qubit

noun

qu·bit ˈkyü-bət

plural qubits

: a unit of computing information that is represented by a state of an atom or elementary particle (such as the spin) and can store multiple values at once due to the principles of quantum mechanics

And the most basic truth of quantum mechanics dictates that you cannot measure a qubit without destroying the superposition. The register that said 1 and 0 will randomly collapse into 1 or 0.—

George Johnson

compare bit entry 3 sense 1

Examples of qubit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Tech giants such as Google, IBM, Microsoft and Amazon are all investing huge sums in generating qubits, and in trying to reduce errors, either through shielding the hardware or by combining qubits and then using algorithms to detect and correct mistakes. —

Sara Lomelin, Fortune Europe, 7 Aug. 2024 Millions of physical qubits, along with error correction techniques, would be needed to create the necessary logical qubits. —

Pravir Malik, Forbes, 3 Sep. 2024 This method works with any quantum computer that has the capability to rotate a qubit in any fashion. —

The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 30 July 2024 In the past, experiments with these floating diamonds had trouble in preventing their loss in vacuum and reading out the spin qubits. —

Michael Irving, New Atlas, 14 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for qubit

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'qubit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

qu- (in quantum entry 2) + bit entry 4, probably formed with punning allusion to cubit

Note: According to the American physicist Benjamin Schumacher, in the acknowledgements to a paper ("Quantum coding," Physical Review A, vol. 51, issue 4 [April, 1995], p. 2747), "The term 'qubit' was coined in jest during one of the author's many intriguing and valuable conversations with W. K. Wootters, and became the initial impetus for this work."

First Known Use

1994, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of qubit was in 1994

See more words from the same year