| − | Quantum computers accomplish this with [[quantum mechanics]], utilizing states of matter (other than the typical solids, liquids, and gasses) which can only exist at temperatures very near [[absolute zero]]. These additional matter states enable the computer to have values be both 1 and 0 simultaneously.<ref name="howstuffworks.com 1">http://computer.howstuffworks.com/quantum-computer.htm</ref> This differs from the traditional [[Alan Turing|Turing]] computer because while normal computers can only be one or zero at a given point, Quantum Computers can be anything from 0-1 at the same time. A good analogy is a tape of unlimited length that is divided into little squares. Each square can either hold a symbol (1 or 0) or be left blank. A read-write device reads these symbols and blanks, which gives the machine its instructions to perform a certain program. For the quantum computer, the tape exists in a quantum state, as does the read-write head. This means that the symbols on the tape can be either 0 or 1 or a superposition of 0 and 1; in other words the symbols are both 0 and 1 (and all points in between) at the same time. While a normal binary machine can only perform one calculation at a time, a quantum computer machine can perform many calculations at once.<ref name="howstuffworks.com 1">http://computer.howstuffworks.com/quantum-computer.htm</ref> | + | Quantum computers use priniples of [[quantum mechanics]], and utilize states of matter (other than the typical solids, liquids, and gasses) which can only exist at temperatures very near [[absolute zero]]. These additional matter states enable the computer to have values be both 1 and 0 simultaneously.<ref name="howstuffworks.com 1">http://computer.howstuffworks.com/quantum-computer.htm</ref> This differs from the traditional [[Alan Turing|Turing]] computer because while normal computers can only have one or zero at a given point, Quantum Computers can have anything from 0-1 at the same time. The values can be 0 or 1 or a superposition of 0 and 1; in other words the symbols are both 0 and 1 (and all points in between) at the same time. While a normal binary machine can only perform one calculation at a time, a quantum computer can perform many calculations at once.<ref name="howstuffworks.com 1">http://computer.howstuffworks.com/quantum-computer.htm</ref> |