering computation. Also wrote a very important book about quantum mechanics. A couple things that I think are interesting. One is that of course computation became far more salient sort of late '7s early ' 80s. You know it just became a thing which many more people were interested in partially for you know for very banal reasons. You could go and buy a PC, you could buy an Apple 2, you could buy a Commodore 64, you could buy all these kinds of things. Became apparent to people that these were very powerful devices. At the same time,…
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