FOR NON-EXPERTS: Get an accessible introduction to quantum computing as a mathematician explains quantum algorithms, quantum entanglement, and more. Quantum computing is a beautiful fusion of quantum physics and computer science! Quantum computing incorporates some of the most stunning ideas from 20th-century physics into an entirely new way of thinking about computation. Here,
Chris Bernhardt offers an introduction to quantum computing that is accessible to anyone comfortable with high school mathematics. A mathematician himself, Bernhardt simplifies the mathematics and provides elementary examples that illustrate both how the math works and what it means. He explains for the non-expert:
• Quantum bits, or qubits—the
basic unit of quantum computing
• Quantum entanglement and what it means when qubits are entangled
• Quantum cryptography
• Classical computing topics like bits, gates, and logic
• Quantum gates
• Quantum algorithms and their speed
• Quantum computers and how they’re built
• And more!
By the end of the book, readers understand that quantum computing and classical computing are not two distinct disciplines, and that quantum computing is the fundamental form of computing.
An accessible introduction to an exciting new area in computation, explaining such topics as qubits, entanglement, and quantum teleportation for the general reader.
Quantum computing is a beautiful fusion of quantum physics and computer science, incorporating some of the most stunning ideas from twentieth-century physics into an entirely new way of thinking about computation. In this book, Chris Bernhardt offers an introduction to quantum computing that is accessible to anyone who is comfortable with high school mathematics. He explains qubits, entanglement, quantum teleportation, quantum algorithms, and other quantum-related topics as clearly as possible for the general reader. Bernhardt, a mathematician himself, simplifies the mathematics as much as he can and provides elementary examples that illustrate both how the math works and what it means.
Bernhardt introduces the basic unit of quantum computing, the qubit, and explains how the qubit can be measured; discusses entanglement—which, he says, is easier to describe mathematically than verbally—and what it means when two qubits are entangled (citing Einstein's characterization of what happens when the measurement of one entangled qubit affects the second as "spooky action at a distance”); and introduces quantum cryptography. He recaps standard topics in classical computing—bits, gates, and logic—and describes Edward Fredkin's ingenious billiard ball computer. He defines quantum gates, considers the speed of quantum algorithms, and describes the building of quantum computers. By the end of the book, readers understand that quantum computing and classical computing are not two distinct disciplines, and that quantum computing is the fundamental form of computing. The basic unit of computation is the qubit, not the bit.
"Recently there has been a tremendous media buzz about the coming quantum computing revolution. Chris Bernhardt has masterfully crafted this short book to teach the basics to anyone interested in this fascinating field. The reader is not expected to know more than high school mathematics, and with that, this extremely accessible book will guide you through the many parts of quantum computing."
– Noson S. Yanofsky, Professor, Brooklyn College, Department of Computer and Information Sciences; coauthor of Quantum Computing for Computer Scientists; and author of The Outer Limits of Reason "Bernhardt has written a clear, no-nonsense introduction to quantum computing and information -- one that takes beginners by the hand and leads them up to a working understanding of quantum teleportation, Bell's inequality, Simon's algorithm, and more. I'll enthusiastically recommend this book to the next beginner who asks me."
– Scott Aaronson, David J. Bruton Centennial Professor of Computer Science and Director of the Quantum Information Center at the University of Texas at Austin; author of Quantum Computing Since Democritus "Will the bit ever be replaced by the qubit? Quantum computers now loom on the technical horizon. This essential text opens the door for technical readers to walk through a gallery of quantum effects leading to the basics of quantum computing."
– Keewatin A. Dewdney, Professor of Computer Science, University of Western Ontario 
