This article is from the WeChat public account: span> SELF Gezhi On the Road pulpit (ID: SELFtalks) span> , author: Xue Peng (Beijing Computer science Research Center, Professor), from the title figure: vision China span > p>
“The current quantum information technology is far from reaching the field of civilian use. I hope everyone knows more about the basics of quantum mechanics and the development process of some quantum information technology, so that they can brighten their eyes and guard against being fooled. “ P>
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I am engaged in the research of quantum information. I would like to ask a question first. If I have a ball in my hand and throw it up vertically, can I predict what kind of movement the ball will do after it leaves my hand? P>
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After the ball leaves my hand, it will rise vertically, after reaching a highest point, it will fall vertically, and finally return to my palm. This is actually very simple, because in daily life, you should have seen similar phenomena countless times, and this is the experience gained from daily life. P>
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This is actually a kind ofPhysical phenomena are the laws of movement of macroscopic objects. Just like the flight trajectories of gun bullets shown in this picture, they are laws of movement of macroscopic objects, which can be explained by Newtonian mechanics. P>
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For another question, what I want to study now is a microscopic particle. Imagine that if it is an electron, I want to study its motion around the nucleus. Can I still accurately predict its trajectory? This problem may be a bit difficult. Because it is difficult for you to make a prediction based on the experience gained in daily life. P>
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A magic weapon for studying the microcosm: quantum mechanics p>
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Because this study is about micro particles, it is a micro world, and the movement rules of micro particles are very different from the movement rules of macro objects that we usually see. At this time, the Newtonian mechanics that we are familiar with cannot save everyone. We have to use a magic weapon, that is, quantum mechanics. P>
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I just said that the movement law of micro particles is different from that of macro objects. We can think of it as a person who slides continuously from a slider, so his movement pattern is continuously changing. of. P>
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The micro particle, such as the electron I said, can only move in some specific and discrete orbits. It can jump from one orbit to another, but it cannot change continuously. This is The biggest difference between them. P>
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Like the person climbing a ladder in the picture, he can only climb one by one. This is the concept of quantization. P>
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(The series illustrations are from NIST) p>
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Quantum mechanics is a branch of physics that we study the laws of movement of microscopic particles, and it is also a very important branch of physics. P>
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I introduce some words that are related to quantum mechanics. I may have heard them in popular science reports or news reports, but I do n’t know what they mean, such as quantum entanglement. P>
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Quantum entanglement is a characteristic peculiar to microscopic particles. It has no correspondence in the classical world. It refers to the existence of a connection between two microscopic particles. This connection is like the electrocardiogram we said. same. P>
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No matter how far you separate them, they don’t need to communicate at all to feel each other’s existence and feel each other’s state. This connection is called quantum entanglement. It only exists between microscopic particles. P>
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For example, now there are such a pair of particles, there is a state of quantum entanglement between them. If I leave one particle on the earth and the other particle is emitted to Mars, then only the particles on the earth need to be After measuring it, I can get the state of the particles far away from Mars in an instant, and I know its information completely. This is the role of quantum entanglement. P>
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Even if I do n’t do anything with the particles on Mars, I can know its state instantly. This is quantum entanglement. Does it sound particularly magical and feels like a plot in science fiction, but in fact, quantum entanglement has been experimentally verified in many physical systems. P>
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For example, in the laboratory, we use a laser and such a nonlinear optical crystal. After the laser passes through this nonlinear optical crystal, it will have a parameter down conversion process. P>
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In this process, a photon will split into a pair of photons, among which a series of phase matching conditions such as conservation of energy and conservation of momentum must be met. There is a special kind of photon between the pair of photons produced in the end. Quantum correlation. P>
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I left one of the photons in the laboratory and launched the other photon into space with the Mozi satellite. At this time, I just need to measure the photon left in the laboratory and I will get it right away. Its status. P>
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At the same time, I instantly know the state of another photon far from space. Even if I ca n’t fly to space to measure it, I can know its condition instantly. This is the magic quantum entanglement. P>
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Looking at another picture, this is closer to the optical path diagram of a entangled photon pair prepared in our laboratory. This is what happens every day in the laboratory, using optical elements to make entangled photon pairs. P>
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(Picture from the network) p>
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Quantum mechanics is the foundation p>
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Quantum mechanics is far from our daily life. We live in a macro world, and everything we touch is macro. Then why study quantum mechanics, what’s the use of it? P>
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In fact, quantum mechanics is closely related to our lives. Like semiconductor technology, transistors, technologies such as nuclear energy and lasers that we now use are all inspired by quantum mechanics, and it has already begun to benefit humanity. P>
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My research direction is quantum informatics. The electronic computer is one of the greatest inventions of mankind because it brings too much convenience to people’s production and life. It can be said that it is a very important part of the development of human civilization. symbols of. P>
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With the development of semiconductor technology and the process of computer industrialization, computers are now more and more portable, and their computing functions and information processing capabilities are getting higher and faster. P>
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But human desire is endless, and human pursuit of speed is endless. We hope that the computer can run a little faster, but can its information processing speed be as human as expected? What about endless improvements? P>
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The answer is no, because it is limited by the laws of physics. Such as electricityThere is an upper limit to the speed of signal propagation in the medium, which is limited by the laws of physics. At this time, if we want to make the computer run faster, we need to make this electronic component as small and dense as possible. P>
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The increased integration of microprocessor chips determines whether electronic computers can further increase its speed. Can the integration of microprocessor chips be improved? P>
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Look at an empirical formula. This is an empirical formula proposed by Intel’s founder Moore, called Moore’s Law, which means that the degree of integration of microprocessor chips increases exponentially over time. P>
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This growth rate is very fast. From 1900 to 2020, Moore’s Law has been very well in these 120 years. This is also very related to the development of semiconductor technology, and they all agree very well. P>
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But this trend cannot be sustained because it is limited by the laws of physics. For example, after using the computer for a period of time, it will find that it is hot, because the information processing process of classic computers is irreversible. P>
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The computers we use are adders and multipliers formed by logic gates. This operation is irreversible. This irreversible process causes electrical energy to be converted into thermal energy, which is dissipated into space. It is irreversible, so it will generate heat, and the heat dissipation performance of the material leads to an upper limit on the degree of integration. P>
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We can look for some new materials with better heat dissipation performance, so that we can further improve the integration and thus increase the speed of the computer. P>
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But this is only a solution to the symptoms and not the root cause. If we can find a process for processing information that is reversible, we can fundamentally solve the effect of heat dissipation. Fortunately, the processing of quantum information is a reversible process, which is one of the reasons we study quantum information. P>
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In addition to making the components more and more compact, the components must be made smaller and smaller, at most they can be as small as the atomic scale, and cannot be smaller, but if this electronic component is already close At the atomic scale, you have entered the microcosm. P>
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At this time, the laws of motion of macroscopic objects, such as Newtonian mechanics and Maxwell’s equations, no longer work. At this time, we must sacrifice our magic weapon-quantum mechanics. P>
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Based on quantum mechanics, combining quantum mechanics with classical computer science and classical informatics, quantum information science was born. P>
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Quantum informatics is based on quantum mechanics. It gives new interpretations to the encoding, manipulation, transmission, and storage of information. It is also an inevitable process of the development of human civilization. P>
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To date, it has attracted research enthusiasm from physicists, computer scientists, engineers, materials scientists, mathematicians and many other fields. At the same time, it will promote the development of related high-tech industries and inject new life into the entire scientific community. P>
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My personalHis research direction is quantum walking, which is a very small branch of quantum information. Quantum walking is actually a counterpart of classical random walking in the quantum world. P>
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The concept of classic random walking sounds very strange. For example, if I stand in a place, I have a coin in my hand, and the coin has two sides. Before I decide to go left or right, I will toss this one first. For coins, if the word is up, I will take a step to the left; if for a flower, I will take a step to the right. P>
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When I go to a new position, I toss the coin again, and I have a 50% chance to turn left and 50% to the right. This introduces randomness, which is the classic random walk. . P>
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Random walking sounds very simple, but it is very useful. For example, the Brown movement of pollen is the classic random walk. P>
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We can use the classic random walk to build a mathematical model and use it to analyze the movement of dust in the air and the movement of celestial bodies. The most amazing stock K-line trend can also be explained by the classic random walk So it’s very useful. P>
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If you say that I and the coins in my hand are quantized, so that they become quantized micro particles, then you get a quantum walk, and it will have completely different properties. . P>
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At this time, this coin is not only a word or a flower, it can be a coherent superposition state of a word and a flower. This is a special quantum property.Quality, it can be in the state of both words and flowers, just like Schrödinger’s cat, which results in a walker can start to walk from many roads at the same time, what kind of results will occur? P>
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I can go to a larger range in a short time, which is caused by the nature of quantum. At the same time, because I have a quantum entanglement with my coin, we have ECG induction, I do n’t need to measure the coin, I do n’t need to look at the word or flower, I can perceive what state it is, and I know how to go This further accelerates the speed of quantum walking. P>
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Compared to the classic random walk, its speed is very advantageous. We can use this advantage to make such a quantum search algorithm, and we can realize the algorithm of finding a needle in the straw in a very short time. P>
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In such an era of big data information, I believe that the quantum walking search algorithm will have a very broad application prospect. If Google and Baidu both use the quantum walking algorithm to sort in the future, you can do so in a short time Find more effective information, there are many uses such as big data. P>
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This is the real scene of quantum walk in our laboratory. Because we are doing optical experiments, our laboratory has higher requirements on the environment. P>
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We usually do experiments in the basement. Because human activities, such as vibrations caused by cars, will affect our light path and affect our experimental results, we will all set up laboratories in the basement. P>
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In addition, our laboratory also has requirements on the cleanliness of the air. We need an ultra-clean room environment, because the particles in the air will also cause unstable effects on the light path. P>
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In addition, the laboratory needs a constant temperature for 24 hours to ensure that large instruments can work normally. It also requires 24 hours of continuous dehumidification and very dry air to ensure that the crystals will not deliquesce. P>
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The light we use is near-infrared light with a wavelength between 780 nm and 810 nm, which is difficult to distinguish with the naked eye. And we use single-photon horizontal light, the light is weaker. When we do experiments, we must maintain the environment of the full dark room. P>
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When we do experiments, we usually stand in the basement, in a very dry, dark room environment, stand for seven or eight hours a day, fine-tune the light path, measure, etc. In fact, sometimes it feels very hard to do experiments, but during the hard work, we have a lot of gains, and there are many sweet times. P>
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We have only really begun experimental research on quantum walking since 2013, but in 2015, we broke a free-space optical quantum walk maintained by experimental physicists in Australia World record for the longest evolution time. P>
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Later, we continued to improve our technology and improve our solutions, and we repeatedly broke the world record we set. So far we are all holders of this world record. We can now have a record of 30-step evolution in free space, and even more in fiber optics, we can easily achieve hundreds of steps of evolution. P>
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We have a very good experimental platform and have done some very important work. The papers have also been published in the sub-issues of the journal Nature, such as Nature Physics, Nature Communication, etc., all of which are international in physics. Mainstream journal. P>
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If I can “waste” my life on a very beautiful thing, for me, it is scienceIn research work, I think it is a worthwhile thing. P>
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After all, quantum mechanics is very far away from our lives, and it is different from the experience we have obtained in real life, so you will feel very amazing. Because you think it is magical, you give it more mysterious power in your subconscious. P>
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A problem that cannot be solved in the classic world, maybe it can be done with quantum mechanics. There is a saying circulating among science fiction fans: indecisiveness, quantum mechanics. In the process of writing science fiction, if you encounter some loopholes in the plot and do not know how to fill the pit, use the magic weapon of quantum mechanics. P>
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Quantum mechanics can open the minds of people’s congresses and give you unpredictable power to fill this loophole. This is a very old American drama “Star Trek” poster, there is a stem in it, put a person in the space-time teleporter, a button, the person suddenly disappeared from this place, and in another place, It popped up in an instant, similar to the concept of crossing. P>
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We know that this is absolutely impossible to create in the classic world, because it violates many physics principles, the simplest is that it violates the principle that the speed of light cannot be surpassed. If I use the principles of quantum mechanics, can I make a teleporter? P>
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In quantum information, there is indeed a corresponding concept, which is quantum teleportation, which refers to the quantum state carried by a microscopic particle with the help of quantum entanglement and classical communication. , From one place to another in an instant. P>
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The quantum states and quantum information are transmitted here, not the micro particles themselves. Micro particles cannot be transmitted instantaneously. Macro objects, such as people, are even less likely to be transmitted, so the macrotron may only exist in science fiction. P>
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This photo is a schematic diagram of quantum teleportation between ground and air realized by China’s Mozi satellite in 2018. It conveys information, not the particles themselves. P>
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(picture from Academician Pan Jianwei’s team) p>
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Quantum mechanics is science, not theology p>
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Some time ago, the news of quantum fluctuations swiped on the screen of friends circle made people laugh and cry, saying that the principle of quantum fluctuations is used, which allows you to read a book of about 100,000 words in 5 minutes. Unbelievable. P>
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I took this photo myself. In 2018, when I was meeting in an international convention center somewhere, an exhibitor handed me a leaflet that read about quantum energy blood purification. P>
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Quantum mechanics sounds amazing, but it is a serious science. It is not theology or metaphysics. It cannot cure all diseases. P>
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Although it has spawned many technologies, such as nuclear energy and lasers, which have benefited human beings, it cannot cure all diseases and cannot support health, such as quantum insoles, quantum water, quantum underwear, and quantum purification of blood. There is no scientific basis, just a gimmick for unscrupulous businessmen. P>
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And the current quantum information technology is far from being able to enter the field of civilian use. I hope everyone knows more about the basics of quantum mechanics and the development process of some quantum information technology, so that they can brighten their eyes and guard against being fooled. P>
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At present, quantum information technology does not have any insurmountable obstacles at the theoretical level, but it still faces many difficulties at the technical level, that is, humans have not yet mastered a technology that can be prepared at the same time. , Manipulate and store a sufficient number of qubits, so it is far from reaching the stage of civilian use. P>
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However, it has also stimulated greater scientific research enthusiasm among researchers. Welcome morePeople have joined the research of quantum information technology. P>
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Some pictures are from the Internet span> p>
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This article is from the WeChat public account: span> SELF Gezhi On the Road pulpit (ID: SELFtalks) span> , author: Xue Peng (Beijing Computer science Research Center, Professor) span> p>