Hi Scott
There are non-quantum physical systems that exhibits positive and negative amplitudes and interference.
Can I factor large numbers by throwing rocks in a lake and measuring the water height at the right place? Why not?
There are non-quantum physical systems that exhibits positive and negative amplitudes and interference.
Can I factor large numbers by throwing rocks in a lake and measuring the water height at the right place? Why not?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_computer
An analog computer or analogue computer is a form of computer that uses the continuously changeable aspects of physical phenomena such as electrical, mechanical, or hydraulic quantities to model the problem being solved
I don't think it has much to do with QC, but analog computing is interesting in its own right.
Some other interesting references:
- The waterfall argument in paragraph 6 of the mind-boggling "Why Philosophers Should Care About Computational Complexity". https://www.scottaaronson.com/papers/philos.pdf
- "NP-complete Problems and Physical Reality" https://www.scottaaronson.com/papers/npcomplete.pdf