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Nature 439, 919-920 (23 February 2006) | doi:10.1038/439919a; Published online 22 February 2006

Quantum information: To compute or not to compute?

Jonathan P. Dowling1

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Quantum physics aims another blow at common sense: a simple quantum computer gives the right answer, even when it is not run. (Traditionalists be comforted: the computer must be turned on.)

Is it possible to get a sensible answer from a computer without even running a program? Yes indeed, report Hosten et al.page 949 of this issue1— and they have the experi-mental proof.

  1. Jonathan P. Dowling is at the Hearne Institute for Theoretical Physics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA, and the Institute for Quantum Studies, Texas A&M University.
    Email: jdowling@lsu.edu

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