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posted by Fnord666 on Wednesday April 10 2019, @09:33AM   Printer-friendly
from the crystal-ball-gazing dept.

Phys.org:

"When we think about the future, we are confronted by a vast array of possibilities," explains Assistant Professor Mile Gu of NTU Singapore, who led development of the quantum algorithm that underpins the prototype "These possibilities grow exponentially as we go deeper into the future. For instance, even if we have only two possibilities to choose from each minute, in less than half an hour there are 14 million possible futures. In less than a day, the number exceeds the number of atoms in the universe." What he and his research group realised, however, was that a quantum computer can examine all possible futures by placing them in a quantum superposition – similar to Schrödinger's famous cat, which is simultaneously alive and dead.

To realise this scheme, they joined forces with the experimental group led by Professor Geoff Pryde at Griffith University. Together, the team implemented a specially devised photonic quantum information processor in which the potential future outcomes of a decision process are represented by the locations of photons – quantum particles of light. They then demonstrated that the state of the quantum device was a superposition of multiple potential futures, weighted by their probability of occurrence.

Will they call it the "Omega 13 Device?"


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  • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 10 2019, @03:54PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 10 2019, @03:54PM (#827480)

    1) don't gamble with that outlook

    Depends on the offered game. If I get a possible winning of a million dollars versus a possible loss of one dollar, I'll happily bet on a 50-50 chance. Even multiple times.

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