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.


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