Description: Mixed states in quantum computing are those quantum states that are not pure, meaning they represent a statistical mixture of different quantum states. In more technical terms, a pure quantum state can be fully described by a wave function, while a mixed state is represented by a density matrix. This matrix encapsulates information about the probabilities of finding the system in each of the pure states that compose it. Mixed states are fundamental to understanding phenomena such as quantum decoherence, where a quantum system loses its coherence due to interaction with its environment, resulting in a mixture of states. Furthermore, mixed states are crucial in quantum information theory, as they allow for the description of systems that are subject to noise and uncertainty. In summary, mixed states are an essential representation in quantum mechanics that reflects the complexity of quantum systems in real-world situations, where the purity of the ideal quantum state is often compromised by external factors.
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