system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
So how *does* quantum computing work?

I've read a few vague descriptions of what quantum computers are capable of, but not really anything about working with them. Eventually, when we've got these things, writers of those programming books for bare, bare beginners (just throwing that out as an example) will need to be able to explain their workings simply.

So I've been pondering lately, and I think I've begun to get a handle on how they work. What I understand of them has gotten me very excited, but my understanding of them is based on gleaned knowledge.

As far as I'm aware: **EDIT: I was dead wrong, read the comments for real science!**

1. Quantum computing relies on being able to "choose" one superimposed state over another based on arbitrary criteria. This might be seen as akin to the cat in Schrodinger's box clawing its way out. What happens when more than one version of the cat wants out, I have no idea (a random one wins, I'm sure). Is there a way to compare a number between two superpositions and 'legitimize' the superposition with the larger value?

2. Nothing stops you from putting a "Schrodinger's cat box" inside another "Schrodinger's cat box". You can compound the effect recursively. Yes?

With two and one above together, you can make a binary tree of "meta-Schrodinger boxes" with a qubit at each branch. You could test an *astronomical* number of superpositions against each other using whatever fitness number you see fit.

So a quantum computer would be analogous to a genetic algorithm, except that instead of randomizing gene variables each generation, you test *every possible variant at the same time* and return the best one in nearly constant time.

Deterministic, complete information games would be unbeatable if you can come up with a proper way to generate a fitness numbers--a computer could play every permutation of a game of chess or go.

And such things as getting bipedal robots to walk would be trivial (if a bit uncanny valley) if the program understands physics and its own weight and capabilities--it could calculate every little twitch.

If I'm dead wrong, thanks for reading this far, at least. How would a quantum computer *really* work, and how would one go about actually programming one?
gpt
Please for the love of god don't try and derive the original science from a something that was originally meant to show how ridiculous QM is.

Quantum computers work by getting a superposition of values entangled into a quantum register, and then applying various gates and transforms to knock out the states that are not needed, and then the quantum register is measured/"read out", and this is repeated and repeated and repeated until enough trials are done that the distribution function gives up the answer you're interested in up to a certainty.