Quantum mechanics finally defines less-than-zero

[CmdrFly]

http://arxiv.org/abs/0709.2258

We produce a 600-ns pulse of 1.86-dB squeezed vacuum at 795 nm in an optical parametric amplifier and store it in a rubidium vapor cell for 1 us using electromagnetically induced transparency. The recovered pulse, analyzed using time-domain homodyne tomography, exhibits up to 0.21+-0.04 dB of squeezing. We identify the factors leading to the degradation of squeezing and investigate the phase evolution of the atomic coherence during the storage interval.

Isn't that fucking amazing?! This changes pretty much everything... we previously understood QM to have 0, 1, and 0+1. Does this mean we now have four quantum states of computing, including -0 (may be aka 'perfect zero')?

Spoiler:

I didn't understand a lick of that quote either. Here's the human version:

Scientists have made large advances including creating cables for quantum computers, developing quantum encryption techniques, and the development of the first commercial quantum computer by D-Wave, co-developed by NASA. Much of the research into quantum computing involves using photons to store and convey information inside advanced computer systems. However, light on an atomic scale behaves rather "spooky."

On a silicon transistor scale, for the most part "on" or 1 means charged, and "off" or 0 means no charge. On a quantum scale, on still means a charge, but "off" or absence of light still produces a lesser amount of atomic noise. In other words, even if a photon is turned off, the quantum computer will still read a small amount of noise, disrupting measurements.

Scientists, after puzzling over this complex problem have come up with an outlandish solution -- creating a "squeezed vacuum" a space which has less than nothing, less noise than a space with no light. Scientists managed to store and retrieve this "perfect dark" quantum zero. The special vacuum is created by a laser beam directed through special crystals. Squeezed vacuums have previously been created but not stored. Typical uses are gravity wave detection.

http://www.dailytech.com/Quantum+Computer+Researchers+Store+Sub+Zero+Light+Vacuum/article10994.htm

To answer my own question, no this doesn't mean there are 4 quantum states. Dailytech's founder summed it up best:

The fact that scientists can store and retrieve "nothing" means we've successfully found a way to create a binary computer on the sub atomic scale.

 

[Oracle]

I can't wait to see what this does for nano technology, and the biomechanical field.

 

[Acks]

Very cool stuff. I can't wait to see how this can be applied to research stuff like protein folding.

 

[Tyrath]

My brain exploded reading that.

 

[Arctyrael]

My question is... why would we want to create a binary computer on the atomic scale when we can create quantum computers on the atomic scale o.0?

 

[Bajaratt]

My question is... why would we want to create a binary computer on the atomic scale when we can create quantum computers on the atomic scale o.0?

You'd need the atomic binary before the atomic quantum, so they just made an important step in getting the scale to the correct size.

 

[Darby]

My brain exploded reading that.

your not alone my friend

 

[Rorschach]

...so wait. This means I can surf for porn faster right?

Think of it! "Quantum Pr0n" The mind boggles.

 

[CmdrFly]

You'd need the atomic binary before the atomic quantum, so they just made an important step in getting the scale to the correct size.

From what I understand, quantum math is not a step "up" from binary math. It's a step to the left. If this is correct, binary calculations at the atomic level don't need to exist for quantum math (which I think is actually sub-atomic, getting into the binds between quasars and all that shit).

So what purpose does binary computation serve then? First, foremost, and utmost: simplicity. Quantum processors don't exist, as far as the consumer market (and even much of the research market) is concerned. If you do quantum mathematics and try to feed the output to a binary computer, the overhead required to translate the data is leagues beyond minimal and ultimately a waste of material, time, money, and just generally not putting the technology to it's most effective use relative to modern capabilities.

Do binary math at the atomic level and feed the output to a binary processor - massively inexpensive compared to quantum processors - and your options for what to actually do with that data broaden greatly.

As mentioned this could pair fantastically with nanotech. With nanotech we currently rely on chemical reactions of materials with nanotubes to measure it's output... now we can get even more accurate, forgoing chemical reactions and potentially processing formulaic computations within the nanotube.

 

[Bajaratt]

I'm talking about a scale of size, since they can make a binary computer that small, they now have a basis for making an atomic sized quantum computer. The calculation processes are different, but binary is much, much easier to make; so making an atomic binary would be the logical step before making an atomic quantum.

Hell, they could even apply the atomic binary computer to the current computer industry. Since we've hit the limit on the number of transistors you can cram into a CPU, now we could just deal with the photons it's carrying and potentially make a much faster binary computer of the same size.

 

[Vandoura]

So does this mean technology can shrink into nano atomic scale size with the same equla amount of power of a modern size technology?

 

[Romper]

What's this? Mathematics of wanton burrito meals?

 

[Gatttsu]

...so wait. This means I can surf for porn faster right?

Think of it! "Quantum Pr0n" The mind boggles.

You've heard of "Quantum Leap", right? This could possibly enable you to "quantum fap", except without getting lost in your own lifetime.


On topic: Interesting news, perhaps nano technology will be sooner than expected.

 

[Rorschach]

You mean nanites that can fap for me? Gotta <3 Technology.

 

[Anttaru]

Even the people who work on Quantum mechanics, don't understand Quantum physics. (says Seth Lloyd)

Less than 0. The way i see it. 0 is only a matter of perspective, in which 0 is the center of infinity.

- 9876543210123456789 +

Perhapses Quantum computing knows not of nothing, which is why it suggests there is a less than 0. Which is interesting considering Quantum computers retrieve information from Atoms, something that is static with nature.

Edit: Looking at what Quantum computers do, I'd say it's probably doing infinitively more than -0.

Imagine -9876543210123456789+ but to have a -0 that runs in another direction from the 0, except there is more negative and positive starting points surrounding the 0. infinity more. Symbolically we can't understand it, cause we're all + and -
But it's easy to imagine.