How the quantum search algorithm works | Hacker News Reader

How the quantum search algorithm works

quantum.country

152 pointsp1esk17 comments

I organized a quantum computing seminar back in school and two resources I thought were excellent

* https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~vazirani/f16quantum.html

* https://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Computing-since-Democritus-Aa...

This reference also looks solid and I'm looking forward to reading it in more depth.

> When I first heard about the quantum search algorithm I thought it [O(sqrt(N)) run time] sounded impossible. I just couldn’t imagine any way it could be true.

It's curious to hear this from Nielsen himself. Personally, learning about Grover's algorithm was when I realised why "if you're not surprised by quantum mechanics, you cannot have understood a thing" (attributed to Bohr, I think).

This is often paired with Feynman's "Nobody understands quantum mechanics."

What is a quantum computer? https://outline.com/9SVe9h

For me, the usage of spaced repetition ("a medium which makes memory a choice") built into the essay was more interesting than the content itself. Now we just need a standard for embedding these sorts of question and answer in documents so you can use the spaced repetition software of your choice (or just publish an anki deck for it).

I'm working on something like this

This site's approach looks promising

I'd love a tool to make building anki decks easier. I've gone so far as to make plugins to create cards from highlighted sections, but I feel like this is clunky.

I'd love to hear more about your idea

edit: I found it - branches-app.com/theplan. Taking a look now

Very glad you're enjoying that! While we've explored some of the possibilities in this space in the essays here, it does feel early to standardize: lots we're still excited to explore in purpose-built contexts first. :)

I have read "quantum computing for the very curious" and I found it impressive, its a great article and a great way to teach. For your records, here are the few downsides I found :

- Some questions seem to be of little relevance (I am not interested in memorizing an Einstein quote for life but I have no way of signaling it).

- The order of the questions is deterministic within a session (I always get some related questions on after the other).

- I received no email notification when "How the quantum search algorithm works" went out.

This is helpful feedback; thank you!

I have no background in quantum anything at all, just cs & some undergrad math, and I found this article and the one preceding it extremely accessible.

I've been working through the preceding article to this today and have found it extremely well written and very accessible for someone with an undergraduate CS/Math degree.

I also, coincidentally, have just started talking with a local company working on quantum computing. Things lined up nicely!

This is the best QC intro I've seen so far, even without the space repetition thing. There are some rough edges, but still -- the authors clearly know how to teach.

Michael Nielsen also wrote the best intro to deep learning I’ve ever seen:

http://neuralnetworksanddeeplearning.com/

Too bad there are no quantum computers. Who knew Hesse's "Glass Bead Game" would be the most important book I read in physics grad school?

I read Hesse in high school, liked Steppenwolf, but found Glass Bead Game quite boring (probably didn't get it, don't remember much about it). Why is it important to you?

Because physics has turned into an impotent glass bead game, devoid of experimental result or insight. "quantum information theory" being the latest steaming pile of garbage to replace noodle theory as the favored ego boosting nonsense to appeal to theoretical game players who don't understand how matter works.

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