We have looked at how a transistor works, the fundamental unit of classical computers, and how a quantum computer works in theory, taking advantage of quantum superposition to hold exponentially more information than classical computers. Now we look at the practical side of making a quantum bit, or qubit. How do you put it in a state where it is stable? How do you read and write information on it? These processes are described for a solid state qubit - a phosphorous atom in a silicon crystal substrate. Both the electron and the nucleus of the phosphorous atom can be used as qubits.
 
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Physicists have found that a new powerful tool they call 'Wigner flow' is the quantum analog of phase space flow. (Credit: Image courtesy of University of Hertfordshire)
Three UK-based physicist Ole Steuernagel, Dimitris Kakofengitis ,and Georg Ritter
have found what they call a powerful tool called the Wigner flow or the quantum
analogue of space flow.