Glossary

Pauli Operator

by Frank Zickert

A Pauli operator is one of three 2×2 complex matrices — **σₓ, σᵧ, σ_z** — that represent the basic quantum spin operations on a single qubit. They correspond to rotations or measurements along the x, y, and z axes of the Bloch sphere. Together with the identity matrix, they form a basis for all single-qubit operations in quantum mechanics.