This DWave result, while cool, doesn't change anything. It's slower than classical computers solving the same problems at the same price point. It may take thousands of computers to do what this one does, but those thousands will cost less.

What the researchers proved is that a DWave computer running quantum annealing algorithms is faster than a classical computer running unoptimized simulated annealing algorithms. When the classical computer is running optimized annealing algorithms, that speed difference goes away, and even more interestingly, the DWave isn't faster than a classical computer simulating a quantum annealer. All this proved is that DWave's technology works, but it will take some peer review to validate the claim that it's hundreds of millions of times faster. I have a fairly topical understanding of quantum computers, and look forward to the real researchers either confirming or refuting this research.

The DWave isn't a general purpose computer either, it can't work on everything, only very specific things like annealing.

Sigh.

We were kicking the idea around Cray Research 25 years ago. Part of my microprocessor education ( taught by a fellow Cray-on ) was about quanta shifts being a possible end to the 1-don't care-0 binary technology. Shifting energy states in atoms would be seen best at near 0 K temperature levels. ETA Systems was exploring low temperature supercomputing while we were putting together the Y-MP...which was also at NASA-Ames at that time.
I discussed this with Marv Bausman while we were discussing the Fiber Optic Clock for the MP-64 Project.
No, you do not need a doctorate in Physics, just a friend and fellow worker who happens to be one....and working on the bleeding edge of technology....

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