superposition

[ soo-per-puh-zish-uhn ]

noun

, Geology.

1. the order in which sedimentary strata are superposed one above another.

superposition

/ ˌsuːpəpəˈzɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of superposing or state of being superposed
2. geology the principle that in any sequence of sedimentary rocks which has not been disturbed, the oldest strata lie at the bottom and the youngest at the top

superposition

/ so̅o̅′pər-pə-zĭsh′ən /

1. The principle that in a group of stratified sedimentary rocks the lowest were the earliest to be deposited.
2. The principle by which the description of the state of a physical system can be broken down into descriptions that are themselves possible states of the system. For example, harmonic motion, as of a violin string, can be analyzed as the sum of harmonic frequencies or harmonics, each of which is itself a kind of harmonic motion; harmonic motion is therefore a superposition of individual harmonics.
3. The combination of two or more physical states, such as waves, to form a new physical state in accordance with this principle.
4. See also waveSee Note at Schrödinger

Word History and Origins

Origin of superposition¹

1790–1800; < French superposition; super-, position

Example Sentences

The phenomenon is called superposition and is one of the key ingredients that enable a quantum computer to perform simultaneous calculations, with enormous computing potential as a result.

From Science Daily

In the case of Quantinuum’s computer, the qubits are the electrons in the ytterbium ions, which can hover in a superposition of two different energy levels.

From Science Magazine

Coherence is lost when the qubit reverts to a single state and becomes a classical object like a conventional computer bit, which is only ever one or zero and never in superposition.

From Science Daily

A complement of familiar quantum mechanical terms are dropped along the way, with only the hint of a thud: superposition, entanglement, liminal, multiverse — ideas that have become standard sci-plot devices and useful literary metaphors.

From Los Angeles Times

This version, instead of toiling away teaching distracted undergrads, is a prize-winning scientist who, among his various accomplishments, has invented a box that can superposition people into parallel worlds.

From New York Times