No, looking at a quantum computer does not cause it to stop working. Quantum computers operate based on the principles of quantum mechanics, and their functionality is not affected by observations or measurements. The act of observation or measurement in quantum mechanics, known as quantum measurement or quantum state collapse, does not halt the operation of a quantum computer.
In a quantum computer, information is stored and processed using quantum bits, or qubits, which can exist in superposition states. These qubits can be in a coherent state of both 0 and 1 simultaneously, allowing for parallel computation and potential speedup in certain algorithms.
When a measurement is performed on a qubit, the superposition collapses into one of the possible classical states (0 or 1), yielding a measurement outcome. However, this collapse happens independently of whether someone is observing or not. The measurement outcome is probabilistic, and repeated measurements on identical quantum states may yield different results.
It is worth noting that the interaction between a quantum computer and its environment, including observation or measurement apparatus, can introduce noise and perturbations that may affect the performance of the quantum computer. Maintaining and controlling the delicate quantum states of qubits is a significant challenge in quantum computing, but this is not caused by the act of observation itself.
In summary, observing or looking at a quantum computer does not cause it to stop working. Quantum computers continue to operate and perform quantum computations even during observations or measurements. The challenge lies in maintaining the delicate quantum states and minimizing unwanted interactions with the environment.