Hidden In Plain Sight 10: How To Program A Quantum Computer by Thomas Andrew

Author:Thomas, Andrew [Thomas, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2018-08-19T16:00:00+00:00

7

THE QUBIT

In my previous book it was explained how information can be measured in terms of bits. A bit (short for "binary digit") is a unit of data which can be either 0 or 1. In a conventional computer, all data is composed of combinations of these bits. In the computer, those bits are represented by different electric voltages: often +5 volts representing a 1, and zero volts representing a 0.

In a quantum computer, the equivalent of a bit is a qubit (short for "quantum bit"). In a qubit, the 0 and 1 values represent quantum states, so they are denoted by |0〉 and |1〉 (note the use of the Dirac notation). In a quantum computer, all processing occurs before decoherence destroys the superposition state of the qubit. That means a qubit can be in a superposition state and can have the value of both |0〉 and |1〉 at the same time.

However, when it is observed, it will be found in one of two possible states, |0〉 or |1〉.

The following diagram shows a graphical representation of a qubit in a superposition state:

As shown on the previous diagram, the state vector of a qubit can be described by the following:

where a and b are complex numbers (because the state vector is in Hilbert space).

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