It is my understanding that quantum computing relies on quantum superposition an

Question

It is my understanding that quantum computing relies on quantum superposition and entanglement to work--qbits must exist in all states simultaneously before giving a particular result when observed.

Would this mean that quantum computing is impossible in interpretations of quantum mechanics in which qbits are not in reality existing in all states simultaneously until observed? Thus, wouldn't quantum computing be incompatible with non-local hidden variable interpretations (deBroglie-Bohm, for example), or with other interpretations in which the underlying reality is deterministic such as 't Hooft's?

Explanation / Answer

Generally, when you make a quantum calculation, you have to make some sort of measurement of the qubits at the end of the algorithm where the result you're looking for is a very probable (but not necessarily certain) result. In any interpretation that actually agrees with the basic results of quantum mechanics, these probabilities will still hold and the algorithm will still work.

If an interpretation is ruled out by the possibility quantum computing, then it's (probably) wrong because it contradicts quantum mechanics. To the best of my knowledge all of the interpretations you mentioned, while deterministic, still give results in agreement with quantum mechanics and can't be ruled out by the existence of a quantum computer.

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