Global Phase

A global phase is a complex phase factor (like multiplying the whole quantum state by ) that changes how the state looks mathematically but not how it behaves physically. Since measurement probabilities depend only on relative phases between components, a global phase has no observable effect. So, the global phase doesn't change outcomes. It's physically meaningless and can be ignored.

by Frank Zickert
November 20, 2025

What happens when you apply a The Z-gate changes the phase of the state by (or radians) while leaving the state unchanged. This means the amplitude of gains a negative sign, effectively flipping its phase. It's a phase-flip operation that rotates the quantum state vector a half turn around the Z-axis of the Bloch sphere.
Learn more about Z-Gate
to the state is a basis state.
Learn more about
? Usually, you'd expect the A vector is a mathematical object that has both magnitude (size) and direction. It’s often represented as an arrow or as an ordered list of numbers (components) that describe its position in space, such as . Vectors are used to represent quantities like velocity, force, or displacement.
Learn more about Vector
in the The Bloch sphere is a geometric representation of a single qubit’s quantum state as a point on or inside a unit sphere. The north and south poles represent the classical states |0⟩ and |1⟩, while any other point corresponds to a superposition of them. Its position encodes the qubit’s relative phase and probability amplitudes, making it a visual tool for understanding quantum state evolution.
Learn more about Bloch Sphere
swing to a new position or flip across an axis. Right? The The Z-gate changes the phase of the state by (or radians) while leaving the state unchanged. This means the amplitude of gains a negative sign, effectively flipping its phase. It's a phase-flip operation that rotates the quantum state vector a half turn around the Z-axis of the Bloch sphere.
Learn more about Z-Gate
turns the A quantum state vector is a mathematical object (usually denoted |ψ⟩) that fully describes the state of a quantum system. Its components give the probability amplitudes for finding the system in each possible basis state. The squared magnitude of each component gives the probability of measuring that corresponding outcome.
Learn more about Quantum State Vector
around the axis by as depicted in ?.

Figure 1 The effect of the Z operator in state |1>

But in state is a basis state.
Learn more about
, the A quantum state vector is a mathematical object (usually denoted |ψ⟩) that fully describes the state of a quantum system. Its components give the probability amplitudes for finding the system in each possible basis state. The squared magnitude of each component gives the probability of measuring that corresponding outcome.
Learn more about Quantum State Vector
resides on the axis. So, apparently, nothing seems to move. The A vector is a mathematical object that has both magnitude (size) and direction. It’s often represented as an arrow or as an ordered list of numbers (components) that describe its position in space, such as . Vectors are used to represent quantities like velocity, force, or displacement.
Learn more about Vector
in the The Bloch sphere is a geometric representation of a single qubit’s quantum state as a point on or inside a unit sphere. The north and south poles represent the classical states |0⟩ and |1⟩, while any other point corresponds to a superposition of them. Its position encodes the qubit’s relative phase and probability amplitudes, making it a visual tool for understanding quantum state evolution.
Learn more about Bloch Sphere
looks unchanged.

Could that be correct? Did you ever wonder if the state secretly rotated around its own axis in some invisible way?

When we study Quantum Computing is a different kind of computation that builds upon the phenomena of Quantum Mechanics.
Learn more about Quantum Computing
we are taught that there is only one thing we can truly rely on when it comes to the counterintuitive nature of quantum physics. That is the underlying mathematics. We are taught that the A **quantum phase** is the angle component of a particle’s wavefunction that determines how its probability amplitude interferes with others. It doesn’t affect observable probabilities directly but becomes crucial when comparing two or more states, as phase differences lead to interference effects. Essentially, it encodes the relative timing or “alignment” of quantum waves.
Learn more about Quantum Phase
of a A quantum state is the complete mathematical description of a quantum system, containing all the information needed to predict measurement outcomes. It’s usually represented by a wavefunction or a state vector in a Hilbert space. The state defines probabilities, not certainties, for observable quantities like position, momentum, or spin.
Learn more about Quantum State
is important, even if it is invisible. Invisible to the observer. But mathematics reveals it.

So, if a A quantum operator is a mathematical object that represents a physical action or measurement on a quantum state. It transforms one quantum state into another, often expressed as a matrix acting on a vector in Hilbert space. In quantum computing, operators correspond to quantum gates, which manipulate qubits according to the rules of linear algebra and quantum mechanics.
Learn more about Quantum Operator
changes a A quantum state is the complete mathematical description of a quantum system, containing all the information needed to predict measurement outcomes. It’s usually represented by a wavefunction or a state vector in a Hilbert space. The state defines probabilities, not certainties, for observable quantities like position, momentum, or spin.
Learn more about Quantum State
mathematical expression then something physical must have changed as well. Even if we don't understand its nature. Right?

? compares the A quantum state is the complete mathematical description of a quantum system, containing all the information needed to predict measurement outcomes. It’s usually represented by a wavefunction or a state vector in a Hilbert space. The state defines probabilities, not certainties, for observable quantities like position, momentum, or spin.
Learn more about Quantum State
that results from applying the The Z-gate changes the phase of the state by (or radians) while leaving the state unchanged. This means the amplitude of gains a negative sign, effectively flipping its phase. It's a phase-flip operation that rotates the quantum state vector a half turn around the Z-axis of the Bloch sphere.
Learn more about Z-Gate
to is a basis state.
Learn more about
with is a basis state.
Learn more about
.

global_phase.py
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
from qiskit import QuantumCircuit
from qiskit.quantum_info import Statevector
 
qc = QuantumCircuit(1)
 
# Apply Z gate
qc.z(0)
 
# Start in state |1>
initial = Statevector.from_label("1")
 
# Evolve the state according to the gates
final = initial.evolve(qc)
 
print(f"|1⟩: {initial},\nZ|1⟩: {final}")
Listing 1 Apply the Z-gate to |1⟩

In this code listing, we a single qubit circuit. Nothing fancy. Just one wire. The call z(0) a The Z-gate changes the phase of the state by (or radians) while leaving the state unchanged. This means the amplitude of gains a negative sign, effectively flipping its phase. It's a phase-flip operation that rotates the quantum state vector a half turn around the Z-axis of the Bloch sphere.
Learn more about Z-Gate
on qubit zero. initial = Statevector.from_label('1') the state is a basis state.
Learn more about
.

final = initial.evolve(qc) the constructed circuit to the initial state. Finally, we print both statevectors, is a basis state.
Learn more about
and . This yields the output given in ?.

1
2
|1⟩: Statevector([0.+0.j, 1.+0.j], dims=(2,)),
Z|1⟩: Statevector([ 0.+0.j, -1.+0.j], dims=(2,))
Listing 2 Output of the comparison

We see, the difference between both states is the minus sign in the In quantum computing an amplitude is a complex number that describes the weight of a basis state in a quantum superposition. The squared magnitude of an amplitude gives the probability of measuring that basis state. Amplitudes can interfere, this means adding or canceling, allowing quantum algorithms to bias outcomes toward correct solutions.
Learn more about Amplitude
of is a basis state.
Learn more about
.

And what does math tell us about applying the The Z-gate changes the phase of the state by (or radians) while leaving the state unchanged. This means the amplitude of gains a negative sign, effectively flipping its phase. It's a phase-flip operation that rotates the quantum state vector a half turn around the Z-axis of the Bloch sphere.
Learn more about Z-Gate
to the state is a basis state.
Learn more about
?

Figure 2 The Pauli-Z operator

As Figure 2 shows, acting on is a basis state.
Learn more about
turns it into . So, apparently, something meaningful must have happened.

Unfortunately, that belief creates a subtle frustration. You follow the A vector is a mathematical object that has both magnitude (size) and direction. It’s often represented as an arrow or as an ordered list of numbers (components) that describe its position in space, such as . Vectors are used to represent quantities like velocity, force, or displacement.
Learn more about Vector
You track the minus sign. You watch simulators spit out complex In quantum computing an amplitude is a complex number that describes the weight of a basis state in a quantum superposition. The squared magnitude of an amplitude gives the probability of measuring that basis state. Amplitudes can interfere, this means adding or canceling, allowing quantum algorithms to bias outcomes toward correct solutions.
Learn more about Amplitude
Yet every In quantum computing, measurement is the process of extracting classical information from a quantum state. It collapses a qubit’s superposition into one of its basis states (usually or ), with probabilities determined by the amplitudes of those states. After measurement, the qubit’s state becomes definite, destroying the original superposition.
Learn more about Measurement
stubbornly gives the same results. The The Bloch sphere is a geometric representation of a single qubit’s quantum state as a point on or inside a unit sphere. The north and south poles represent the classical states |0⟩ and |1⟩, while any other point corresponds to a superposition of them. Its position encodes the qubit’s relative phase and probability amplitudes, making it a visual tool for understanding quantum state evolution.
Learn more about Bloch Sphere
refuses to move. You get the sense that you missed something and the whole calculation begins to feel slippery.

Let's look at what's going on under the hood.

According to the The Born Rule states that the probability of finding a quantum system in a particular state is given by the square of the amplitude of its wavefunction, (|\psi|^2). In other words, it connects the abstract wavefunction to measurable outcomes. This is what allows quantum mechanics to make statistical predictions about experimental results.
Learn more about Born Rule
the core In quantum computing, measurement is the process of extracting classical information from a quantum state. It collapses a qubit’s superposition into one of its basis states (usually or ), with probabilities determined by the amplitudes of those states. After measurement, the qubit’s state becomes definite, destroying the original superposition.
Learn more about Measurement
depends only on the magnitude squared of In quantum computing an amplitude is a complex number that describes the weight of a basis state in a quantum superposition. The squared magnitude of an amplitude gives the probability of measuring that basis state. Amplitudes can interfere, this means adding or canceling, allowing quantum algorithms to bias outcomes toward correct solutions.
Learn more about Amplitude
So, whether or not we applied the The Z-gate changes the phase of the state by (or radians) while leaving the state unchanged. This means the amplitude of gains a negative sign, effectively flipping its phase. It's a phase-flip operation that rotates the quantum state vector a half turn around the Z-axis of the Bloch sphere.
Learn more about Z-Gate
doesn't matter when we In quantum computing, measurement is the process of extracting classical information from a quantum state. It collapses a qubit’s superposition into one of its basis states (usually or ), with probabilities determined by the amplitudes of those states. After measurement, the qubit’s state becomes definite, destroying the original superposition.
Learn more about Measurement
a A qubit is the basic unit of quantum information, representing a superposition of 0 and 1 states.
Learn more about Quantum Bit
The A **quantum phase** is the angle component of a particle’s wavefunction that determines how its probability amplitude interferes with others. It doesn’t affect observable probabilities directly but becomes crucial when comparing two or more states, as phase differences lead to interference effects. Essentially, it encodes the relative timing or “alignment” of quantum waves.
Learn more about Quantum Phase
we added by applying the The Z-gate changes the phase of the state by (or radians) while leaving the state unchanged. This means the amplitude of gains a negative sign, effectively flipping its phase. It's a phase-flip operation that rotates the quantum state vector a half turn around the Z-axis of the Bloch sphere.
Learn more about Z-Gate
disappears as depicted in ?.

Figure 3 What happens to the phase when you measure a qubit?

So, the In quantum computing, measurement is the process of extracting classical information from a quantum state. It collapses a qubit’s superposition into one of its basis states (usually or ), with probabilities determined by the amplitudes of those states. After measurement, the qubit’s state becomes definite, destroying the original superposition.
Learn more about Measurement
wipes out any phase you attach to an In quantum computing an amplitude is a complex number that describes the weight of a basis state in a quantum superposition. The squared magnitude of an amplitude gives the probability of measuring that basis state. Amplitudes can interfere, this means adding or canceling, allowing quantum algorithms to bias outcomes toward correct solutions.
Learn more about Amplitude
This holds whether the A **quantum phase** is the angle component of a particle’s wavefunction that determines how its probability amplitude interferes with others. It doesn’t affect observable probabilities directly but becomes crucial when comparing two or more states, as phase differences lead to interference effects. Essentially, it encodes the relative timing or “alignment” of quantum waves.
Learn more about Quantum Phase
is subtle or dramatic. This means, even if you apply a The Z-gate changes the phase of the state by (or radians) while leaving the state unchanged. This means the amplitude of gains a negative sign, effectively flipping its phase. It's a phase-flip operation that rotates the quantum state vector a half turn around the Z-axis of the Bloch sphere.
Learn more about Z-Gate
to and turn it into , the In quantum computing, measurement is the process of extracting classical information from a quantum state. It collapses a qubit’s superposition into one of its basis states (usually or ), with probabilities determined by the amplitudes of those states. After measurement, the qubit’s state becomes definite, destroying the original superposition.
Learn more about Measurement
probabilities stay exactly the same. The two A quantum state is the complete mathematical description of a quantum system, containing all the information needed to predict measurement outcomes. It’s usually represented by a wavefunction or a state vector in a Hilbert space. The state defines probabilities, not certainties, for observable quantities like position, momentum, or spin.
Learn more about Quantum State
differ only in how their components combine, not in how they collapse.

Join to continue

This part is available to PyQML practitioners and above. Log in or start a subscription to unlock member content.

Already a member? Use Log in. New here? Choose Subscribe.