Re: Thermodynamics [was Re: photochemical advance]

From: Dossy (dossy@panoptic.com)
Date: Tue Dec 11 2001 - 09:43:01 MST


On 2001.12.11, Damien Broderick <d.broderick@english.unimelb.edu.au> wrote:
> At 11:22 PM 12/10/01 -0800, Spike wrote:
>
> >Are not atoms perpetual motion machines?
>
> No, because they're not doing any work. And/or you can't extract any work
> out of their zero point jitterings and spinnings, which is what I guess you
> mean.

We can't? Isn't that what the whole field of "quantum computing"
is about? Using the unique physical characteristics of atoms
perpetually in motion to perform computation?

Or is my understanding of what quantum computing sets out to do
so poor that I'm way off here?

-- Dossy

-- 
Dossy Shiobara                       mail: dossy@panoptic.com 
Panoptic Computer Network             web: http://www.panoptic.com/ 
  "He realized the fastest way to change is to laugh at your own
    folly -- then you can let go and quickly move on." (p. 70)


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