Coherence

Beginner

Coherence is a qubit's ability to reliably maintain its quantum state, like superposition or entanglement, over time before being disrupted by environmental noise.

In Plain English

Imagine a perfectly spinning top. Coherence is the time it spins stably and predictably. As soon as it starts to wobble from a breeze or a bump (environmental noise), it loses its perfect state. This wobbling is like a qubit losing its coherence.

Why It Matters for Your Career

Quantum Hardware Engineers at companies like Rigetti, IBM Quantum, or IonQ are judged by their ability to increase qubit coherence times. During interviews, expect questions on how different qubit modalities address the fundamental challenge of maintaining coherence.

Related Terms

Jobs Requiring Coherence

Browse all quantum jobs →

Ready to apply your quantum knowledge?

Browse open positions that use concepts like this. New jobs added daily.