Classical Computing

"The Binary View"

To understand and explore Quantum Computing one must gather the view of the Classical way of computing, classical Computing is the pedestal of the way how modern computer works. At its base, classical computing is all about processing and manipulating information, this information is represented using the basic units of data called Bit. A Bit can have one of two possible values 0 or 1. These Binary values lay the foundation for all computations in classical computing.

In Retrospect

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Visualise Bit as a switch button that can either be off(0) or on(1). With only these Duo States, computers use sequences of bits to execute programs, store data, and perform mathematical calculations. Every action in classical computers, from basic arithmetic operations to complex software applications, is nothing but a combination of binary options.

Quantum Computing

"Beyond Binary"

Quantum computing makes a way out of classical computing by harnessing the principles of quantum mechanics. Unlike classical bits, quantum computers use Qubits. A qubit is a fundamental unit for quantum data.

Qubit == quantum form of a bit

Qbits Visualize

Qbits possess some special properties :

These properties are the main source of curiosity and chaos for a computer engineer, cause as Richard Feynman (theoretical physicist) once said :

"I think I can safely say that nobody understands quantum mechanics.”

But, it's worth studying (once)

The Special properties :

Superposition ->

As we broke down earlier, bits can exist in a duo state of 0's and 1's, but that's not the case in Qubits. Qubits empowered special property called superposition which allows them to exist in a multitude of states simultaneously. To understand it better we need to use the coin analogy for visualization.

Imagine a coin, normally it consists of heads and tails the same way bits have 0s and 1s. Now, Let's spin this coin, and Ask ourselves a question " Can we still determine if the coin is heads or tails ? ".while spinning..it's kinda both .... at the same time.

And now, This same goes with Qubit. We can have a value of 1 or 0 similar to a regular bit, and a superposition (something in-between 0 and 1).

To know if the Qubit is in a state of 1, 0, or superposition, we must measure them. But as the qubits are eensy. They like to be placed in complete isolation when they do their thing. Any external force from its environment will quickly lead its exit from its superposition.

Similarly, In coin analogy, we can compare it to hand-smacking the coin and forcing it to be either heads or tails.

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The above phenomenon is called 'Decoherence'

While measuring, the qubit doesn't randomly decohere into 0 or 1. The probability of the observed qubit being 0 or 1 is related to the state that the qubit was originally in.

Forward with the coin analogy, the more coin is slopping towards tails, there are more chances of measuring the coins position as tails. The same concept applies to heads.

Qubits State Representation ->

|ψ⟩ = α|0⟩ + β|1⟩

We represent the classical bits 0 and 1 as column vectors and |ψ⟩ denotes the unit column vector. And represented complex numbers representing the respective probability that the qubit will collapse to either 0 or 1.

Entanglement ->

Referring back to the coin analogy we can understand entanglement :

Consider, you have been given another coin now, let's call it xcoin for understanding purposes, If we spin both coins and they interact in a very specific way, they would automatically entangled.

Now the state of our xcoin will give us precise data about the state of our first coin( irrespective of its location).

If we measure the state of xcoin to be tails, go to another side of the moon, and then observe the first coin, it would be tails too! Irrespective of being miles away from one other.

So, It's been proven that if we measure an entangled qubit, we will immediately know the state of its partner. Hence, you indirectly obtain two values from a single measurement!

That's why people tend to say :

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Quantum Mechanics/Physics is a probabilistic approach rather than a Deterministic approach!

Let's try to understand this complex topic collectively!

Reference :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWJCfOvochA

https://medium.com/the-research-nest/understanding-the-theory-and-math-behind-qubits-2bf86a56441c

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Fundamental Quantum Computing

"Exploring Quantum Computing and its Fundamentals"

Table of contents

Classical Computing

"The Binary View"

Quantum Computing

"Beyond Binary"

Reference :