The QuBit
The QuBit
Computers use switching states of transistors that can assume the classical state 0 or 1 to store information or perform computing operations. In a quantum computer, the smallest unit of information is called a QuBit. Unlike the bit, which assumes either one or the other state (0 or 1), a QuBit Q consists of an arbitrary superposition of these two states:
\Ket{Q}=\alpha\Ket{0}+\beta\Ket{1}\qquad(1)
α and β are (in general) complex numbers indicating the fraction for 0 and 1, respectively. The state 0 resp. 1 and the state Q are represented as vectors on the surface of a Bloch sphere [1]:
\Ket{0}
\Ket{1}
\Ket{Q}=\alpha\Ket{0}+\beta\Ket{1}
Excursus: Vector representation and braket notation
\Ket{0}=\begin{bmatrix}
1 \\
0 \\
\end{bmatrix}
;
\Ket{1}=\begin{bmatrix}
0 \\
1 \\
\end{bmatrix}\qquad(2)
\Bra{0}=\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 0
\end{bmatrix}
;
\Bra{1}=\begin{bmatrix}
0 & 1
\end{bmatrix}\qquad(3)
The first row in the column vectors or first column in the row vectors refers to the value |0〉 and the second row or column refers to the value |1〉(see also representation on the Bloch sphere).
The values for α and β are normalized so that their square results in the value 1:
|\alpha|^{2} + |\beta|^{2}=1\qquad(4)
In this case, |α|2 and |β|2 indicate the probabilities of which state the QuBit is currently in. A permissible state for a QuBit is shown in the next figure, where the probability of encountering 0 or 1 is 50% to 50% [1].:
\Ket{Q}=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\Ket{0} + \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\Ket{1}\qquad (5)
\Ket{+}
=
=
\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}
\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\Ket{0}
+
+
\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}
\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\Ket{1}
This state is abbreviated as |+〉.
Question: When does the QuBit “decide” for one of the two states?
Measurement of a QuBit state
Once the state of a QuBit is determined by a measurement, it transitions to one of the two classical states 0 or 1 with probability |α|2 or |β|2, respectively.
Sources
[1]: M. Ellerhoff, Mit Quanten Rechnen. Wiesbaden: Springer Spektrum , ISBN 978-3-658-31221-3