A phase stage can preserve direct probabilities while changing what later stages do. Exact arithmetic here means exact results for the stated model inputs; measured inputs still carry uncertainty and significant-figure limits.

highlighted = computed this step

A phase stage can hide from direct counts

After the phase stage, the direct zero and one probabilities remain 1/2 and 1/2.

pzero=12,pone=12p_{\text{zero}}=\frac{1}{2},\quad p_{\text{one}}=\frac{1}{2}
Phase direct countsThe phase-state probability bars are checked.state1 zero0 onestate0 zero1 onez basis1/2zero1/2onez basis0zero1oneHprepZphaseHread

Direct counts stay fixed across the phase stage

The phase row changes the state relation, but the directly measured zero and one budgets still match the balanced row.

rowpzeroponebalanced1212phased1212total11\begin{array}{c|c|c}\text{row}&p_{\text{zero}}&p_{\text{one}}\\\text{balanced}&\frac{1}{2}&\frac{1}{2}\\\text{phased}&\frac{1}{2}&\frac{1}{2}\\\text{total}&1&1\\\end{array}
Direct-count scanThe bars stay equal even after phase changes.state1 zero0 onestate0 zero1 onez basis1/2zero1/2onez basis0zero1oneHprepZphaseHread

Hidden does not mean lost

The phase relation is still in the state. It becomes visible only after another checked stage asks the right question.

phase affects later recombination\text{phase affects later recombination}
Phase storedThe direct bars alone do not show the phase.state1 zero0 onestate0 zero1 onez basis1/2zero1/2onez basis0zero1oneHprepZphaseHread