Author: iDi

Quantum, the Thing Scientists Throw at Problems They Can Barely Explain.

First, let’s talk about normal computation, aka the thing we all learned in primary but probably just crammed without really understanding.

So, computers work on something called state machines(finite state theory/automata theory), think of it as a machine that moves between different "states" (locked, unlocked, powered on, powered off, etc.) based on inputs/commands. A computer does the same thing, but on steroids. It processes inputs (like clicking a power button), follows rules (called algorithms), and changes states. A lock and key is the baby version of this:

State 1: Locked.

Input/Command: Insertion of key.

State 2: Unlocked.

Computers just do the same thing the lock and key does but with billions of states. BUT (and this is the key point), they can only be in ONE state at a time (locked or unlocked, on or off, dead or alive).

Now, how do they do this sorcery?

They speak binary (1s and 0s), which is basically electric pulses following the rules of Boolean logic (think “this AND that,” “this OR that”). These 1s and 0s are called bits, and each bit can only be 1 OR 0 and never both.

Let's look at an analogy:

You’ve got two tasks: wash clothes and attend a 7 am lecture. With normal computation, you can’t do both at the same time (no, parallelism and concurrency don’t count, they are still just a clever trick to give the illusion of multitasking)(the previous bracket is for people who write serious code, you can ignore it). One task, one state, one moment in time. That’s classical/normal computing for you.

What about Quantum Computation?

Welcome to the Multiverse of Madness.

Now imagine a world where you CAN wash clothes AND attend a lecture at the same time. That’s what quantum computation is about. Instead of regular bits, it uses qubits, little mofos that don’t follow the rules. Qubits can be 1, 0 or BOTH AT ONCE. This is called superposition.