Quantum Steampunk is now a thing

[J. Wilhelm]

Holy bovine !

Dear ladies and gentlemen. Apparently the theoretical physics community has warmed up to the idea of creating a field dubbed "Quantum Steampunk." As bizarre as that may sound, it is a moniker that's being used by theoretical physicist Nicole Yunger Halpern for the kind of physics that researchers need to study in the technical field of quantum computing.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/quantum-steampunk-19th-century-science-meets-technology-of-today/

Quantum Computing, some of you may know is a mash-up of quantum mechanics and information technology where the quantum mechanical properties of subatomic scale matter are employed to create a new type of computer capable of performing much faster computation. Specifically, the ability of particles to exist in two or more simultaneous states at the same time means that a logical gate unit can perform two or more simultaneous calculations. This ability multiplied by the number of logical gates needed to make a computer means that computations can be performed many orders of magnitude faster than before.

At issue, however is the fact that part of the fundamental behavior of quantum systems involves an inherent "fuzziness," an unavoidable statistical uncertainty about the exact state that, say, a logical output may have. In other words, the quantum computer is by nature not an exact deterministic system. Hence the quantum system is studied as a closed stochastic system or a collection of closed systems, and the venerable 2nd Law of Thermodynamics, that 19th century linchpin of the industrial revolution, needs to be invoked on order to make a prediction on the ultimate performance and reliability of the quantum computer.The quantum computer, even down to the quantum scales shares the same efficiency limitations you might see in a heat engine like a piston engine or a turbine, which in this case translates to an information processing accuracy limit determined by physical parameters, internal and external such as environment.

Any thoughts?

[von Corax]

I'm thrilled by the idea, but at the same time I'm not...

[Deimos]

I guess those folks can call their quantum-y waves/particles/wavicles whatever they want  ... I mean it's not as if the word "steampunk" were copyrighted.

However (comma) if it ain't got gears, gauges, grommets and goggles (not to mention corsets, weskits, brass filigrees, copper tubes, springs, etc), it ain't really steampunk imo.  

[J. Wilhelm]

I'm thrilled by the idea, but at the same time I'm not...

I see what you did there  

Schrödinger's Cat was, and is a Steampunk

[J. Wilhelm]

I guess those folks can call their quantum-y waves/particles/wavicles whatever they want  ... I mean it's not as if the word "steampunk" were copyrighted.

However (comma) if it ain't got gears, gauges, grommets and goggles (not to mention corsets, weskits, brass filigrees, copper tubes, springs, etc), it ain't really steampunk imo.  

Appropriation? I don't know. It's not like I expect a horde of physicists donning Victorian garb and invading the Steampunk meetings. Although I did have a Thermodynamics professor at the University of Texas, Philip Schmidt, who loved to dress up as "Sadi Carnot" (he was just wearing a tux with a top hat   ), and give a 1.5 hour long undergraduate lecture with a very fake French accent (which admittedly was very annoying). But he was the closest I have seen to a Steampunk Physicist.

[von Corax]

However (comma) if it ain't got gears, gauges, grommets and goggles (not to mention corsets, weskits, brass filigrees, copper tubes, springs, etc), it ain't really steampunk imo.  

Have you seen now much bright shiny brass the current crop of quantum processors has?

[J. Wilhelm]

However (comma) if it ain't got gears, gauges, grommets and goggles (not to mention corsets, weskits, brass filigrees, copper tubes, springs, etc), it ain't really steampunk imo.  

Have you seen now much bright shiny brass the current crop of quantum processors has?

Something like this?

https://twitter.com/andreasateth/status/1068586712828383233

Andreas Wallraff
@AndreasAtETH
At our Quantum Device Lab @qudev
@ETH_physics
@ETH_en
we are seeking applications for Postdoctoral Research Scientists in Superconducting Quantum Computing  to join our @OpenSuperQ
@QuantumFlagship
team constructing a European Quantum Computer. Apply here: https://apply.refline.ch/845721/6738/pu

[J. Wilhelm]

BobSutor
@snarky_android
·
May 2, 2018
The #IBMQ 50 qubit quantum computer model is back in NY for a few days and so I took a few quiet minutes for some photos

Is this Steampunk enough?

[Banfili]

I'm ok with it! Anything that shiny just has to be steampunk!

[Hez]

Appropriation? I don't know. It's not like I expect a horde of physicists donning Victorian garb and invading the Steampunk meetings. Although I did have a Thermodynamics professor at the University of Texas, Philip Schmidt, who loved to dress up as "Sadi Carnot" (he was just wearing a tux with a top hat   ), and give a 1.5 hour long undergraduate lecture with a very fake French accent (which admittedly was very annoying). But he was the closest I have seen to a Steampunk Physicist.

Personally I would love to see "a horde of physicists donning Victorian garb and invading the Steampunk meetings" carrying jars full of brains and armed with holsters bearing abacuseses (abaci??) and fighting slide rule duels.

[Deimos]

However (comma) if it ain't got gears, gauges, grommets and goggles (not to mention corsets, weskits, brass filigrees, copper tubes, springs, etc), it ain't really steampunk imo.  

Have you seen now much bright shiny brass the current crop of quantum processors has?

OK...I stand corrected....that definitely qualifies as steampunk

[Rockula]

I'm thrilled by the idea, but at the same time I'm not...

I see what you did there  

Schrödinger's Cat was, and is a Steampunk

Schrödinger's Steampunk. I love it.

[Kensington Locke]

that pic of a quantum computer is closer to steampunk than an iPhone is.

So maybe that's the inspiration. Clearly at least one physicist working on the project is aware of Steampunk.

[chicar]

When i see the term: Steampunk on a mutiversal scale ?

When i see it be called a field: The study of hypothetical alternate technological evolution, the same way exobiology hypothetise about alien life ?

When i see what it was actually: Well, i guess that a nice metaphor.

The article head illustration is very cool thought.

[rovingjack]

when I see "Quantum Steampunk is now a thing ", my reflex is to say: 'Well it is... and it isn't.'

I guess I'll wave goodbye, or particle goodbye... maybe both.

[Deimos]

I'm not partic(le)ular about it, one way(ve) or the other   

[J. Wilhelm]

By principle you guys should not be so uncertain

[Banfili]

Pun attack!!
I do love a good pun - keep it up, the worse the better!

[J. Wilhelm]

It's planck obvious to me that you missed this conversation.

[cossoft]

No. No. No.

Schrödinger was a monster.  He performed weird and cruel experiments on his cat. I've petitioned several cat charities to have his cat legally re-homed before it dies of nuclear radiation poisoning. Nobody wants it to turn into one of those creepy hairless cats.  Sheesh! I also want him banned from owning any other pets. That includes those glow-in-the-dark atomic goldfish. Does no-one care?

[Synistor 303]

But I loved the glow in the dark goldfish! I showed a picture to Big Red, Big Whitey and Fat Belly and they were most impressed... (But none of them got their 'glow' on.)

[Prof Marvel]

No. No. No.

Schrödinger was a monster.  He performed weird and cruel experiments on his cat. I've petitioned several cat charities to have his cat legally re-homed before it dies of nuclear radiation poisoning. Nobody wants it to turn into one of those creepy hairless cats.  Sheesh! I also want him banned from owning any other pets. That includes those glow-in-the-dark atomic goldfish. Does no-one care?

Oh My Good Cossoft -

To paraphrase the Angels - "Be Not Afraid!"

As My good friend and brother in brain, Albert Einstein once said
"It is a Gedunken Experiment! A Thought! It is non-corporeal and non-material! "

Thus You may be assured that no Cat was harmed in the making of this hypothesis....But thanks for the concern for our Feline relatives!

There is , however, from the Buddhist perspective, a  karmic Burden that he incurred for the thought of such as thing....
but that is a discussion for another topic :-)

yhs
prof (lost in thought)  marvel

[J. Wilhelm]

No. No. No.

Schrödinger was a monster.  He performed weird and cruel experiments on his cat. I've petitioned several cat charities to have his cat legally re-homed before it dies of nuclear radiation poisoning. Nobody wants it to turn into one of those creepy hairless cats.  Sheesh! I also want him banned from owning any other pets. That includes those glow-in-the-dark atomic goldfish. Does no-one care?

Oh My Good Cossoft -

To paraphrase the Angels - "Be Not Afraid!"

As My good friend and brother in brain, Albert Einstein once said
"It is a Gedunken Experiment! A Thought! It is non-corporeal and non-material! "

Thus You may be assured that no Cat was harmed in the making of this hypothesis....But thanks for the concern for our Feline relatives!

There is , however, from the Buddhist perspective, a  karmic Burden that he incurred for the thought of such as thing....
but that is a discussion for another topic :-)

yhs
prof (lost in thought)  marvel

According to multiverse quantum theory, andffollowing folklore, a cat inhabits 9 parallel worlds.

[Hez]

and doesn't care what you think in any of them.

[Deimos]