2020年经济学人 量子计算机蕴藏的商机(1)

The business of quantum computers

量子计算机蕴藏的商机

Uncertainty¹ principals

不确定性原理

Quantum computing² is attracting commercial interest

量子计算正在吸引商业利益

Big, stable quantum computers would be useful devices.

大型稳定量子计算机将拥有可观的用武之地。

By exploiting the counter-intuitive properties of quantum mechanics

借助于量子力学的反直觉特性，

they could perform some calculations (though only some) faster than any conceivable non-quantum machine.

量子计算机执行某些（尽管数量有限）计算的速度将超过任何可想见的非量子计算机器。

For one thing, they would probably be much more rapid than any classical computer at searching a database—an elemental operation with a thousand uses.

首先，量子计算机检索数据库——有着丰富用途的一种基本操作——的速度或将远超任何一款经典计算机。

They would be quicker at more specific tasks, too.

其次，量子计算机执行细节任务的速度可能也会更快。

Precisely³ simulating all but the simplest chemical reactions is mathematically intractable for any non-quantum computer, no matter how huge.

精确模拟哪怕是最简单的化学反应时所需处理的数学工作对任何一台非量子计算机而言，无论是多大的非量子计算机，都是相当棘手的。

A quantum computer could do this, aiding the development of drugs, catalysts⁴ and batteries.

量子计算机就能做到这一点，助力药物研发、催化剂研发和电池研发等工作。

Quantum computers would also speed up the analysis of optimisation problems,

量子计算机还能加速优化问题的分析环节，

which try to find the best way to juggle⁵ many variables in order to maximise a particular outcome.

优化问题指的就是试图找出最佳办法调控多个变量，以最大化特定结果这类问题。

That would be a boon⁶ to the transport industry (by finding efficient routes) and to finance (by maximising profits given a set of constraints).

这对运输业(通过找出高效路线)和金融业(在一系列约束条件下将利润最大化)而言都是一大福音。

Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a management consultancy,

据管理咨询公司波士顿咨询集团(BCG)预测，

foresees quantum computers improving the operating income of their users by between $450bn and $850bn a year by 2050.

到2050年，量子计算机每年预计能给用户带来高达4500亿~8500亿美元的运营收入。

Unfortunately, big, stable quantum computers do not yet exist.

遗憾的是，大型稳定量子计算机目前尚未面世。

But small, ornery, unstable⁷ ones do.

不过，小型、“劣质”又不太稳定的量子计算机已经存在。

John Preskill, a quantum-computing researcher at the California Institute of Technology,

加州理工学院量子计算研究员约翰·普雷斯基尔

dubs⁸ such machines NISQS—Noisy, Intermediate-Scale Quantum computers.

给这种机器取了个名字——NISQS，意为“嘈杂的中等规模量子计算机”。

Some see NISQS as mere⁹ stepping stones towards size and stability,

一些人认为NISQS仅仅是通向成规模且稳定的量子计算机的垫脚石，

and that is certainly the goal of those working on them.

这恰好就是致力于研究NISQS的研究员们的目标。

A growing number of companies and investors¹⁰, however,

然而，越来越多的企业和投资方开始希望，

are hopeful that NISQS themselves will be able to do useful work in the meantime.

NISQS本身在通往更完善的量子计算机的道路上就能发光发热。

These firms are hunting for "quantum advantage"—

他们追求的便是“量子优势”——

a way in which even today's limited machines might have an impact on their bottom lines, or those of their customers.

也即即便是当今这些作用有限的机器也能对他们或是他们客户的盈亏底线产生一定影响的地方。

1 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

2 computing   

n.计算

参考例句：

• to work in computing 从事信息处理
• Back in the dark ages of computing, in about 1980, they started a software company. 早在计算机尚未普及的时代（约1980年），他们就创办了软件公司。

3 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

4 catalysts   

n.催化剂( catalyst的名词复数 )；触媒；促进因素；有感染力的人

参考例句：

• The first catalytic converters were called conventional oxidation catalysts. 最初的转化器叫做常规氧化催化器。 来自辞典例句
• Many processes that are essential to the chemical industry use heterogeneous catalysts. 很多重要的化学工业过程就是使用多相催化剂的。 来自辞典例句

5 juggle   

v.变戏法，纂改，欺骗，同时做；n.玩杂耍，纂改，花招

参考例句：

• If you juggle with your accounts,you'll get into trouble.你要是在帐目上做手脚，你可要遇到麻烦了。
• She had to juggle her job and her children.她得同时兼顾工作和孩子。

6 boon   

n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠

参考例句：

• A car is a real boon when you live in the country.在郊外居住，有辆汽车确实极为方便。
• These machines have proved a real boon to disabled people.事实证明这些机器让残疾人受益匪浅。

7 unstable   

adj.不稳定的，易变的

参考例句：

• This bookcase is too unstable to hold so many books.这书橱很不结实，装不了这么多书。
• The patient's condition was unstable.那患者的病情不稳定。

8 dubs   

v.给…起绰号( dub的第三人称单数 )；把…称为；配音；复制

参考例句：

9 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

10 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会