经济学人下载:量子计算机蕴藏的商机(1)

The business of quantum computers 

量子计算机蕴藏的商机

Uncertainty principals 

不确定性原理

Quantum computing is attracting commercial interest 

量子计算正在吸引商业利益

Big, stable quantum computers would be useful devices. 

大型稳定量子计算机将拥有可观的用武之地。

By exploiting the counter-intuitive properties of quantum mechanics 

借助于量子力学的反直觉特性，

they could perform some calculations (though only some) faster than any conceivable non-quantum machine. 

量子计算机执行某些（尽管数量有限）计算的速度将超过任何可想见的非量子计算机器。

For one thing, they would probably be much more rapid than any classical computer at searching a database—an elemental operation with a thousand uses. 

首先，量子计算机检索数据库——有着丰富用途的一种基本操作——的速度或将远超任何一款经典计算机。

They would be quicker at more specific tasks, too. 

其次，量子计算机执行细节任务的速度可能也会更快。

Precisely simulating all but the simplest chemical reactions is mathematically intractable for any non-quantum computer, no matter how huge. 

精确模拟哪怕是最简单的化学反应时所需处理的数学工作对任何一台非量子计算机而言，无论是多大的非量子计算机，都是相当棘手的。

A quantum computer could do this, aiding the development of drugs, catalysts and batteries. 

量子计算机就能做到这一点，助力药物研发、催化剂研发和电池研发等工作。

Quantum computers would also speed up the analysis of optimisation problems, 

量子计算机还能加速优化问题的分析环节，

which try to find the best way to juggle many variables in order to maximise a particular outcome. 

优化问题指的就是试图找出最佳办法调控多个变量，以最大化特定结果这类问题。

That would be a boon to the transport industry (by finding efficient routes) and to finance (by maximising profits given a set of constraints). 

这对运输业(通过找出高效路线)和金融业(在一系列约束条件下将利润最大化)而言都是一大福音。

Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a management consultancy, 

据管理咨询公司波士顿咨询集团(BCG)预测，

foresees quantum computers improving the operating income of their users by between $450bn and $850bn a year by 2050. 

到2050年，量子计算机每年预计能给用户带来高达4500亿~8500亿美元的运营收入。

Unfortunately, big, stable quantum computers do not yet exist. 

遗憾的是，大型稳定量子计算机目前尚未面世。

But small, ornery, unstable ones do. 

不过，小型、“劣质”又不太稳定的量子计算机已经存在。

John Preskill, a quantum-computing researcher at the California Institute of Technology, 

加州理工学院量子计算研究员约翰·普雷斯基尔

dubs such machines NISQS—Noisy, Intermediate-Scale Quantum computers. 

给这种机器取了个名字——NISQS，意为“嘈杂的中等规模量子计算机”。

Some see NISQS as mere stepping stones towards size and stability, 

一些人认为NISQS仅仅是通向成规模且稳定的量子计算机的垫脚石，

and that is certainly the goal of those working on them. 

这恰好就是致力于研究NISQS的研究员们的目标。

A growing number of companies and investors, however,

 然而，越来越多的企业和投资方开始希望，

are hopeful that NISQS themselves will be able to do useful work in the meantime. 

NISQS本身在通往更完善的量子计算机的道路上就能发光发热。

These firms are hunting for "quantum advantage"— 

他们追求的便是“量子优势”——

a way in which even today's limited machines might have an impact on their bottom lines, or those of their customers. 

也即即便是当今这些作用有限的机器也能对他们或是他们客户的盈亏底线产生一定影响的地方。