(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Google Claims Major Breakthrough in Quantum Computing
Google says it has reached a major breakthrough in quantum computing research.
Scientists reported Wednesday in the publication Nature about successful experiments involving quantum technology.
The team said that, in one test, its quantum computer processor was able to complete a complex mathematical problem in just 200 seconds. The same problem would have taken the world's fastest supercomputer 10,000 years to complete, the scientists said.
Researchers described the new breakthrough as "quantum supremacy." This term describes a point at which a quantum computer can perform a calculation that a traditional computer could never complete within its lifetime.
What is quantum computing?
Quantum computing is a still-developing technology, it is designed to greatly speed up the processing of information. Experts believe quantum computers could one day revolutionize many industries. Major technology companies besides Google are also working to develop the technology. They include Microsoft, IBM and Intel.
How it works
Traditional computers process information as a series of bits. Each bit can be either a zero or a one in the binary language of computing. But quantum bits, known as qubits, can be both zero and one at the same time.
These special properties can theoretically permit a quantum computer to perform calculations at far higher speeds than today's fastest supercomputers. Quantum computing could be useful in understanding complex areas of chemistry, engineering and physics.
The experiment
The Google team reported it designed a quantum processor that uses 54 qubits. Researchers asked the quantum system to predict likely outcomes of a number generator similar to rolling dice for example. The problem was designed to be extremely difficult for a traditional computer to solve.
Google said its computer, called Sycamore, sampled and confirmed the correctness of all the solutions within 200 seconds. The scientists claimed this process was hundreds of millions of times faster than any existing supercomputer. They estimated a traditional computer would have taken at least 10,000 years to complete the same problem.
In a statement, Google chief Sundar Pichai said the superfast computing speed was only possible "because of the quality of control we have over the qubits." He said Google's methods also reduced the number of errors, which can be a major problem in quantum computing. "Our experiment showed the ability to perform a computation with few enough errors at a large enough scale to outperform a classical computer," he said.
Competitors dispute the results
IBM quickly disputed Google's claim that the experiment had shown "quantum supremacy." IBM is currently developing its own 53-qubit quantum processor. IBM researchers said in a statement that Google had greatly underestimated the abilities of a traditional supercomputer. They argued that such existing systems could actually complete the problem used in the Google experiment in 2.5 days, and with greater exactness.
IBM did say Google's experiment was "an excellent demonstration" of the progress in quantum computing technology. However, it said it is not correct to present the project as proof that quantum computers "are supreme" over traditional computers.
John Preskill is a professor at California Institute of Technology. He first came up with the term quantum supremacy. Preskill wrote in a statement that he considers Google's results a major step in the search for "practical quantum computers." He hopes the experiment will help push research into new areas. But he also said "much work is needed before quantum computers become a practical reality." He predicted that more useful results of quantum computing in society "may still be decades away."
I'm Bryan Lynn.
重点解析
重点讲解：
1. describe as 把…说成；把…称为；认为；
He described the meeting as marking a new stage in the peace process.
他称这次会议标志着和平进程进入了一个新阶段。
2. speed up 加快(…的)速度；
This system helps speed up access times.
这个系统有助于加快存取时间。
3. at the same time 同时；
We can't hold the two meetings at the same time; we must stagger them.
这两个会不能同时开，得错一下。
4. come up with 想出，提出(计划、想法等)；
30 years ago, scientists came up with the theory that protons and neutrons are composed of three smaller particles.
30年前，科学家们提出了质子和中子是由三种更小的粒子组成的理论。
参考译文
谷歌宣称在量子计算领域取得重大突破
谷歌称其在量子计算研究领域实现了重大突破。
周三，科学家在《自然》期刊上发表论文，介绍了涉及量子技术的成功实验。
该团队表示，在一项测试中，其量子计算处理器能在200秒内完成一道复杂的数学题。科学家表示，全球最快的超级计算机要用1万年才能解出同一道题。
研究人员将这一最新突破称为“量子霸权”。这种说法指量子计算机发展到一定程度时，可执行传统计算机终其一生都无法完成的计算。
什么是量子计算？
量子计算是一项尚在开发中的技术，它旨在极大地加快信息处理的速度。专家认为，量子计算有一天会为许多行业带来彻底变革。除谷歌公司之外，其他大型科技公司也在努力开发这项技术。这些公司包括微软、IBM和英特尔。
量子计算的运作机制
传统计算机用一系列比特来处理信息。在计算机的二进位语言中，每个比特代表0或1。但是量子比特可以同时代表0和1。
理论上讲，这些特性可以使量子计算机执行计算的速度远远快于当今世界最快的超级计算机。量子计算可能有助于理解化学、工程和物理等复杂领域。
实验
谷歌团队报告称，他们设计了一个使用54个量子比特的量子处理器。研究人员让这一量子系统预测一种类似于掷骰子的数字生成器可能产生的结果。这个问题设计对传统计算机来说极难解决。
谷歌表示，其Sycamore计算机在200秒内采样并确认了所有解决方案的正确性。科学家称这一处理速度比任何现有超级计算机都要快数亿倍。他们估计，传统计算机需要至少1万年才能解决同一个问题。
谷歌首席执行官桑达尔·皮查伊在声明中表示，“因为我们对量子比特的质量控制”，才可能实现这种超快的计算速度。他说，谷歌的方法还减少了错误次数，而这可能是量子计算的主要问题。他说：“我们的实验表明，我们有能力在执行足够大规模的计算时以足够少的错误超越传统计算机。”
竞争对手质疑实验结果
IMB迅速对谷歌称实验展示了“量子霸权”的说法提出了质疑。IBM公司正在开发自已由53个量子比特组成的处理器。IBM研究员在声明中表示，谷歌严重低估了传统超级计算机的能力。他们认为，这类现有系统可以在2.5天内完成谷歌在实验中使用的问题，而且准确率会更高。
不过IBM确实承认，谷歌的实验是量子计算技术所取得进步的“绝佳示例”。然而，IBM也指出，用这个项目来证明量子计算机“凌驾于”传统计算机之上是不正确的。
约翰·波里斯基是加州理工学院的教授。他最先提出“量子霸权”这种说法。波里斯基在声明中写道，他认为谷歌的实验结果是寻找“实用性量子计算机”的重要一步。他希望这一实验能有助于将研究推向新领域。但他同时指出，“在量子计算机成为现实之前，还有大量工作要做。”他预言，量子计算机要想在社会中取得更有用的成果，“可能仍需要数十年之久”。
布莱恩·林恩报道。
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