英美报刊节选翻译练习(十九)

时间:2008-02-21 03:10:00

(单词翻译:单击)

From < One qubit at a time> 摘自《经济学人》 May 4th 2006

COMPUTING1 is about to hit a problem. (1)In each new generation the components2 are smaller than they were in its predecessor3, and the speed at which this miniaturisation is happening means that within 15 years or so a fundamental limit will be reached.At that point, not only will the strange effects of quantum mechanics hold sway, the components themselves will be on the scale of atoms and no further size-reduction will be possible. Which is why scientists and engineers are seeking new ways of building computers.

One route they are exploring, which was discussed at a meeting held recently at the Royal Society in London, is called quantum computing. Instead of trying to overcome quantum weirdness4, this technique embraces and exploits it. (2)The thing that distinguishes a quantum computer from the sort in use today is the number of calculations it can do in parallel.Both sorts of computer use binary5 arithmetic, but they do so in rather different ways. A classical computer employs bits—binary digits6, either zero or one—to process and store information. But a bit must be one or the other; it cannot be both at the same time. A quantum computer does not suffer from this restriction7.

new words

miniaturisation    n. 小型化
小贴士: Quantum Computer 量子计算机

量子计算机是一种机器,像猜想的那样,基于亚原子级的微粒行为执行运算。这样的计算机,一旦被开发出来,能够比以前的计算机每秒多执行数百万条指令(MIPS)。处理能的指数级提高是由于数据单元在量子计算机中,可以同时存在几种状态,这一点与二进制计算机不同。某种意义上,机器可同时进行几个思维的思考,各种思维虽然同时产生于同样的颗粒集,但他们之间是相互独立的。

工程师发明了术语qubit来表示量子计算机的基本数据单元。一个qubit实质上是一个位(二进制数字),它可以同时呈现一个或多个值。这个理论和量子机制理论同样奇怪,在这个理论中单独的微粒可以存在于多个位置上。一种考虑qubit可以同时存在于多个状态的方式是设想它有多个面或维,每一个面或维都可以高(罗辑1)或低(罗辑0)。因此如果一个qubit有两个面,它就有四个同时存在的独立状态(00、01、10、11);如果它有三个面,就有八个可能的状态,二机制表示为000直到111,依次类推。

量子计算机在以下应用中是非常有用的:

◆破获密码   ◆统计分析   ◆大数相乘   ◆在理论物理学中解决问题
◆解决许多变量的最优化问题 

研究开发工程师所遇到的主要困难是要使微粒在一定的时间内以恰当的方式动作是极其难得。最轻微的干扰将使机器停止量子方式的工作转而工作在传统模式下。扩散的电磁场,物理移动,甚至极小的电子干扰都将打乱处理进程。

 

≡参考答案:≡

 

(1)In each new generation the components are smaller than they were in its predecessor, and the speed at which this miniaturisation is happening means that within 15 years or so a fundamental limit will be reached.

每推出的新一代计算机,其组件都比前代的小。这种小型化发生的速度意味着在大约15年之内,计算机的体积将缩小到一个基本的极限。

(2)The thing that distinguishes a quantum computer from the sort in use today is the number of calculations it can do in parallel.

能把量子计算机与目前正在应用的传统计算机区别开来的是计算机可以并行计算的数目。


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1 computing tvBzxs     
n.计算
参考例句:
  • to work in computing 从事信息处理
  • Back in the dark ages of computing, in about 1980, they started a software company. 早在计算机尚未普及的时代(约1980年),他们就创办了软件公司。
2 components 4725dcf446a342f1473a8228e42dfa48     
(机器、设备等的)构成要素,零件,成分; 成分( component的名词复数 ); [物理化学]组分; [数学]分量; (混合物的)组成部分
参考例句:
  • the components of a machine 机器部件
  • Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。
3 predecessor qP9x0     
n.前辈,前任
参考例句:
  • It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
  • The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。
4 weirdness 52f61ae314ff984344d402963b23d61f     
n.古怪,离奇,不可思议
参考例句:
  • The weirdness of the city by night held her attention. 夜间城市的古怪景象吸引了她的注意力。
  • But that's not the end of the weirdness feasible in evolutionary systems. 然而这还不是进化系统居然可行的最怪异的地方呐。
5 binary jybzWZ     
adj.二,双;二进制的;n.双(体);联星
参考例句:
  • Computers operate using binary numbers.计算机运行运用二进位制。
  • Let us try converting the number itself to binary.我们试一试,把这个数本身变成二进制数。
6 digits a2aacbd15b619a9b9e5581a6c33bd2b1     
n.数字( digit的名词复数 );手指,足趾
参考例句:
  • The number 1000 contains four digits. 1000是四位数。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The number 410 contains three digits. 数字 410 中包括三个数目字。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
7 restriction jW8x0     
n.限制,约束
参考例句:
  • The park is open to the public without restriction.这个公园对公众开放,没有任何限制。
  • The 30 mph speed restriction applies in all built-up areas.每小时限速30英里适用于所有建筑物聚集区。

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