Extrapolating Quantum Factoring
Posted3 months agoActive3 months ago
johndcook.comResearchstory
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Quantum ComputingCryptographyNumber Theory
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Quantum Computing
Cryptography
Number Theory
The article discusses the potential implications of extrapolating quantum factoring capabilities, sparking discussion on the limitations and potential breakthroughs in quantum computing.
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Sep 28, 2025 at 6:23 PM EDT
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The missing context in the post by John is an exposition of why progress has been slow - decoherence and error rates - and what the rate of progression can be when these obstacles have been resolved. Shor's algorithm requires fault-tolerant quantum computing, which didn't exist in any form until recently. Tphysical error rate must be lower than the threshold required. Different research groups and companies, using various qubit technologies have already demonstrated techniques and elements of below-threshold error correction. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08449-y