Quantum Computation and Quantum Information

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 675 pages
• Published by: Cambridge University Press
• Edition: 1st Edition September 2000
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0521635039
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0521635035
• Book Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.8 x 1.6 inches
• Weighs: 3.3 pounds

Product Review
"Quantum Computation and Quantum Information is a challenging text that offers a thorough discussion of the relevant physics and a reference book that guides readers to the original literaturePerhaps the best way to use the book, though, is to ask questions and then search within it for answers. Such a self-guided tour can keep one from getting lost in details and can provide a rewarding journeyNielsen and Chuang have set a high standard." Science

"Michael Nielsen and Issac L. "Ike" Chuang have produced a highly readable, thorough, and timely survey of the field of theoretical quantum information science. [It] is probably destined to become a standard text for reseachers in this still emerging, rapidly developing field. [It] is very well written and a pleasure to read." /s Physics Today

"Quantum Computation and Quantum Information is a challenging text that offers a thorough discussion of the relevant physics and a reference book that guides readers to the original literaturePerhaps the best way to use the book, though, is to ask questions and then search within it for answers. Such a self-guided tour can keep one from getting lost in details and can provide a rewarding journeyNielsen and Chuang have set a high standard." Science

"highly readable, thorough, and timely survey of the feild of theorectical quantum information scienceprobably destained to become a standard text for researchersThe authors rightly choose to examine key issues in depth rather than attempt a mile-wide, inch-deep, catholic approachis very well written and a pleasure to read." Physics Today Nov 2001

Book Description
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.

Reader Reviews
Classical computation follows the model of A. Turing,-- strings of bits, i.e., 0s and 1s; a mathematical model, now called the Turing mashine. Analogues based instead on two-level quantum systems were suggested in the 1980ties by R.P. Feynman and D. Deutsch. But it wasn't until Peter Shor's qubit-factoring algorithm in the mid 1990ties that the subject really took off, and really caught the attention of the math community. That there is a polynomial factoring algorithm shook the encryption community as well, for obvious reasons. New elements of thinking in the quantum realm, and not part of the classical framework, include superposition of (quantum) states, and (quantum) coherence. This makes a drastic change in the whole theoretical framework when one passes from the classical notion of bit-registers to that of qubit-registers. In passing from logic gates to quantum gates(unitary matrices), the concept of switching networks changes. It introduces new challenges, and new truely exciting opportunities. It is not easy for authors to make everyone happy;-- this is especially so in a new field,--one which has grabbed headlines, and one which is at the same time interdisiplinary. In this case, the authors succeed as well as anyone, I believe.-- This lovely book covers several of the appropriate areas of physics (quantum theory, (some) experiment...), of computer science (the mathematical side of the subject), and of math (operators in Hilbert space, and the theory of algorithms);-- each member of the particular scientific specialty has very definite ideas of his/her own subject,-- and that of the others. Nonetheless, in this readers opinion, the two authors did a great job;-- they explain math to the physics community,-- and they sucessfully teach quantum theory and theoretical CS to mathematicians. The book is suitable for grad students: has lots of great exercises, but it could perhaps have used some more worked examples. (Fortunately they can be found in other books on quantum computation.) The Nielsen-Chuang book is most certainly a great entry for students into this exciting new subject. There are other books,-- but they, for the most part, take a more narrow view. The material in Nielsen-Chuang is timeless,-- and I expect the book will also be popular ten years from now. Comment | | (Report this)