A quantum bit, or qubit, can hold more information than a classical bit due to its ability to exist in superposition and exhibit entanglement.
Superposition: Unlike classical bits, which can only exist in one of two states (0 or 1), a qubit can exist in a superposition of both states simultaneously. This means that a qubit can represent both 0 and 1 at the same time, with specific amplitudes associated with each state. As a result, a qubit can encode and process a larger amount of information compared to a classical bit.
Entanglement: Entanglement is a unique property of quantum systems where multiple qubits become correlated in such a way that the state of one qubit is dependent on the state of the other(s). When qubits are entangled, the information of the entire system cannot be decomposed into individual qubit states. This property enables qubits to exhibit stronger correlations and carry more information collectively than the sum of their individual states.
By harnessing these two properties, superposition and entanglement, quantum systems can perform computations in parallel and process information in a highly efficient manner. Quantum algorithms can exploit superposition and entanglement to solve certain problems exponentially faster than classical computers, leading to the potential for significant computational advantages in specific applications, such as factoring large numbers or simulating quantum systems.