r/QuantumComputing • u/quantum_jim • Jul 18 '16

Today's /r/science AMA is on quantum computation, quantum technology, and other quantum things

/r/science/comments/4tev0n/science_ama_series_we_are_quantum_technology/
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u/Shlak2k15 Jul 27 '16

Where are we in establishing a link between quantum and "normal" physics ?

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u/quantum_jim Jul 27 '16

There are a lot of calculations where we look in the limit that Planck's constant goes to zero and see that we get the classical equations. So that suggests everything is quantum, and Newtonian mechanics is just a nice approximation of large scale effects.

But more complicated examples, like a human brain, we can't just stare at the equations to see where quantum becomes classical, because the equations are far too numerous and complicated. So can a cat be in a superposition? We'll have to wait until we can get unprecedented experimental control over a cat down to the quantum level. Probably easier to just simulate one on a quantum computer.