Quantum information
[edit]
Just as the bit is the basic concept of classical information theory, the qubit is the
fundamental unit of quantum information. The same term qubit is used to refer to an abstract
mathematical model and to any physical system that is represented by that model. A
classical bit, by definition, exists in either of two physical states, which can be denoted 0 and
1. A qubit is also described by a state, and two states often written |0⟩
Quantum information
[edit]
Just as the bit is the basic concept of classical information theory, the qubit is the fundamental unit of
quantum information. The same term qubit is used to refer to an abstract mathematical model and to
any physical system that is represented by that model. A classical bit, by definition, exists in either of
two physical states, which can be denoted 0 and 1. A qubit is also described by a state, and two
states often written |0⟩
and |1⟩
serve as the quantum counterparts of the classical states 0 and 1. However, the quantum states |0⟩
and |1⟩
belong to a vector space, meaning that they can be multiplied by constants and added together, and
the result is again a valid quantum state. Such a combination is known as a superposition of |0⟩
and |1⟩
.[33][34]
A two-dimensional vector mathematically represents a qubit state. Physicists typically use Dirac
notation for quantum mechanical linear algebra, writing |ψ⟩
'ket psi' for a vector labeled ψ
. Because a qubit is a two-state system, any qubit state takes the form α|0⟩+β|1⟩
, where |0⟩
and |1⟩
are the standard basis states,[b] and α
and β
are the probability amplitudes, which are in general complex numbers.[34] If either α
or β
is zero, the qubit is effectively a classical bit; when both are nonzero, the qubit is in superposition.
Such a quantum state vector acts similarly to a (classical) probability vector, with one key difference:
unlike probabilities, probability amplitudes are not necessarily positive numbers.[36] Negative
amplitudes allow for destructive wave interference.
Quantum information
[edit]
Just as the bit is the basic concept of classical information theory, the qubit is the
fundamental unit of quantum information. The same term qubit is used to refer to an abstract
mathematical model and to any physical system that is represented by that model. A
classical bit, by definition, exists in either of two physical states, which can be denoted 0 and
1. A qubit is also described by a state, and two states often written |0⟩
and |1⟩
serve as the quantum counterparts of the classical states 0 and 1. However, the quantum
states |0⟩
and |1⟩
belong to a vector space, meaning that they can be multiplied by constants and added
together, and the result is again a valid quantum state. Such a combination is known as a
superposition of |0⟩
and |1⟩
.[33][34]
A two-dimensional vector mathematically represents a qubit state. Physicists typically use
Dirac notation for quantum mechanical linear algebra, writing |ψ⟩
'ket psi' for a vector labeled ψ
. Because a qubit is a two-state system, any qubit state takes the form α|0⟩+β|1⟩
, where |0⟩
and |1⟩
are the standard basis states,[b] and α
and β
are the probability amplitudes, which are in general complex numbers.[34] If either α
or β
is zero, the qubit is effectively a classical bit; when both are nonzero, the qubit is in
superposition. Such a quantum state vector acts similarly to a (classical) probability vector,
with one key difference: unlike probabilities, probability amplitudes are not necessarily
positive numbers.[36] Negative amplitudes allow for destructive wave interference.
Quantum information
[edit]
Just as the bit is the basic concept of classical information theory, the qubit is the
fundamental unit of quantum information. The same term qubit is used to refer to an abstract
mathematical model and to any physical system that is represented by that model. A
classical bit, by definition, exists in either of two physical states, which can be denoted 0 and
1. A qubit is also described by a state, and two states often written |0⟩
and |1⟩
serve as the quantum counterparts of the classical states 0 and 1. However, the quantum
states |0⟩
and |1⟩
belong to a vector space, meaning that they can be multiplied by constants and added
together, and the result is again a valid quantum state. Such a combination is known as a
superposition of |0⟩
and |1⟩
.[33][34]
A two-dimensional vector mathematically represents a qubit state. Physicists typically use
Dirac notation for quantum mechanical linear algebra, writing |ψ⟩
'ket psi' for a vector labeled ψ
. Because a qubit is a two-state system, any qubit state takes the form α|0⟩+β|1⟩
, where |0⟩
and |1⟩
are the standard basis states,[b] and α
and β
are the probability amplitudes, which are in general complex numbers.[34] If either α
or β
is zero, the qubit is effectively a classical bit; when both are nonzero, the qubit is in
superposition. Such a quantum state vector acts similarly to a (classical) probability vector,
with one key difference: unlike probabilities, probability amplitudes are not necessarily
positive numbers.[36] Negative amplitudes allow for destructive wave interference.
and |1⟩
serve as the quantum counterparts of the classical states 0 and 1. However, the quantum
states |0⟩
and |1⟩
belong to a vector space, meaning that they can be multiplied by constants and added
together, and the result is again a valid quantum state. Such a combination is known as a
superposition of |0⟩
and |1⟩
.[33][34]
A two-dimensional vector mathematically represents a qubit state. Physicists typically use
Dirac notation for quantum mechanical linear algebra, writing |ψ⟩
'ket psi' for a vector labeled ψ
. Because a qubit is a two-state system, any qubit state takes the form α|0⟩+β|1⟩
, where |0⟩
and |1⟩
are the standard basis states,[b] and α
and β
are the probability amplitudes, which are in general complex numbers.[34] If either α
or β
is zero, the qubit is effectively a classical bit; when both are nonzero, the qubit is in
superposition. Such a quantum state vector acts similarly to a (classical) probability vector,
with one key difference: unlike probabilities, probability amplitudes are not necessarily
positive numbers.[36] Negative amplitudes allow for destructive wave interference.
