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Computing/How Quantum Computers & Qubits Work
ComputingTechnical9 min

How Quantum Computers & Qubits Work

Harnessing quantum superposition, entanglement, and Hadamard gates to solve exponential calculations in seconds.

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DILUTION CRYOSTATStage 1: 50K Flange (-223°C)Stage 2: 4K Plate (Liquid Helium)Stage 3: 100 mK StillMIXING CHAMBER15 mK (-273.13°C)Microwave Coax Control LinesBLOCH SPHERE & SUPERPOSITION (|Ψ⟩)|0⟩ (Ground)|1⟩ (Excited)State: |Ψ⟩ = |0⟩ (Classical Bit Zero)

Step 11. Ground State Initialization (|0⟩)

Qubits are cooled to 15 mK in a dilution refrigerator, relaxing into ground state |0⟩.

Thermal noise is suppressed below 15 millikelvin, locking the transmon qubit into its pure ground state $|0\rangle$.

Step 1 of 4How Quantum Computers & Qubits Work
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Target Audience:Curious Beginners
While normal computers process information as 0 or 1 like a light switch, quantum computers use qubits that can be 0, 1, or both at the same time (Superposition).

Key Takeaways

  • Classical Bit: A coin lying flat on a table showing Heads (0) OR Tails (1).
  • Qubit: A spinning coin in mid-air in a state of Superposition (both 0 AND 1 simultaneously).
  • Quantum computers solve complex molecular and encryption problems by testing all paths at once.

The Spinning Quantum Coin

In a classical computer, everything is written in bits — simple switches that are strictly 0 or 1.

A Quantum Bit (Qubit) behaves according to the laws of quantum mechanics. Thanks to a property called Superposition, a qubit can represent a blend of both 0 and 1 at the same time. While a 300-bit classical computer can hold one 300-digit number at a time, a 300-qubit quantum computer can hold more simultaneous states than there are atoms in the observable universe!
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What is the primary difference between a classical bit and a quantum qubit?