Exploring Quantum Gates and Nuclear Spin

[quasinerd]

After reading Seth Lloyd's book “Programming the Universe”(only once) I came up with a few questions. The way I understand it... He describes the fabric of space-time as consisting of an endless array of casual space (wires) and matter(quantum gates). The wires tell information where to go and meet at gates. One of these gates is the controlled-NOT op gate. This gate can be created by coiling two photons into a small tube with an atom in it and causing the photons to interact strongly with the atom. This type of quantum gate, along with the AND, COPY, and OR gates make up the matter that process information. After the interaction between the qbits(nuclear spins) and the quantum gate, space is told how to curve.

The first question I have is basic... “Is this correct?” Next I would like to understand nuclear spin. Is everything made up of nuclear spins? What is spinning? Elementary particles? How is a sideways spin(registering 1 and 0 simultaneously) created? Then there is the idea of curved space. Could this complex subject be made any more simple for me? I am dizzy.

 

[vpoko]

The "Universe as a computer" thing has fascinated me for a while (since around when I read The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy - and no, I don't recommend it as source). The first thing to say is that the theory is very speculative. Nobody knows if it's right or wrong. Looking at certain models of computation, like cellular automata, one can certainly get the impression that the universe is in the business of information processing. That would lead to all sorts of interesting possibilities arising from the universe being Church-Turing complete. But right now the field is as much philosophy as science, so we'll have to wait and see :)

 

[denian]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and questions after reading Seth Lloyd's book. Your understanding of quantum gates and nuclear spin is mostly correct, but there are a few points that need clarification.

Firstly, the fabric of space-time is not made up of wires and matter. These are just analogies used to describe the complex interactions between particles and fields in the quantum world. In reality, space-time is a mathematical concept that describes the geometry of the universe.

Secondly, while quantum gates do play a crucial role in processing information, they are not the only component of matter. Matter is made up of various particles, such as protons, neutrons, and electrons, which interact with each other through fundamental forces. Quantum gates are used to manipulate the quantum states of these particles, allowing for information processing.

Next, nuclear spin is a property of atomic nuclei, specifically the spin of the protons and neutrons within them. Not everything is made up of nuclear spins, as there are many particles, such as electrons, that do not have nuclear spin. The concept of spinning is also just an analogy used to describe the intrinsic angular momentum of particles.

As for the sideways spin, this is a phenomenon known as superposition, where a particle can exist in multiple states at the same time. This is a fundamental principle of quantum mechanics and is used in quantum computing to perform calculations.

Finally, the idea of curved space is a complex concept in physics and cannot be simplified further without sacrificing accuracy. In simple terms, the curvature of space is related to the distribution of matter and energy in the universe. The more matter and energy there is in a certain region of space, the more curved it will be.

I hope this helps to clarify some of your questions. Quantum mechanics and the concept of curved space can be quite dizzying, but with continued learning and exploration, it can become easier to understand. Keep asking questions and delving deeper into these fascinating topics.