The Feynman Processor : Quantum Entanglement and the Computing Revolution (Helix Books Series) by Gerard J. Milburn (PDF)

Description

Quantum computing, the reduction of computing elements to sizes far smaller than that of present-day chips, down to the size of individual atoms, presents new problems, problems on the quantum level. But thanks to new discoveries by Gerard Milburn and other cutting-edge scientists, quantum computing is about to become a reality.In this book, the first one for the general public to explain the scientific ideas behind concepts seen before only in science fiction, physicist Milburn brings us the exciting world of phenomena of entanglement, where particles can be in two places at the same time, where matter on the quantum level can be teleported à la Star Trek’s famous Transporter; and where cryptographers can construct fundamentally unbreakable computer codes.Although other books and magazine articles have dealt with some of the subjects in this book, this is the first book for the layman to deal specifically with quantum computing, an area pioneered by the great physicist Richard Feynman, who first posed the challenge to scientists to devise the smallest, fastest computer elements, to take us to the absolute physical limits of computers. This book promises to both astound and educate every reader eager to keep abreast of the latest breakthroughs in physics and computers.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: About the Author Gerard L. Milburn is professor of theoretical physics and head of the Department of Laser Science at the University of Queensland, Australia. He is one of the key scientists in the effort to make quantum computers a reality. Professor Milburn is also the author of Schrödinger Machines.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Reading unfinished, this is a document of thought-bending topics: Probability and Physical models converge.Heady topics often requiring contemplation or research, prior to moving forward.

⭐Timely reading with ongoing US and Swiss quantum computing research currently newsworthy due to NSA wanting fast processors to break codes in the war on terrorism.

⭐Mathematics was invented for a reason, and the avoidance of even simple mathematics makes this book near unintelligible. Further, the habit of versing quantum theory in terms of genetics, real and imagined, further separates the subject mater from the reader; and giving Feynman credit for how probability amplitudes add would probably not please him at all. Give this one a wide berth and read instead ‘The quest for the quantum computer’ by Julian Brown which is everything this book is not.

⭐This book is clearly written by a physics professor who doesn’t spend much time talking to people who haven’t studied physics. I would guess his editor falls into this category as well. The back cover praises its accessibility, a marketing gimmick as obviously deceptive as the sensationalistic chapter names. For example, one chapter, “Teleportation for Gamblers” is named after an obscure quantum phenomenon that has been dubbed teleportation for no apparent reason, has nothing to do with gambling, and is only referred to in passing.The first four chapters try to give an overview of quantum mechanics to those who haven’t studied physics. Even after spending 4 years earning a Bachelor’s in Physics, I was only barely able to follow the discussion. If I did not already understand the principles he was explaining, I would never have been able to fill in the holes of explanation.But my biggest complaint about this section is that he bases the entire discussion on calculating probabilities in a quantum environment. But in trying to avoid complex math, he leaves out essential details. The much more intuitive explanation of superposition of states (whereby an object is in two places or states at the same time) he barely mentions in this section. If the material was presented in this way, all the math would be unnecessary, and the interesting second part of the book would make much more sense.Beyond that, the book contains numerous factual mistakes. His Turing machine for multiplying on page 99 just doesn’t work. On page 109, he says that if you have N objects, and for each object you need to store N pieces of information that have a total of N^N pieces of information. The correct answer, N^2, makes his point much less dramatic.The last two chapters are interesting indeed. They discuss what is possible with a quantum computer, and the state of research in 1998. I recommend that if you do buy this book, only read the last two chapters. If you can’t follow it, look anywhere else for an explanation. The first four chapters will not help.

⭐By reading “The Feynman Processor” don’t hope to get deep insight into the field of quantum computation, but expect to get inspiration for studying the physics in more detail.The author has attempted to write a semi-popular text on quantum computation suitable for the reader with little knowledge of quantum physics. Therefore, throughout the text no mathematical formulae to speak of are displayed. Moreover, an introductory chapter has been included describing some of the characteristic features of quantum physics. Before discussing quantum computation the reader is confronted with related topics such as ‘quantum entanglement’ and even ‘quantum teleportation’. Unfortunately, long arguments and reasoning are sometimes placed in the middle of a section without warning. This makes some sections of the book frustratingly hard to read — for the beginner as well as for the more experienced physicist. But if the reader makes it through the first half of the book, the second half dealing with quantum computation itself will be more pleasing to read. Disappointingly, not many references are listed. Also, the figures included remind somewhat of hasty job. Even though much can be said about “The Feynman Processor”, the information provided by Prof. Milburn is reliable and up to date (1998).

⭐poorly written. i’m talking about the author’s use of English; extremely confusing. and that’s before we even get to the jargon.

⭐This book does not take you through quantum computing in any logical way. The author does not explain where he is going with his lengthy examples in each section. Instead he tends to launch into hard to follow, artificially concocted examples with little rationale and then move to the next topic without a conclusion or a reason for why he put the reader through such boring experience. The discussion of the Bohr – Einstein debate told me nothing of what the debate was about and there are many references to the EPR without any real explanation of what was in it. There must be a better way to understand this subject else I will have to conclude that Einstein was right and God really does play dice. Give this book a miss… it is simply not worth the effort. Even my one star is generous.

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