Is inner product a measurement in quantum computation?

In summary, Hams and Raedt developed a quantum algorithm to calculate the density of states for a spin system using an initial random state and obtaining the time evolution of the state. They then take the inner product of the evolved state with the initial state. This inner product formation is a measurement on the initial and evolved states. There is a question about whether taking the inner product of two qubits means they are destroyed afterwards or if information can be obtained without it being considered a measurement.
  • #1
lathawarrier
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Hams and Raedt gave a quantum computational algorithm to calculate the density of states of a spin system. Starting with an initial random state, they obtain the time evolution of the state. Later they take the inner product of the evolved state with the initial state. How does the inner product formation fit into the quantum computation model? Is it a measurement on the initial and the evolved states?
 
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  • #2
I have a similar query, wondering whether taking the inner product of two qubits, say phi and psi, <phi|psi> means that the qubits are destroyed afterwards or not. In other words, is it possible to obtain information about their product without being considered as a measurement?
 

Question 1: What is an inner product in quantum computation?

The inner product, also known as a scalar product, is a mathematical operation that takes two vectors as input and produces a scalar value as output. In quantum computation, the inner product is used to measure the overlap or similarity between two quantum states.

Question 2: How is the inner product used in quantum computation?

The inner product is used in quantum computation to calculate the probability of obtaining a specific measurement outcome. It is also used to determine the distance between two quantum states, which is important for error correction and quantum error correction codes.

Question 3: Is the inner product the same as a measurement in quantum computation?

No, the inner product is not the same as a measurement in quantum computation. While both involve obtaining a scalar value, the inner product is a mathematical operation used to calculate the similarity between quantum states, while measurement is a physical process that collapses a quantum state to a specific outcome.

Question 4: Why is the inner product important in quantum computation?

The inner product is important in quantum computation because it allows us to measure and compare quantum states, which is crucial for many quantum algorithms and applications. It also plays a key role in error correction and quantum state tomography.

Question 5: Can the inner product be extended to higher dimensions in quantum computation?

Yes, the inner product can be extended to higher dimensions in quantum computation. In fact, it is a fundamental operation in quantum mechanics and can be applied to any number of quantum states in any dimension. This allows for the study and manipulation of complex quantum systems and phenomena.

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