Are Quantum Computing Models Realistic?

Abstract

The commonly used circuit model of quantum computing leaves out the problems of imprecision in the initial state preparation, particle statistics (indistinguishability of particles belonging to the same quantum state), and error correction (current techniques cannot correct all small errors). The initial state in the circuit model computation is obtained by applying potentially imprecise Hadamard gate operations whereas useful quantum computation requires a state with no uncertainty. We review some limitations of the circuit model and speculate on the question if a hierarchy of quantum-type computing models exists.