I think quantum state collapse is in contradiction with the storage of QBits

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of quantum state collapse and its implications for the storage of qubits in quantum computing. Participants explore the relationship between the number of qubits, their possible states, and the effects of measurement on these states.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asserts that when measuring n qubits, the quantum state collapses, leading to a loss of information from the 2^n possible states.
  • Another participant challenges the clarity of the original description, suggesting a misunderstanding between the number of qubits (n) and the number of possible measurement outcomes (2^n), emphasizing that measurement yields one of the possible states.
  • A later reply questions whether the information in a superposition state is unknowable until measurement, implying that measurement results in a random appearance of either 0 or 1.
  • There is a suggestion that the probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics may not contribute to the memorization of information.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the interpretation of quantum state collapse and its implications for information storage. There is no consensus on the clarity of the original question or the correctness of the claims made.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the definitions of terms like "volume" and "possibilities" in the context of quantum mechanics remain unresolved, contributing to the confusion in the discussion.

FakeWings
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
This is my analysis:1)quantum can have two states at one time:0 and 1.So n QBits have the volume 2^n. 2)when it's observed,the quantum state will collapse to a certain one.

So the comtradiction is evidence:the information of the 2^n Qbits disappear when I only read n Qbits from it.

Ok...if it is wrong,why?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Er...Hello~~~
Is my description not clear or the question itself hard to answer? ^_^
 
Your description is quite poorly worded, I'm afraid no one understands what the question is. I suspect you might be confusing the number of qbits, which is n, with the number of possible outcomes of measurement on the n qubits, which is 2^n. It's combinatorics - if you have 1 qbit, measurement will yield one of 2^1 = 2 possiblities, namely 0 or 1.

Your language is not standard and contributes to the communication barrier here. "Volume" means nothing to me in this context. "...can have two states at once" is not allowable in quantum mechanics, in the usual definition of the words; e.g. a superposition state is itself a unique state.
 
Thanks for your comment and explanation of QM.

Rach3 said:
which is 2^n. It's combinatorics - if you have 1 qbit, measurement will yield one of 2^1 = 2 possiblities, namely 0 or 1.

a superposition state is itself a unique state.

So what you implied is the information in superposition state is absolutely unknowable.When we measure it,it just appear 0 or 1 by chance?
And this "possiblities-attribute" of QM make no contribution to the memorizer?
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K