Los Alamos National Laboratory
Lab Home  |  Phone
 
 
Science: Centers: Quantum

Tutorial

Qubits

Qubit="quantum"+"bit"

A qubit is exactly what it sounds like: a bit of information represented by a quantum object, such as a single atom, ion, or photon. Just as a bit is the basic unit of information in a classical information system, a qubit is the basic unit of information of a quantum information system. The power of a qubit is that it is not limited to a value of 0 or 1. It can actually be in a "superposition" state of any combination of 0 or 1. This is the difference between a classical and a quantum computer, which theoretically allows quantum computers to be much more efficient at solving certain types of problems.

The Quantum Institute

Table of Contents

 

Operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's NNSA

Inside | © Copyright 2007-8 Los Alamos National Security, LLC All rights reserved | Disclaimer/Privacy | Web Contact