Simulating Quantum Machines, an Analogy (IMAGE)
Caption
Classical computers are not capable of fully simulating the work of quantum systems, especially those with more than 30 qubits. As a hypothetical example, if a quantum computer were to create the Mona Lisa, it could create many of the details but is prone to errors, hence the blurry appearance of the painting on the right in this artist's concept. A classical computer could not create the details as well as the quantum computer but could roughly approximate the task of the quantum computer, hence the pixelation of the image on the left. To get around this limitation and better simulate quantum systems, researchers used a method to change the amount of "pixelation" in a classical computer simulation and then extrapolate from those results to estimate the "blurriness" of quantum systems.
Credit
Caltech
Usage Restrictions
No restrictions.
License
CC0