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To: Paul Ma who wrote (5240)	8/16/2000 12:49:12 PM
From: drachelle	Respond to of 275872

RE: "some ridicious container that blocks cosmic rays." What do you mean "rediculous container", I recall from my freshman physics course that about 50 miles of lead should do it. No problem if your office, budget, and/or bedroom is large enough. Probably not good for portables, however. drachelle

To: Paul Ma who wrote (5240)	8/16/2000 2:05:30 PM
From: minnow68	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 275872

Paul, Don't use any shielding. Simply perform every calculation three times and check that you are getting the same answer. Since the calculations are potentially trillions of times faster than with normal computers, this overhead is not meaningful. Now the liquid helium cooling requirements would be a real pain... Mike

To: Paul Ma who wrote (5240)	8/16/2000 3:58:00 PM
From: EricRR	Respond to of 275872

Jim, one big problem with quantum computers is that any stray cosmic ray can hit those atoms and disrupt them. In order for quantum computers to hit the consumer market, they would have to build some ridicious container that blocks cosmic rays. I don't know how they managed to do it now... probably with magnetic fields I doubt magnetic fields would help you, since most charged cosmic rays don't make it down to sea level, and most basic material shielding for such would be sufficient. High energy photons I'd say would be the biggest concern. Just build the computer in the same cave as one of those neutrino detectors!