Quantum computing
- the use of quantum physics principles and phenomena to perform computations and solve various types of problems.
Qubit (quantum bit)
- the way the information is stored in a quantum computer. Currently the most common technologies used to build qubits are superconducting circuits, trapped ions, photons, and diamonds.
Quantum supremacy
- a steppingstone in the development of quantum computers. It is achieved when a quantum computer solves a problem that cannot be tackled by a classical device within a reasonable time frame. However, in all examples presented so far, the problem has been deliberately created by scientists and has no real-world application.
Quantum advantage
- the ultimate goal in the development of quantum computing. It is achieved when a quantum computer can solve a problem with real-life applicability and commercial value, that cannot be solved on a traditional device.
Superposition
- one of the fundamental principles of quantum computing. Qubits are in ‘superposition’ while performing a calculation. There is no counterpart to superposition in classical physics, and there is no simple way to describe it. An approximation might be that the bit value is somewhere between 0 and 1, with a certain probability of becoming one of the two once it is measured.
Entanglement
- another fundamental principle of quantum computing. Qubits can attain a state of entanglement. This is a particular type of inter-connection where an action performed on one of two qubits will affect the state of the other one.
Quantum sensing
- a particular area in the field of quantum technology. It refers to the use of quantum phenomena to perform highly sensitive measurements (e.g., magnetic and electric fields, rotations, time, frequency, temperature, pressure, etc.).
NISQ
- (Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum) - a particular stage in the development of quantum computers when the number of qubits is not large enough to perform computations and error-correction simultaneously. It represents the current stage of development of quantum computers and it considered a step towards more powerful quantum architectures.
FTQC
- (Fault Tolerant Quantum Computer) - the ultimate goal in the development of quantum computers. FTQC will have millions of qubits, allowing them to perform error-free computations and run complex applications.
Quantum gate model
- computing procedure which takes input data and transforms it according to a unitary operation, specified as a sequence of gate operations and measurements (i.e. the algorithm) and represented by a quantum circuit.1
Quantum annealing
- is a higher-level procedure employed by a special type of quantum computers to find the absolute minimum between a very large set of possible outcomes.