How is this possible?
 

I read [URL="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2227387-quantum-computer-sets-new-record-for-finding-prime-number-factors/"]THIS[/URL] article today in the new scientist and it says:

[QUOTE]Quantum computers could one day threaten the safety of the internet by breaking encryption – and now they are a step closer.

A quantum computing start-up company called Zapata has worked with IBM to develop a new way to factor large numbers, using it on the largest number that has been factored with a quantum computer so far. The team found that 1,099,551,473,989 is equal to 1,048,589 multiplied by 1,048,601.

The future success of the algorithm used could have big implications …[/QUOTE]

Now, I can factor that "brilliant number" in one tenth of the time that it takes me to type it.. So can someone explain what is meant by "[I]using it on the largest number that has been factored with a quantum computer so far.[/I]"?





Read more: [url]https://www.newscientist.com/article/2227387-quantum-computer-sets-new-record-for-finding-prime-number-factors/#ixzz680feeWTI[/url]

[QUOTE=rudy235;532821]I read [URL="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2227387-quantum-computer-sets-new-record-for-finding-prime-number-factors/"]THIS[/URL] article today in the new scientist and it says:



Now, I can factor that "brilliant number" in one tenth of the time that it takes me to type it.. So can someone explain what is meant by "[I]using it on the largest number that has been factored with a quantum computer so far.[/I]"?





Read more: [url]https://www.newscientist.com/article/2227387-quantum-computer-sets-new-record-for-finding-prime-number-factors/#ixzz680feeWTI[/url][/QUOTE]
Please read the statement as it is stated, not as you may wish it to be.

No larger number has ever been factored on a [B]quantum[/B] computer before.

It's not so long ago that the record was the factorization of 15.

[QUOTE=xilman;532828]Please read the statement as it is stated, not as you may wish it to be.

No larger number has ever been factored on a [B]quantum[/B] computer before.

It's not so long ago that the record was the factorization of 15.[/QUOTE]

Yep. The fact that they already have factoring code that works with Q-bits rather than binary bits is potentially groundbreaking.

It could make factoring M1277 child's play... :)

M1277 is half the size of RSA2048 BUT....

[I]"Taking this into account dramatically increases the resources required to factor 2048-bit numbers. In 2015, researchers estimated that a [B]quantum computer would need a billion qubits[/B] to do the job reliably. That’s significantly more than the 70 qubits in today’s state-of-the-art quantum computers." [/I][1]

[1] [url]https://www.technologyreview.com/s/613596/how-a-quantum-computer-could-break-2048-bit-rsa-encryption-in-8-hours/[/url]

There's a better discussion on crypto stackexchange, We're two order of magnitutes short on quibits for even RSA-1024 (more comparable to M1277)

[url]https://crypto.stackexchange.com/questions/9480/assuming-a-1024qb-quantum-computer-how-long-to-brute-force-1024bit-rsa-256bit[/url]

[QUOTE=xilman;532828]Please read the statement as it is stated, not as you may wish it to be.

No larger number has ever been factored on a [B]quantum[/B] computer before.

It's not so long ago that the record was the factorization of 15.[/QUOTE]

Xilman: I asked for an explanation. It came back with a mild scolding. As for the explanation, I appreciate it.

[QUOTE=rudy235;532921]Xilman: I asked for an explanation. It came back with a mild scolding. [/QUOTE]
IMHO, I don't see any scolding in what Xilman wrote.

[QUOTE=Batalov;532922]IMHO, I don't see any scolding in what Xilman wrote.[/QUOTE]

Serge I did say "mild" scolding. Perhaps I should have used a different noun.

[QUOTE=PhilF;532835]...It could make factoring M1277 child's play... :)[/QUOTE]

I would not hold my breath. M1277 is like a beach-ball-siize walnut. It will not be easily split open by much of anything we have now. At least, not without taking an enormous amount of time.

[QUOTE=storm5510;532951]I would not hold my breath. M1277 is like a beach-ball-siize walnut. It will not be easily split open by much of anything we have now.[/QUOTE]

I would imagine that a beach-ball-size walnut could be split open by some construction equipment, or perhaps even a very hungry (and determined) shark.

[QUOTE=mathwiz;532956]I would imagine that a beach-ball-size walnut could be split open by some construction equipment, or perhaps even a very hungry (and determined) shark.[/QUOTE]But if we are just at the opening scene of 2001, construction equipment is a long way off.
:humorous:
I hope that helps.