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The business of quantum computers
量子計算機蘊藏的商機
Uncertainty principals
不確定性原理
Quantum computing is attracting commercial interest
量子計算正在吸引商業利益
Big, stable quantum computers would be useful devices.
大型穩定量子計算機將擁有可觀的用武之地。
By exploiting the counter-intuitive properties of quantum mechanics
借助于量子力學的反直覺特性，
they could perform some calculations (though only some) faster than any conceivable non-quantum machine.
量子計算機執行某些（盡管數量有限）計算的速度將超過任何可想見的非量子計算機器。
For one thing, they would probably be much more rapid than any classical computer at searching a database—an elemental operation with a thousand uses.
首先，量子計算機檢索數據庫——有著豐富用途的一種基本操作——的速度或將遠超任何一款經典計算機。
They would be quicker at more specific tasks, too.
其次，量子計算機執行細節任務的速度可能也會更快。
Precisely simulating all but the simplest chemical reactions is mathematically intractable for any non-quantum computer, no matter how huge.
精確模擬哪怕是最簡單的化學反應時所需處理的數學工作對任何一臺非量子計算機而言，無論是多大的非量子計算機，都是相當棘手的。
A quantum computer could do this, aiding the development of drugs, catalysts and batteries.
量子計算機就能做到這一點，助力藥物研發、催化劑研發和電池研發等工作。
Quantum computers would also speed up the analysis of optimisation problems,
量子計算機還能加速優化問題的分析環節，
which try to find the best way to juggle many variables in order to maximise a particular outcome.
優化問題指的就是試圖找出最佳辦法調控多個變量，以最大化特定結果這類問題。
That would be a boon to the transport industry (by finding efficient routes) and to finance (by maximising profits given a set of constraints).
這對運輸業(通過找出高效路線)和金融業(在一系列約束條件下將利潤最大化)而言都是一大福音。
Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a management consultancy,
據管理咨詢公司波士頓咨詢集團(BCG)預測，
foresees quantum computers improving the operating income of their users by between $450bn and $850bn a year by 2050.
到2050年，量子計算機每年預計能給用戶帶來高達4500億~8500億美元的運營收入。
Unfortunately, big, stable quantum computers do not yet exist.
遺憾的是，大型穩定量子計算機目前尚未面世。
But small, ornery, unstable ones do.
不過，小型、“劣質”又不太穩定的量子計算機已經存在。
John Preskill, a quantum-computing researcher at the California Institute of Technology,
加州理工學院量子計算研究員約翰·普雷斯基爾
dubs such machines NISQS—Noisy, Intermediate-Scale Quantum computers.
給這種機器取了個名字——NISQS，意為“嘈雜的中等規模量子計算機”。
Some see NISQS as mere stepping stones towards size and stability,
一些人認為NISQS僅僅是通向成規模且穩定的量子計算機的墊腳石，
and that is certainly the goal of those working on them.
這恰好就是致力于研究NISQS的研究員們的目標。
A growing number of companies and investors, however,
然而，越來越多的企業和投資方開始希望，
are hopeful that NISQS themselves will be able to do useful work in the meantime.
NISQS本身在通往更完善的量子計算機的道路上就能發光發熱。
These firms are hunting for "quantum advantage"—
他們追求的便是“量子優勢”——
a way in which even today's limited machines might have an impact on their bottom lines, or those of their customers.
也即即便是當今這些作用有限的機器也能對他們或是他們客戶的盈虧底線產生一定影響的地方。
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