Quantum Computation and Quantum Information: (Cambridge Series on Information and the Natural Sciences)

In this first comprehensive introduction to the main ideas and techniques of quantum computation and information, Michael Nielsen and Isaac Chuang ask the question: What are the ultimate physical limits to computation and communication? They detail such remarkable effects as fast quantum algorithms, quantum teleportation, quantum cryptography and quantum error correction. A wealth of accompanying figures and exercises illustrate and develop the material in more depth. They describe what a quantum computer is, how it can be used to solve problems faster than familiar "classical" computers, and the real-world implementation of quantum computers. Their book concludes with an explanation of how quantum states can be used to perform remarkable feats of communication, and of how it is possible to protect quantum states against the effects of noise.

Table of Contents:
Preface; Acknowledgement; Nomenclature and notation; Part I. Fundamental Concepts: 1. Introduction and overview; 2. Introduction to quantum mechanics; 3. Introduction to computer science; Part II. Quantum Computation: 4. Quantum circuits; 5. The quantum Fourier transform and its applications; 6. Quantum search algorithms; 7. Quantum computers: physical realisation; Part III. Quantum Information: 8. Quantum noise, open quantum systems, and quantum operations; 9. Distance measurement for quantum information; 10. Quantum error-correction; 11. Entropy and information; 12. Quantum information theory; Appendix A. Notes on basic probability theory; Appendix B. Group theory; Appendix C. Approximating quantum gates: the Sölvay-Kitaev theorem; Appendix D. Number theory; Appendix E. Public-key cryptography and the RSA cryptosystem; Appendix F. Proof of Lieb's theorem; References; Index.

About the Author :
Dr. Michael Nielsen was born in Brisbane, Australia in 1974, and was educated at the University of Queensland, obtaining postgraduate degrees in mathematics and physics, before being awarded his PhD in physics at the University of New Mexico in 1998. He is currently the Tolman Postdoctoral Fellow and a Fulbright Scholar at the California Institute of Technology Dr. Isaac Chuang is a native of Louisville, KY. He received his doctorate in electrical engineering from Stanford University in 1997, where he was a Hertz Foundation Fellow, and holds two bachelors degrees and one masters degree in physics and electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He serves as a consulting professor at Stanford University. He joined IBM Research in 1998. In November 1999 he was named one of the top 100 young innovators of 1999.

Review :
'… Although the field of quantum information and computation is evolving rapidly, this book was written just after the basic algorithmic and physical tools of the field had reached a standard form. and so the text contains essentially all of the material that might be covered in a course on quantum information. I used it as a textbook for an introductory course in quantum computation at my institute. At the end of the term, the class was polled on various aspects of the book. The response was uniformly positive … a must-read for the generation of budding quantum-mechanical engineers who will build the technologies of the future.' Seth Lloyd, Nature 'Nielsen and Chuang have set a high standard.' Science '… almost colloquial … the simple writing style is complemented by an enormous volume of information, both in the wide ranging nature of the subject matter and in the level of technical detail used to describe it.' Dave Donaghy, The Computer Bulletin '… a highly readable, thorough, and timely survey of the field of theoretical quantum information science … probably destined to become a standard text for researchers in this still emerging, rapidly developing field … there are quite a few books published on quantum information science, none with either the scope or depth of the Nielson-Chuang work … The book is very well written and a pleasure to read.' Daniel V. James, Physics Today