ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

ZX-calculus

The zx-calculus is a way of using diagrams, or pictures, to help us understand how quantum computers work. It's kind of like drawing a map to help you find your way around a new place, only instead of streets and buildings, we use symbols and lines to represent quantum bits (or "qubits") and the operations we can do on them.

The symbols we use in the zx-calculus are called "z" and "x". The "z" symbol looks like a circle with a line through it, and the "x" symbol looks like an "X" with a line through it. We can use these symbols to describe different kinds of qubits and the ways they interact with each other.

For example, if we want to show two qubits that are connected, we can draw a line between them with a "z" symbol next to it. This tells us that the two qubits are "entangled," which means that they are connected in a way that makes them act as though they are one qubit instead of two separate ones.

We can also use the zx-calculus to show when we do a specific operation on a qubit, like flipping it from a 0 to a 1. To show this operation, we draw a line with an "x" symbol next to it. This tells us that we're doing something to change the qubit from its original state.

Overall, the zx-calculus helps us understand how quantum computers work by giving us a visual way to represent quantum bits and operations. It's like drawing a picture to help us understand a complex idea, but in this case, the picture helps us understand how quantum computing works!