What’s That? (71) on Flickr

tifotter says:

It's a new set of rims for silicon-valley Hummer drivers. Nerds need bling, too.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

drona says:

Next generation rotor for electric car engine?
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

jurvetson says:

heh.... Artistic influences include the La Scala opera house... =)

Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

roddh says:

great photograph. I bought this camera for my 7 year old daughter, but frequently use it myself.
nice!
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

Mark Strozier says:

an accelerometer (inside a massive heatsink)?
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

Scott C (sec611) says:

Miniature scale model of a parking structure in Redmond, Washington?
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

shadow_of_me [deleted] says:

Don't know what it is but impatient to know about it - looks way too cool.
P.S. If I were drunk, I'd say it's an inner ear of the next generation's robot ;)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

Hm. There's only three reasons I can think of for the cylindrical construction: either something goes inside, or the whole thing spins around, or there's some RF property it's taking advantage of.
Seeing lots of coils in there also suggests RF to me. It's also highly parallelized- lots of identical or almost identical units. I also suspect those white wires through the outside go to antennas.
Also, the only place I've ever seen this kind of construction before is in a satellite. I'm going to have to go with something like a multiband RF filter bank.. possibly for a satellite.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

proales_proalescom says:

Determines the angle of rotation. Might be from a robot or from something like a bank vault combination mechanism.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

Robbie1 says:

I agree that it looks like it works at high frequency. I will guess phase array radar amp.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

Todd Huffman says:

Looks like some sort of Cold-War era weapon or optic array. The style of construction on the electrical circuits looks sort-of antiquated.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

BenODen says:

I'm with AMigill. Maybe a portion of a communications satellite, say TV or XM/Sirius Radio?
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

sbove says:

This is a very intriguing device. The kind I'd have to take apart immediately ;-) My bet: Machining is too precise to be old. Circuits look RF related and maybe surface mount. All the coils seem to be about the same number of windings and in the same orientation (or very slightly different from each other)...taking the opera house clue, I'd guess this is the receiving end of a very large RF gathering device designed to listen to many discrete frequencies simultaneously & continuously...perfect for SETI-type applications...So, lets say: a super parallel RF receiver ready to go into space as part of a new probe/satellite...or maybe its a spy satellite receiver designed to be aimed at earth and listen to hundreds of bands in parallel...
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

xouroborus says:

I would say it is a component used to create or capture radio waves for a holographic imaging scanner.

woof!
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

caitlinburke says:

A fashionable new design for an engagement ring.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

jurvetson says:

ooh.... so many cool ideas here....

R80o: speaking of cool, it is built into a "massive heat sink" as you say.

sbove: I like the way you think. So as not to mislead, let me say that that the opera house comparison was just a visual search application. Yes, it is very "new"... And "super parallel"... And way cooler than space. =)

AMagill has the closest guess so far with a "RF filter bank"... That part is correct, but the application is the opposite of an antenna... I'd say you get a partial bingo... but we are still missing the soul of this new machine....
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

edlimphoto says:

My guess is that it is a super electro-magnet, or something that accellerates particles.

If it is the opposite of "antenna" (which is something that recieves electromagnetic wave information), then it is sends out EM wave information.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

benjiman says:

An amp
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

drona says:

Is this one of those cool new devices that is able to transmit power or charge devices over the air? Like a wireless energy transmitter? Love the way those heat sinks are engineered...way cool...
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

jurvetson says:

way, way cool...

On second glance, Caitlinburke also provides an iconic clue... ;-)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

Godi says:

The question is, what is going to be attached at these inwards pointing solder pads? My guess: It's a liquid He cooled detector for particle physics.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

slowburn♪ says:

a sector of an accelerator ring for a massive ray gun?
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

_sarchi says:

..it would be .ice if it were some internal low tech basics for the new device for the front line thinking maybe steve's in there.. so it has some remarkable rationale - not a partical accelerator then.. I'm flumoxed :)

--
...seen on the stream (?)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

The Rocketeer says:

It must be cryogenic in nature. We're not seeing all the parts either since the solder pads are exposed, something else slides in and connects. I think it is a particle or electron guide that electromagnets powered by the circuit boards cause to move in parallel beams and are adjusted in their path by said magnets prior to exiting the chamber. That would make it not too different than a TV tube.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

Alex's world says:

Smth to do with cold fusion (e.g. particle accelerator)?

Or smth to do with laser weapons?
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

BenODen says:

Ohoh! Multiple frequencies and receiving... How about a cell phone tower receiver set? Or maybe a multiple channel receiver in an AWAX plane? Both those benefit from high sensitivity, and I'm with The rocketeer, cryogenic makes sense.. the heat sink is probably to keep things cold not hot, since this not high power circuitry.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

biotron says:

why no-one has said "R2D2's asshole" before now is a mystery. someone had to lower the tone, and i embraced that necessity.

"way cooler than space" - you mean cooler than 2.725 +/- 0.002 degrees Kelvin? surely not?! *

no idea. in which case, i want it to be the opposite of an antenna.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

Godi says:

my second guess: a RF Squid detector
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

jurvetson says:

Godi... getting warmer... I mean closer... to The Soul of a New Machine (not seen in this photo though)... but the system is neither a detector nor a communications device...

Biotrron: heh... actually 2.7° K would be too balmy. =)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

Godi says:

Hmm, no detector - maybe it's an amplifier with Squid technology and cooled to 1°K (it does not look like mK)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

jurvetson says:

Oh, to clarify: AMagill nailed it when he said this is a "RF filter bank" but then drifted off as to the peculiar application of a design like this... The closeness of the SQUID (superconducting quantum loops) guess relates to the context that is missing from this photo.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

Jef Poskanzer says:

MRI machine?
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

The Rocketeer says:

So it's a superconducting interferometer?

When the loop is coupled to a detection coil, the divergence of the kinetic inductance makes very weak magnetic measurements possible. The optimum is a function of the electromagnetic and thermal parameters.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

jurvetson says:

Hmm.... I added some bold to my earlier comments.... =)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

The Rocketeer says:

How about a Super Parallel Magnetic Resonance Microscope? Such a device would possibly be capable of resolving images at the molecular level... DNA for example... which could be akin to a soul.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

biotron says:

"our soul" - LOL! we're back to R2D2 again :)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

BenODen says:

Steve could be alluding to the book about the data general computer, "Soul of a New Machine"... But I can't come up with an application for so many (probably about 192) RF filters in a computer... Probably an indirect allusion then.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

Alex's world says:

An atomic amplifier that forms part of an atomic transistor manufacturing line?
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

biotron says:

rocketeer - you replaced your "our" with an "a", thus rendering my pun obsolete and making me look even more stupid than i patently already am! ;)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

The Rocketeer says:

Sorry, biotron... an unintended consequence of rephrasing. Hope you'll recover OK...
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

Alex's world says:

A spaghetti-making machine?.. :)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

Aphrodite's Child says:

How about some Cray xx-like element ?
I mean a simple computer, highly parallel, low temperature, probable birth place for friendly AI!

If so, where is(are) the screen(s) ?
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

Godi says:

Ok, we've got super-low-noise RF-filters ... maybe it is one of these devices to map the bio-magnetic fields of the human brain (bringing SQUIDS and soul into play ;-) )
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

Alex's world says:

RF-photonic receiver or a WiMAX modulator for wireless data comm?

On the second (sixth) thought - High Temperature Super Conducting (HTSC) RF filters for cellular base stations?
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

.schtieF says:

i think its a part of a new quantum computing device!
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

jurvetson says:

Bingo (1/√2)(|.schtieF>|AMagill>+|AMagill>|.schtieF>), a newly coupled winner !!! This is part of a new quantum computer.

(and a special shout out to Mighty Aphrodite, because he was darn close...)

BenODen nailed the literary reference... We needed Physics and Poets for this Puzzler...

Here you see an array of 128 lumped element filters, one for each input line. The space is constrained because the filters and wires need to fit into the dilution fridge cylinder. The filters remove noise and crosstalk (opposite of an antenna) from the signals that drop down to the heart of a new quantum computer, cooled to 0.005 degrees above absolute zero… about 500x colder than the coldest place in remote outer space.

So in a way, the filter block is an electronic interface between our world and the quantum entangled world. It comes from the quantum computer that the Canadians at D-Wave Systems plan to unveil on Feb 13...

This quantum computer employs the resources of 65,536 parallel universes to compute answers in a fundamentally new way.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

biotron says:

Feb 13th?! won't D-Wave be irritated? after all, with such a detailed pic, now every Tom, Dick and Schrödinger will be able to fire off replicas in next to no time! *
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

Godi says:

Cool (!) :-), the answer will be 42 ;-)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

biotron says:

heh heh Alex's world! :D all very well, but imagine the Kraftwerk song transformed into "I'm the operator with my pocket supercooled quantum computer "
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

BenODen says:

Very cool. I like the shot as well. I'm waiting with bated breath for the announcement! A real quantum computer, woohoo!
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

sbove says:

This made my head hurt...in the best way...'cause that thing is really part of something completely new...thanks SJ for posting and thanks everyone for the amazing conjecture/sleuthing. Makes me think: Could said quantum computer have figured this out any faster? When will computers learn to ask great questions and deduce answers?
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

benjiman says:

awesome, awesome, awesome

macro world harnessing micro mystery worlds
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

sbove says:

ps: what kind of noise and crosstalk? what frequencies? what signal to noise level is tolerable when whispering to parallel universes? why only 128 leads (partly obvious but...), what is the clock speed on the quantum chip? is it a chip? is it only the "chip" thats down in the super-chilled bath or is the dilution fridge cylinder in there too? why is it called a "dilution fridge"? We're all under NDA here ;-)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

.schtieF says:

@ AMagill we are entangled now!!!!

thanx jurvetson for this experience of same probability

(1/√2)(|.schtieF>|AMagill>+|AMagill> |.schtieF>)

does matter who observerd it first?

i think not ;-)

--
Seen in my recent comments. (?)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

Josh Thompson says:

Hmmm...that's the first time I've seen kets on Flickr. I'm not sure if I should be excited or scared.

--
Seen on your photo stream. (?)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

.schtieF says:

be excited, in some years it will be normal for young school pupil
like they already teach it in japan....... i took a course about quantum computing by Prof. Dr. Dreissmann at university, that was one of the most interesting year ever while studying

--
Seen in my recent comments. (?)
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

_sarchi says:

..what got my goat yesterday the bbc interviewed bill gates for the vista bus load of children at a remote school in deepest darkest english country what is a keyboard again.. seem to remember terry wogan saying that whole script ten twenty years ago now.. everybody go and forget about mobility cause I have not invented it yet? shock.. horror no battery! [that hackers circa 1995 movie script is still ringing in my ears..]
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

samantha lundin thom says:

uberfun! i am an average joe teacher that is fascinated to read on as everyone's deductive reasoning pulled together for the answer. i'm with sbove re: "amazing conjecture/sleuthing" plus i was entertained by the R2D2 and deep space temp references biotron... perhaps it was even more entertaining since i'm lucky enough to know the designer....for the past couple of years now i have waited on christmas and birthdays for a piece of 'top secret' jewelry.
Posted 30 months ago. ( permalink )

David G Photography says:

Oh great! Now my computer is really obsolete...
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

mebooyou says:

Wow, as I read the comments I was thinking quantum computer!(too bad I'm 2 weeks late on the game!). That is soooo exciting!!! 16 qubit computer!!!
hughfwilson : It's a shame it can't compute Shor's algorithm - I created a quantum computing course at University of Victoria with a few other students that focused mostly on Shor's algorithm and have been patiently waiting for the day when a more powerful quantum processor was made. Why can't this do Shor's algorithm? How is it not a true universal quatum computer?

But still! This is crazy exciting! One step closer to having quantum physics being applicable to the experience of people in everyday life.

jurvetson: " 65,536 parallel universes to compute answers in a fundamentally new way." - ahahaha all I can do is shake my head and laugh!
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

jurvetson says:

Regarding Shor's algorithm: Geordie posits that like Turing Machine equivalence for classical computers, the D-Wave adiabatic QC is equivalent to any QC.

Cracking codes though is not their focus, and they have optimized the architecture for other classes of problems of commercial interest.
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

mebooyou says:

Cracking codes isn't the coolest application for a quantum computer anyways, even though the algorithm is fascinating . Entanglement, quantum communication, and just playing with all the parrellel universes is where the real fun is.

Can't wait for tommorrow when D-Wave releases thier new fancy pants computer!
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

mebooyou says:

Cracking codes isn't the coolest application for a quantum computer anyways, even though the algorithm is fascinating . Entanglement, quantum communication, and just playing with all the parrellel universes is where the real fun is.

Can't wait for tommorrow when D-Wave releases thier new fancy pants computer!

Oh and thanks again, Jervetson, for keeping me posted on the newest craziest, laserastic, ramerific, tunablastic, rocketblasting stuff!
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

jurvetson says:

You're welcome! I am cheering them on, and hoping they can keep scaling it.

Here are a couple comments from the luminaries of the field:

Wired News: D-Wave announced 16 qubits, and they want people to play with them, so they're talking about having a web API where people can try to port their own applications and see how it works. Do you think that's a good approach to gaining some acceptability and mind share for the idea of quantum computing?

David Deutsch: I think the field doesn't need acceptability. The idea will either be valid, or not. The claim will either be true, or not. I think that the normal processes of scientific criticism, peer review and just general discussion in the scientific community is going to test this idea -- provided enough information is given of what this idea is. That will be quite independent of what kind of access they provide to the public. However, I think the idea of providing an interface such as you describe is a very good one. I think it's a wonderful idea. (Source: Wired)

"There are still a lot of ifs and maybes here," says quantum computing researcher Seth Lloyd of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. But he credits D-Wave for its willingness to test the idea. "From the scientific perspective," he says, "what they're doing is very interesting."
(from Scientific American)
Posted 29 months ago. ( permalink )

Tommok says:

Fabulous perspective! Wonderful shot!
Posted 28 months ago. ( permalink )

enthogenesis says:

I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?

******************************************* *************************
Posted 24 months ago. ( permalink )

gilmalonzo says:

It's the Large Hadron Collider.
Posted 18 months ago. ( permalink )

Timmbits says:

That was my first guess... although I understand it doesn't count - I saw this much too late. :-)
Posted 18 months ago. ( permalink )

photodillon says:

I remember these... we had them lying around everywhere down in the basement at Area 51.
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

Josh Thompson says:

Interesting to see this picture pop up -- Steve, did you see the articles about D-Wave in the June issue of Technology Review (pg 11 and pg 78)?

--
Seen in my recent comments. (?)
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

jurvetson says:

no... my subscription seems to have lapsed... and I don't see them online yet.
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

jonmasters says:

Drum memory or an old phone rotary dialer without crossbar
Posted 3 weeks ago. ( permalink )

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What’s That? (71)

Comments

tifotter says:

drona says:

jurvetson says:

roddh says:

Mark Strozier says:

Scott C (sec611) says:

shadow_of_me [deleted] says:

AMagill says:

proales_proalescom says:

Robbie1 says:

Todd Huffman says:

BenODen says:

sbove says:

xouroborus says:

caitlinburke says:

jurvetson says:

edlimphoto says:

benjiman says:

drona says:

jurvetson says:

Godi says:

slowburn♪ says:

_sarchi says:

The Rocketeer says:

Alex's world says:

BenODen says:

biotron says:

Godi says:

jurvetson says:

Godi says:

jurvetson says:

Jef Poskanzer says:

The Rocketeer says:

jurvetson says:

The Rocketeer says:

biotron says:

BenODen says:

Alex's world says:

biotron says:

The Rocketeer says:

Alex's world says:

Aphrodite's Child says:

Godi says:

Alex's world says:

.schtieF says:

jurvetson says:

biotron says:

Godi says:

biotron says:

BenODen says:

sbove says:

benjiman says:

sbove says:

.schtieF says:

Josh Thompson says:

.schtieF says:

_sarchi says:

samantha lundin thom says:

David G Photography says:

mebooyou says:

jurvetson says:

mebooyou says:

mebooyou says:

jurvetson says:

Tommok says:

enthogenesis says:

gilmalonzo says:

Timmbits says:

photodillon says:

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