ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Linear optical quantum computing

Okay kiddo, do you know what a computer is? It helps us do things like play games, watch videos, and do school work. But do you know how a computer works?

Well, a computer is made up of tiny parts called "bits" that can either be a 0 or a 1. These bits are like tiny light switches that turn on or off to make calculations and do tasks.

Now, imagine if we had a different kind of bit called a "qubit." Instead of just being a 0 or a 1, a qubit can be both at the same time! This might sound crazy, but it's true in a special world called the quantum world.

So how do we use these crazy qubits to make a computer? That's where something called "linear optical quantum computing" comes in.

Basically, imagine a beam of light shining through a crystal. The light can either pass through the crystal or be reflected back. Now, what if we could use that light to represent our qubits? We would shine the light through different crystals that would manipulate the light in different ways to do calculations and tasks.

But wait, if the light can be reflected back as well as passed through, how do we make sure we're always getting the right answer? That's where some really smart people come in and design special algorithms and techniques to make sure the light behaves properly and doesn't mess up our calculations.

So there you have it, linear optical quantum computing is like using beams of light to create qubits that can do amazing things like be both a 0 and a 1 at the same time, and special algorithms to keep the light behaving and giving us the right answers.