5
Understanding the Qubit
We are all very familiar with the classical bit, or just the bit, with respect to current computer hardware systems. It is the fundamental unit used to compute everything from simple mathematical problems, such as addition and multiplication, to more complex algorithms that involve a large collection of information.
Quantum computers have a similar fundamental unit called a quantum bit, or qubit, as it is commonly referred to. In this chapter, we will describe what a qubit is, both from a mathematical (computational) and a hardware perspective, to help you understand how they are used to calculate information. We will cover the differences between qubits and bits, particularly regarding how calculations are defined. ...
Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.
Read now
Unlock full access