What could the NSA do with a quantum computer?

Re:What could the NSA do with a quantum computer? by bo1024 on Friday June 28, 2013 @02:36PM (#5959623)

I'm not sure what you're referring to; everything in the parent post is correct. You are right that quantum and classical computers have the same "power" in terms of problems that can be solved, but it is also true that quantum computers may be able to computer certain functions faster than classical computers (using faster algorithms that don't run on classical computers).

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Re:What could the NSA do with a quantum computer? by weinzierl on Friday June 28, 2013 @02:52PM (#5959698)

I'm referring to "They allow the running of some algorithms that normal computers can't physically run."

I understood this as, it's impossible to run some algorithms on a traditional computer. You can run Shor's algorithm on a Turing machine, albeit requiring a simulation of qbits. You can run it in javascript and in your browser if you like.

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Re:What could the NSA do with a quantum computer? by mtp0101 on Friday June 28, 2013 @03:29PM (#5959887)

True, you can simulate the qbits, so the more precise statement would be they can execute some algorithms in a way that classical computers cannot and this gives them superior efficiency in some situations.

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Re:What could the NSA do with a quantum computer? by _j5l3 on Friday June 28, 2013 @05:25PM (#5960429)

You're right. I should have specified that they can run certain algorithms with a runtime complexity impossible on a classical computer.

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