X-Message-Number: 7899 From: Peter Merel <> Subject: FSMs vs. Non-Locality Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1997 20:09:38 +1000 (EST) Mike Perry writes, >Well, according to physics, every system bounded in spatial extent >and energy content is a finite-state machine (for an extended >discussion see Tipler, *The Physics of Immortality*, esp. pp. >20-44). This was one of the parts of Tipler's book that I found most unconvincing. Every brand of quantum theory I've ever heard about involves universe-wide non-locality; perhaps I'm missing something obvious, but I can't see how non-locality and finite-state machines go together. I should say, for those who know even less about quantum theory than I, there's a sensationally good short introduction at http://www.npl.washington.edu/AV/altvw16.html Also, did I miss seeing it here, or am I the only one to have read in this week's New Scientist about the world's first functioning (3 Qbit) quantum computer? Peter Merel. Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=7899