quantum computer
noun
a computer that makes use of the quantum states of electrons or other particles to store and process information as quantum bits.
OTHER WORDS FROM quantum computer
quantum computing, nounWords nearby quantum computer
British Dictionary definitions for quantum computer
quantum computer
noun
a type of computer which uses the ability of quantum systems to be in many different states at once, thus allowing it to perform many different computations simultaneously
Scientific definitions for quantum computer
quantum computer
A computer that exploits the quantum mechanical properties of superposition in order to allow a single operation to act on a large number of pieces of data. In a quantum computer, the data to be manipulated, represented in quantum bits, exists in all possible states simultaneously, in superposition. This allows a single operation to operate over all of these states at once, in contrast with a classical computer, which must carry out an operation for each state separately. Because of the difficulty of creating environments small enough for quantum effects to emerge but sufficiently isolated to prevent interaction with outside influences such as heat, only extremely rudimentary quantum computers currently exist, though algorithms for possible future devices are being developed.