“In quantum computing, a qubit or quantum bit (sometimes qbit) is a unit of quantum information-the quantum analogue of the classical bit.
A qubit is a two-state quantum-mechanical system, such as the polarization of a single photon: here the two states are vertical polarization and horizontal polarization.
In a classical system, a bit would have to be in one state or the other.
However, quantum mechanics allows the qubit to be in a superposition of both states at the same time, a property that is fundamental to quantum computing. ...”
Bit versus qubit:
The bit is the basic unit of information. It is used to represent information by computers.
Regardless of its physical realization, a bit has two possible states typically thought of as 0 and 1, but more generally-and according to applications-interpretable as true and false, or any other dichotomous choice.
An analogy to this is a light switch-its OFF position can be thought of as 0 and its ON position as 1.
A qubit has a few similarities to a classical bit, but is overall very different.
There are two possible outcomes for the measurement of a qubit-usually 0 and 1, like a bit.
The difference is that whereas the state of a bit is either 0 or 1, the state of a qubit can also be a superposition of both.[2]
It is possible to fully encode one bit in one qubit.
However, a qubit can hold even more information, e.g. up to two bits using superdense coding.
For a system of n components, a complete description of its state in classical physics requires only n bits, whereas in quantum physics it requires 2n-1 complex numbers.[3]...”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qubit
This is way over my head but did remind me somewhere I read China is already using Quantum Computers?????
“It is possible to fully encode one bit in one qubit.
However, a qubit can hold even more information, e.g. up to two bits using superdense coding.”
I must be seriously missing something...
So a qubit can hold up to two bits of information, and this is supposed to be exciting or earthshaking??
What am I missing?