The Quantum Enigma: Exploring Google's Willow, Parallel Universes, and the Future of Computation

Quantum Computers and the Multiverse Theory

Google’s quantum computer Willow and the multiverse debate

Google’s recent announcement of Willow, a new quantum computer chip, has sparked an interesting debate about the relationship between quantum computing and the multiverse theory. Hartmut Neven, founder of Google’s Quantum AI team, announced that the calculations performed by Willow in five minutes would take about 10 septillion (25 to the power of 10) years even on the world’s fastest supercomputers. This enormous computational power, according to Neven, “lends credence to the notion that quantum computation occurs in many parallel universes, and is consistent with David Deutsch’s first prediction that we live in a multiverse.”

These claims are linked to the theories of British physicist David Deutsch. Deutsch was one of the first scientists to explicitly link quantum mechanics and the multiverse in the 1980s, building on the “many-worlds interpretation” proposed by Hugh Everett in the 1950s. According to this interpretation, every quantum event results in the universe branching into multiple, coexisting realities.

Perspectives for and against the multiverse theory

The view that Willow’s work supports the multiverse theory is based on the following arguments:

• Quantum computation based on superposition: Willow’s abilities rely on the phenomenon of superposition, where qubits exist in multiple states simultaneously. In the multiverse interpretation, these states correspond to computations occurring in parallel universes.
• Hartmut Neben’s claim: The leader of Google’s quantum AI team explicitly links Willow’s success to the multiverse, suggesting that the incredible power of quantum computation may be a direct result of interactions between parallel dimensions.
• David Deutsch’s theoretical basis: Willow’s performance is consistent with Deutsch’s theories, who claimed that the power of quantum computing lies in the simultaneous computation of parallel universes.

On the other hand, there are critics who believe that Willow does not prove the multiverse:

• Alternative interpretations of quantum mechanics: Critics argue that quantum phenomena, including superposition and entanglement, can be explained without invoking the multiverse. Interpretations such as the Copenhagen interpretation or pilot wave theory believe that Willow’s success can be explained by purely physical and mathematical principles within a single universe.
• Limitations of random circuit sampling: Random Circuit Sampling, the problem Willow solved, is primarily a benchmark problem designed to demonstrate the unique capabilities of quantum hardware, focusing on performance demonstration rather than practical application.
• Lack of direct evidence: While Willow demonstrates the potential of quantum systems, it does not provide empirical evidence for parallel universes. Some scientists suggest that because the multiverse is still a theoretical construct, its existence cannot be confirmed through current experimental methods.

Critics like Ethan Siegel point out that “Niven confuses the concept of quantum Hilbert space (a mathematical space of infinite dimensions) with the concepts of parallel universes and multiverses.” Furthermore, an article on Big Think clearly states that “quantum computation does not occur in multiple parallel universes, does not occur in any parallel universe, and does not prove or imply the existence of multiverses.”

Schrödinger’s cat and quantum superposition

Schrödinger’s cat thought experiment is an attempt to extend the concept of quantum superposition to the macroscopic world, raising philosophical questions about the interpretation of quantum mechanics. In this experiment, a cat in a box with radioactive material is either alive or dead, depending on whether the material decays. According to quantum mechanics, the cat is in a superposition of living and dead states until the box is opened and observed.

However, Schrödinger’s intention in devising this thought experiment was to show that people misunderstand quantum theory. He wanted to use this paradoxical situation to point out the problem with the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum theory: in reality, the cat is always in one state (alive or dead), not in both states simultaneously prior to observation.

The physical implications of quantum superposition

Quantum superposition is a fundamental phenomenon in quantum mechanics where two or more quantum states can be ‘superposed’ and added together. It is a framework for understanding quantum phenomena and is the basis for all quantum phenomena.

Interpretations of the physical meaning of quantum superposition vary. Some researchers argue that it is important to provide a physical representation of quantum superposition, and that it should go beyond a simple mathematical formalism. Particles in superposition can be interpreted as simultaneously existing in multiple possible states before being observed, but whether this actually implies the existence of parallel universes is still a matter of debate.

Misconceptions about quantum computing and parallel universes

One of the most common misconceptions about quantum computing is that quantum computers try all solutions simultaneously. This explanation is based on the fantastic interpretation that quantum computing occurs simultaneously in parallel worlds. However, this is a simplification and does not accurately reflect how quantum computers actually work and their limitations.

Quantum computers cannot access every part of the multiverse to efficiently solve every problem, and they still have limitations. There is no evidence that quantum computation actually occurs in parallel universes, and this claim is just one of many interpretations of quantum mechanics.

The future of quantum computing and its scientific impact

Quantum computing is playing an important role in advancing scientific research. It is leading to breakthroughs in chemistry and materials science by simulating molecular behavior. It is also helping to revolutionize simulations and data analysis in astrophysics.

2025 is expected to be a pivotal year for quantum computing. Advances in post-quantum cryptography, error correction, and AI are expected to be made. These advances will be important steps in building commercially relevant quantum computers in fields such as medicine, energy, and AI.

Google’s Hartmut Neben believes that AI and quantum computing will be the most transformative technologies of our time, and that advanced AI will benefit significantly from access to quantum computing. This will impact a wide range of applications, including discovering new medicines, improving battery design for electric vehicles, and accelerating the development of fusion and new energy alternatives.

Willow’s technological advances and ability to correct errors

Google’s Willow chip has demonstrated important technological advances beyond just computational speed. Willow demonstrated the ability to reduce errors exponentially as the number of qubits increases, solving a key challenge that has been pursued for nearly 30 years in the field of quantum error correction. This achievement showed that starting with a 3×3 encoded qubit grid and scaling up to 5×5 and 7×7 grids, the error rate could be halved each time.

A more accurate understanding of Schrödinger’s cat experiment

Schrödinger’s cat thought experiment was not a real experiment and did not prove anything scientifically; it was merely a teaching tool to illustrate how some people misunderstand quantum theory. Through this fictional experiment, Schrödinger wanted to show how simple misunderstandings of quantum theory can lead to unreasonable results that don’t match the real world.

Contrary to Schrödinger’s intentions, many popularizers of science today accept this absurdity and claim that the world actually works this way. Einstein himself recognized this problem and commented, “This interpretation is most elegantly refuted by your system of radioactive atoms + Geiger counter + amplifier + gunpowder + cat in a box…”.

Attempts at alternative conceptualizations of quantum superposition

Belgian scholar Diederik Aerts offers an original explanation of quantum superposition through what he calls the ‘conceptuality interpretation’. He considers quantum particles as conceptual entities that ‘do not exist inside space’, and they are ‘realized as being inside space due to the measurement of their position’. In this view, space is an emergent structure that co-emerges with macroscopic material objects.

Ruth Kastner’s Possibilist Transactional Interpretation (PTI) considers physical reality beyond classical space-time. According to Kastner, “PTI is a realist interpretation that regards physical referents for quantum states as ontologically real possibilities that exist in a pre-spacetime realm…”

New experimental advances in quantum superposition

Researchers have recently proposed a way to create quantum superposition states by placing living microorganisms on top of an electrodynamic oscillator. The experiment builds on recent advances in which the oscillation of the central mass of a 15 μm-diameter aluminum film was cooled to a quantum mechanical ground state and entangled with a microwave field. These advances open up the possibility of extending quantum superposition states to macroscopic biological systems.

Current thinking on the multiverse

Recently published research papers address fundamental questions about the nature of reality posed by quantum mechanics. These discussions emphasize the importance of going beyond mere measurement results or mathematical constructs to provide a representation of physical reality.

Philosophically, this raises the need to abandon the metaphysical premise that ‘Actuality = Reality’. Instead of linking the formalism of quantum mechanics to common classical concepts, this approach opens up the possibility of building a new, non-classical network of concepts designed to fit quantum phenomena.