How a Quantum Computer Works
Introduction Quantum computers represent a revolutionary leap from traditional digital technology, which relies on bits being either 0 or 1. Instead, quantum computers harness the principles of physics, specifically three fundamental elements: superposition, measurement, and entanglement. More about this is discussed in this blog about Quantum Computing Fundamentals . As William Philips (1997) eloquently put it, the difference between a quantum computer and a classical computer is greater than that between a classical computer and a wooden abacus. This highlights how fundamentally distinct quantum computers are from their classical counterparts. They operate differently, look different, and perform tasks that classical computers cannot. In a classical computer, a bit is either a 0 or a 1. However, in a quantum computer, a qubit can exist in a state of superposition, meaning it can be both 0 and 1 simultaneously, as well as any state in between. When a qubit is measured, it ...