Souped-Up Software Gets a Virtual Test
Mark K. Anderson · Science · 2001
QUANTUM COMPUTINGIn theory, quantum computers can outpace conventional ones a billionfold, but how do you test a potential killer app for a machine that doesn't yet exist? If you have time, you can run it on machines that do exist. That's how researchers pitted a quantum algorithm against one of the toughest problems in computer science. In preliminary tests, described on page [472][1] of this issue, the algorithm racked up an encouraging virtual track record that left some scientists hankering for more. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/292/5516/472