Quantum Computation and Quantum Information 10th Anniversary Edition Michael A.Nielsen Isaac L.Chuang CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
Quantum Computation and Quantum Information Michael A. Nielsen & Isaac L. Chuang 10th Anniversary Edition
Contents Introduction to the Tenth Anniversary Edition page xvii Afterword to the Tenth Anniversary Edition xix Preface xxi Acknowledgements xxvii Nomenclature and notation Part I Fundamental concepts 1 Introduction and overview 1 1.1 Global perspectives 1.1.1 History of quantum computation and quantum information 2 1.1.2 Future directions 12 1.2 Quantum bits 13 1.2.1 Multiple qubits 16 1.3 Quantum computation 17 1.3.1 Single qubit gates 17 1.3.2 Multiple qubit gates 20 1.3.3 Measurements in bases other than the computational basis 22 1.3.4 Quantum circuits 22 1.3.5 Qubit copying circuit? 1.3.6 Example:Bell states 1.3.7 Example:quantum teleportation 2526 1.4 Quantum algorithms 1.4.1 Classical computations on a quantum computer 9 1.4.2 Quantum parallelism 1.4.3 Deutsch's algorithm 1.4.4 The Deutsch-Jozsa algorithm 1.4.5 Quantum algorithms summarized 36 1.5 Experimental quantum information processing 1.5.1 The Stern-Gerlach experiment 3 1.5.2 Prospects for practical quantum information processing 1.6 Quantum information 0 1.6.1 Quantum information theory:example problems 1.6.2 Quantum information in a wider context 58
Contents Introduction to the Tenth Anniversary Edition page xvii Afterword to the Tenth Anniversary Edition xix Preface xxi Acknowledgements xxvii Nomenclature and notation xxix Part I Fundamental concepts 1 1 Introduction and overview 1 1.1 Global perspectives 1 1.1.1 History of quantum computation and quantum information 2 1.1.2 Future directions 12 1.2 Quantum bits 13 1.2.1 Multiple qubits 16 1.3 Quantum computation 17 1.3.1 Single qubit gates 17 1.3.2 Multiple qubit gates 20 1.3.3 Measurements in bases other than the computational basis 22 1.3.4 Quantum circuits 22 1.3.5 Qubit copying circuit? 24 1.3.6 Example: Bell states 25 1.3.7 Example: quantum teleportation 26 1.4 Quantum algorithms 28 1.4.1 Classical computations on a quantum computer 29 1.4.2 Quantum parallelism 30 1.4.3 Deutsch’s algorithm 32 1.4.4 The Deutsch–Jozsa algorithm 34 1.4.5 Quantum algorithms summarized 36 1.5 Experimental quantum information processing 42 1.5.1 The Stern–Gerlach experiment 43 1.5.2 Prospects for practical quantum information processing 46 1.6 Quantum information 50 1.6.1 Quantum information theory: example problems 52 1.6.2 Quantum information in a wider context 58
Contents 2 Introduction to quantum mechanics 60 2.1 Linear algebra 2.1.1 Bases and linear independence 6 2.1.2 Linear operators and matrices 63 2.1.3 The Pauli matrices 65 2.1.4 Inner products 65 2.1.5 Eigenvectors and eigenvalues 68 2.1.6 Adjoints and Hermitian operators 69 2.1.7 Tensor products 71 2.1.8 Operator functions 75 2.1.9 The commutator and anti-commutator 76 2.1.10 The polar and singular value decompositions 78 2.2 The postulates of quantum mechanics 80 2.2.1 State space 80 2.2.2 Evolution 81 2.2.3 Quantum measurement 84 2.2.4 Distinguishing quantum states 86 2.2.5 Projective measurements 87 2.2.6 POVM measurements 90 2.2.7 Phase 2.2.8 Composite systems 93 2.2.9 Quantum mechanics:a global view 96 2.3 Application:superdense coding 97 2.4 The density operator 98 2.4.1 Ensembles of quantum states 99 2.4.2 General properties of the density operator 101 2.4.3 The reduced density operator 105 2.5 The Schmidt decomposition and purifications 109 2.6 EPR and the Bell inequality 111 3 Introduction to computer science 120 3.1 Models for computation 122 3.1.1 Turing machines 122 3.1.2 Circuits 129 3.2 The analysis of computational problems 135 3.2.1 How to quantify computational resources 136 3.2.2 Computational complexity 138 3.2.3 Decision problems and the complexity classes P and NP 141 3.2.4 A plethora of complexity classes 150 3.2.5 Energy and computation 153 3.3 Perspectives on computer science 161 Part II Quantum computation 171 4 Quantum circuits 171 4.1 Quantum algorithms 172 4.2 Single qubit operations 174
x Contents 2 Introduction to quantum mechanics 60 2.1 Linear algebra 61 2.1.1 Bases and linear independence 62 2.1.2 Linear operators and matrices 63 2.1.3 The Pauli matrices 65 2.1.4 Inner products 65 2.1.5 Eigenvectors and eigenvalues 68 2.1.6 Adjoints and Hermitian operators 69 2.1.7 Tensor products 71 2.1.8 Operator functions 75 2.1.9 The commutator and anti-commutator 76 2.1.10 The polar and singular value decompositions 78 2.2 The postulates of quantum mechanics 80 2.2.1 State space 80 2.2.2 Evolution 81 2.2.3 Quantum measurement 84 2.2.4 Distinguishing quantum states 86 2.2.5 Projective measurements 87 2.2.6 POVM measurements 90 2.2.7 Phase 93 2.2.8 Composite systems 93 2.2.9 Quantum mechanics: a global view 96 2.3 Application: superdense coding 97 2.4 The density operator 98 2.4.1 Ensembles of quantum states 99 2.4.2 General properties of the density operator 101 2.4.3 The reduced density operator 105 2.5 The Schmidt decomposition and purifications 109 2.6 EPR and the Bell inequality 111 3 Introduction to computer science 120 3.1 Models for computation 122 3.1.1 Turing machines 122 3.1.2 Circuits 129 3.2 The analysis of computational problems 135 3.2.1 How to quantify computational resources 136 3.2.2 Computational complexity 138 3.2.3 Decision problems and the complexity classes P and NP 141 3.2.4 A plethora of complexity classes 150 3.2.5 Energy and computation 153 3.3 Perspectives on computer science 161 Part II Quantum computation 171 4 Quantum circuits 171 4.1 Quantum algorithms 172 4.2 Single qubit operations 174
Contents xi 4.3 Controlled operations 177 4.4 Measurement 185 4.5 Universal quantum gates 188 4.5.1 Two-level unitary gates are universal 189 4.5.2 Single qubit and CNOT gates are universal 191 4.5.3 A discrete set of universal operations 194 4.5.4 Approximating arbitrary unitary gates is generically hard 198 4.5.5 Quantum computational complexity 200 4.6 Summary of the quantum circuit model of computation 202 4.7 Simulation of quantum systems 204 4.7.1 Simulation in action 204 4.7.2 The quantum simulation algorithm 206 4.7.3 An illustrative example 209 4.7.4 Perspectives on quantum simulation 211 5 The quantum Fourier transform and its applications 216 5.1 The quantum Fourier transform 217 5.2 Phase estimation 221 5.2.1 Performance and requirements 223 5.3 Applications:order-finding and factoring 226 5.3.1 Application:order-finding 226 5.3.2 Application:factoring 232 5.4 General applications of the quantum Fourier transform 234 5.4.1 Period-finding 236 5.4.2 Discrete logarithms 238 5.4.3 The hidden subgroup problem 240 5.4.4 Other quantum algorithms? 242 6 Quantum search algorithms 248 6.1 The quantum search algorithm 248 6.1.1 The oracle 248 6.1.2 The procedure 250 6.1.3 Geometric visualization 252 6.1.4 Performance 253 6.2 Quantum search as a quantum simulation 255 6.3 Quantum counting 261 6.4 Speeding up the solution of NP-complete problems 263 6.5 Quantum search of an unstructured database 265 6.6 Optimality of the search algorithm 269 6.7 Black box algorithm limits 271 7 Quantum computers:physical realization 277 7.1 Guiding principles 277 7.2 Conditions for quantum computation 279 7.2.1 Representation of quantum information 279 7.2.2 Performance of unitary transformations 281
Contents xi 4.3 Controlled operations 177 4.4 Measurement 185 4.5 Universal quantum gates 188 4.5.1 Two-level unitary gates are universal 189 4.5.2 Single qubit and CNOT gates are universal 191 4.5.3 A discrete set of universal operations 194 4.5.4 Approximating arbitrary unitary gates is generically hard 198 4.5.5 Quantum computational complexity 200 4.6 Summary of the quantum circuit model of computation 202 4.7 Simulation of quantum systems 204 4.7.1 Simulation in action 204 4.7.2 The quantum simulation algorithm 206 4.7.3 An illustrative example 209 4.7.4 Perspectives on quantum simulation 211 5 The quantum Fourier transform and its applications 216 5.1 The quantum Fourier transform 217 5.2 Phase estimation 221 5.2.1 Performance and requirements 223 5.3 Applications: order-finding and factoring 226 5.3.1 Application: order-finding 226 5.3.2 Application: factoring 232 5.4 General applications of the quantum Fourier transform 234 5.4.1 Period-finding 236 5.4.2 Discrete logarithms 238 5.4.3 The hidden subgroup problem 240 5.4.4 Other quantum algorithms? 242 6 Quantum search algorithms 248 6.1 The quantum search algorithm 248 6.1.1 The oracle 248 6.1.2 The procedure 250 6.1.3 Geometric visualization 252 6.1.4 Performance 253 6.2 Quantum search as a quantum simulation 255 6.3 Quantum counting 261 6.4 Speeding up the solution of NP-complete problems 263 6.5 Quantum search of an unstructured database 265 6.6 Optimality of the search algorithm 269 6.7 Black box algorithm limits 271 7 Quantum computers: physical realization 277 7.1 Guiding principles 277 7.2 Conditions for quantum computation 279 7.2.1 Representation of quantum information 279 7.2.2 Performance of unitary transformations 281
xii Contents 7.2.3 Preparation of fiducial initial states 281 7.2.4 Measurement of output result 7.3 Harmonic oscillator quantum computer 贸 7.3.1 Physical apparatus 283 7.3.2 The Hamiltonian 284 7.3.3 Quantum computation 286 7.3.4 Drawbacks 286 7.4 Optical photon quantum computer 287 7.4.1 Physical apparatus 287 7.4.2 Quantum computation 290 7.4.3 Drawbacks 296 7.5 Optical cavity quantum electrodynamics 297 7.5.1 Physical apparatus 298 7.5.2 The Hamiltonian 300 7.5.3 Single-photon single-atom absorption and refraction 303 7.5.4 Quantum computation 306 7.6 Ion traps 309 7.6.1 Physical apparatus 309 7.6.2 The Hamiltonian 317 7.6.3 Quantum computation 319 7.6.4 Experiment 321 7.7 Nuclear magnetic resonance 324 7.7.1 Physical apparatus 325 7.7.2 The Hamiltonian 326 7.7.3 Quantum computation 331 7.7.4 Experiment 336 7.8 Other implementation schemes 343 Part III Quantum information 353 8 Quantum noise and quantum operations 353 8.1 Classical noise and Markov processes 354 8.2 Quantum operations 356 8.2.1 Overview 356 8.2.2 Environments and quantum operations 357 8.2.3 Operator-sum representation 360 8.2.4 Axiomatic approach to quantum operations 366 8.3 Examples of quantum noise and quantum operations 373 8.3.1 Trace and partial trace 374 8.3.2 Geometric picture of single qubit quantum operations 374 8.3.3 Bit flip and phase flip channels 376 8.3.4 Depolarizing channel 378 8.3.5 Amplitude damping 380 8.3.6 Phase damping 383
xii Contents 7.2.3 Preparation of fiducial initial states 281 7.2.4 Measurement of output result 282 7.3 Harmonic oscillator quantum computer 283 7.3.1 Physical apparatus 283 7.3.2 The Hamiltonian 284 7.3.3 Quantum computation 286 7.3.4 Drawbacks 286 7.4 Optical photon quantum computer 287 7.4.1 Physical apparatus 287 7.4.2 Quantum computation 290 7.4.3 Drawbacks 296 7.5 Optical cavity quantum electrodynamics 297 7.5.1 Physical apparatus 298 7.5.2 The Hamiltonian 300 7.5.3 Single-photon single-atom absorption and refraction 303 7.5.4 Quantum computation 306 7.6 Ion traps 309 7.6.1 Physical apparatus 309 7.6.2 The Hamiltonian 317 7.6.3 Quantum computation 319 7.6.4 Experiment 321 7.7 Nuclear magnetic resonance 324 7.7.1 Physical apparatus 325 7.7.2 The Hamiltonian 326 7.7.3 Quantum computation 331 7.7.4 Experiment 336 7.8 Other implementation schemes 343 Part III Quantum information 353 8 Quantum noise and quantum operations 353 8.1 Classical noise and Markov processes 354 8.2 Quantum operations 356 8.2.1 Overview 356 8.2.2 Environments and quantum operations 357 8.2.3 Operator-sum representation 360 8.2.4 Axiomatic approach to quantum operations 366 8.3 Examples of quantum noise and quantum operations 373 8.3.1 Trace and partial trace 374 8.3.2 Geometric picture of single qubit quantum operations 374 8.3.3 Bit flip and phase flip channels 376 8.3.4 Depolarizing channel 378 8.3.5 Amplitude damping 380 8.3.6 Phase damping 383
Contents xin 8.4 Applications of quantum operations 386 8.4.1 Master equations 386 8.4.2 Quantum process tomography 389 8.5 Limitations of the quantum operations formalism 394 9 Distance measures for quantum information 399 9.1 Distance measures for classical information 399 9.2 How close are two quantum states? 403 9.2.1 Trace distance 403 9.2.2 Fidelity 409 9.2.3 Relationships between distance measures 415 9.3 How well does a quantum channel preserve information? 416 10 Quantum error-correction 425 10.1 Introduction 426 10.1.1 The three qubit bit flip code 427 10.1.2 Three qubit phase flip code 430 10.2 The Shor code 432 10.3 Theory of quantum error-correction 435 10.3.1 Discretization of the errors 438 10.3.2 Independent error models 441 10.3.3 Degenerate codes 444 10.3.4 The quantum Hamming bound 444 10.4 Constructing quantum codes 445 10.4.1 Classical linear codes 445 10.4.2 Calderbank-Shor-Steane codes 450 10.5 Stabilizer codes 453 10.5.1 The stabilizer formalism 454 10.5.2 Unitary gates and the stabilizer formalism 459 10.5.3 Measurement in the stabilizer formalism 463 10.5.4 The Gottesman-Knill theorem 464 10.5.5 Stabilizer code constructions 464 10.5.6 Examples 467 10.5.7 Standard form for a stabilizer code 470 10.5.8 Quantum circuits for encoding,decoding,and correction 472 10.6 Fault-tolerant quantum computation 474 10.6.1 Fault-tolerance:the big picture 475 10.6.2 Fault-tolerant quantum logic 482 10.6.3 Fault-tolerant measurement 489 10.6.4 Elements of resilient quantum computation 493 11 Entropy and information 500 11.1 Shannon entropy 500 11.2 Basic properties of entropy 502 11.2.1 The binary entropy 502 11.2.2 The relative entropy 504
Contents xiii 8.4 Applications of quantum operations 386 8.4.1 Master equations 386 8.4.2 Quantum process tomography 389 8.5 Limitations of the quantum operations formalism 394 9 Distance measures for quantum information 399 9.1 Distance measures for classical information 399 9.2 How close are two quantum states? 403 9.2.1 Trace distance 403 9.2.2 Fidelity 409 9.2.3 Relationships between distance measures 415 9.3 How well does a quantum channel preserve information? 416 10 Quantum error-correction 425 10.1 Introduction 426 10.1.1 The three qubit bit flip code 427 10.1.2 Three qubit phase flip code 430 10.2 The Shor code 432 10.3 Theory of quantum error-correction 435 10.3.1 Discretization of the errors 438 10.3.2 Independent error models 441 10.3.3 Degenerate codes 444 10.3.4 The quantum Hamming bound 444 10.4 Constructing quantum codes 445 10.4.1 Classical linear codes 445 10.4.2 Calderbank–Shor–Steane codes 450 10.5 Stabilizer codes 453 10.5.1 The stabilizer formalism 454 10.5.2 Unitary gates and the stabilizer formalism 459 10.5.3 Measurement in the stabilizer formalism 463 10.5.4 The Gottesman–Knill theorem 464 10.5.5 Stabilizer code constructions 464 10.5.6 Examples 467 10.5.7 Standard form for a stabilizer code 470 10.5.8 Quantum circuits for encoding, decoding, and correction 472 10.6 Fault-tolerant quantum computation 474 10.6.1 Fault-tolerance: the big picture 475 10.6.2 Fault-tolerant quantum logic 482 10.6.3 Fault-tolerant measurement 489 10.6.4 Elements of resilient quantum computation 493 11 Entropy and information 500 11.1 Shannon entropy 500 11.2 Basic properties of entropy 502 11.2.1 The binary entropy 502 11.2.2 The relative entropy 504
xiv Contents 11.2.3 Conditional entropy and mutual information 505 11.2.4 The data processing inequality 509 11.3 Von Neumann entropy 510 11.3.1 Quantum relative entropy 511 11.3.2 Basic properties of entropy 513 11.3.3 Measurements and entropy 514 11.3.4 Subadditivity 515 11.3.5 Concavity of the entropy 516 11.3.6 The entropy of a mixture of quantum states 518 11.4 Strong subadditivity 519 11.4.1 Proof of strong subadditivity 519 11.4.2 Strong subadditivity:elementary applications 522 12 Quantum information theory 528 12.1 Distinguishing quantum states and the accessible information 529 12.1.1 The Holevo bound 531 12.1.2 Example applications of the Holevo bound 534 12.2 Data compression 536 12.2.1 Shannon's noiseless channel coding theorem 537 12.2.2 Schumacher's quantum noiseless channel coding theorem 542 12.3 Classical information over noisy quantum channels 546 12.3.1 Communication over noisy classical channels 548 12.3.2 Communication over noisy quantum channels 554 12.4 Quantum information over noisy quantum channels 561 12.4.1 Entropy exchange and the quantum Fano inequality 561 12.4.2 The quantum data processing inequality 564 12.4.3 Quantum Singleton bound 568 12.4.4 Quantum error-correction,refrigeration and Maxwell's demon 569 12.5 Entanglement as a physical resource 571 12.5.1 Transforming bi-partite pure state entanglement 573 12.5.2 Entanglement distillation and dilution 578 12.5.3 Entanglement distillation and quantum error-correction 580 12.6 Quantum cryptography 582 12.6.1 Private key cryptography 582 12.6.2 Privacy amplification and information reconciliation 584 12.6.3 Quantum key distribution 586 12.6.4 Privacy and coherent information 592 12.6.5 The security of quantum key distribution 593 Appendices 608 Appendix 1:Notes on basic probability theory 608 Appendix 2:Group theory 610 A2.1 Basic definitions 610 A2.1.1 Generators 611 A2.1.2 Cyclic groups 611 A2.1.3 Cosets 612
xiv Contents 11.2.3 Conditional entropy and mutual information 505 11.2.4 The data processing inequality 509 11.3 Von Neumann entropy 510 11.3.1 Quantum relative entropy 511 11.3.2 Basic properties of entropy 513 11.3.3 Measurements and entropy 514 11.3.4 Subadditivity 515 11.3.5 Concavity of the entropy 516 11.3.6 The entropy of a mixture of quantum states 518 11.4 Strong subadditivity 519 11.4.1 Proof of strong subadditivity 519 11.4.2 Strong subadditivity: elementary applications 522 12 Quantum information theory 528 12.1 Distinguishing quantum states and the accessible information 529 12.1.1 The Holevo bound 531 12.1.2 Example applications of the Holevo bound 534 12.2 Data compression 536 12.2.1 Shannon’s noiseless channel coding theorem 537 12.2.2 Schumacher’s quantum noiseless channel coding theorem 542 12.3 Classical information over noisy quantum channels 546 12.3.1 Communication over noisy classical channels 548 12.3.2 Communication over noisy quantum channels 554 12.4 Quantum information over noisy quantum channels 561 12.4.1 Entropy exchange and the quantum Fano inequality 561 12.4.2 The quantum data processing inequality 564 12.4.3 Quantum Singleton bound 568 12.4.4 Quantum error-correction, refrigeration and Maxwell’s demon 569 12.5 Entanglement as a physical resource 571 12.5.1 Transforming bi-partite pure state entanglement 573 12.5.2 Entanglement distillation and dilution 578 12.5.3 Entanglement distillation and quantum error-correction 580 12.6 Quantum cryptography 582 12.6.1 Private key cryptography 582 12.6.2 Privacy amplification and information reconciliation 584 12.6.3 Quantum key distribution 586 12.6.4 Privacy and coherent information 592 12.6.5 The security of quantum key distribution 593 Appendices 608 Appendix 1: Notes on basic probability theory 608 Appendix 2: Group theory 610 A2.1 Basic definitions 610 A2.1.1 Generators 611 A2.1.2 Cyclic groups 611 A2.1.3 Cosets 612
Contents XV A2.2 Representations 612 A2.2.1 Equivalence and reducibility 612 A2.2.2 Orthogonality 613 A2.2.3 The regular representation 614 A2.3 Fourier transforms 615 Appendix 3:The Solovay-Kitaev theorem 617 Appendix 4:Number theory 625 A4.1 Fundamentals 625 A4.2 Modular arithmetic and Euclid's algorithm 626 A4.3 Reduction of factoring to order-finding 633 A4.4 Continued fractions 635 Appendix 5:Public key cryptography and the RSA cryptosystem 640 Appendix 6:Proof of Lieb's theorem 645 Bibliography 649 Index 665
Contents xv A2.2 Representations 612 A2.2.1 Equivalence and reducibility 612 A2.2.2 Orthogonality 613 A2.2.3 The regular representation 614 A2.3 Fourier transforms 615 Appendix 3: The Solovay--Kitaev theorem 617 Appendix 4: Number theory 625 A4.1 Fundamentals 625 A4.2 Modular arithmetic and Euclid’s algorithm 626 A4.3 Reduction of factoring to order-finding 633 A4.4 Continued fractions 635 Appendix 5: Public key cryptography and the RSA cryptosystem 640 Appendix 6: Proof of Lieb’s theorem 645 Bibliography 649 Index 665
Introduction to the Tenth Anniversary Edition Quantum mechanics has the curious distinction of being simultaneously the most suc- cessful and the most mysterious of our scientific theories.It was developed in fits and starts over a remarkable period from 1900 to the 1920s,maturing into its current form in the late 1920s.In the decades following the 1920s,physicists had great success applying quantum mechanics to understand the fundamental particles and forces of nature,cul- minating in the development of the standard model of particle physics.Over the same period,physicists had equally great success in applying quantum mechanics to understand an astonishing range of phenomena in our world,from polymers to semiconductors,from superfluids to superconductors.But,while these developments profoundly advanced our understanding of the natural world,they did only a little to improve our understanding of quantum mechanics. This began to change in the 1970s and 1980s,when a few pioneers were inspired to ask whether some of the fundamental questions of computer science and information theory could be applied to the study of quantum systems.Instead of looking at quantum systems purely as phenomena to be explained as they are found in nature,they looked at them as systems that can be designed.This seems a small change in perspective,but the implications are profound.No longer is the quantum world taken merely as presented, but instead it can be created.The result was a new perspective that inspired both a resurgence of interest in the fundamentals of quantum mechanics,and also many new questions combining physics,computer science,and information theory.These include questions such as:what are the fundamental physical limitations on the space and time required to construct a quantum state?How much time and space are required for a given dynamical operation?What makes quantum systems difficult to understand and simulate by conventional classical means? Writing this book in the late 1990s,we were fortunate to be writing at a time when these and other fundamental questions had just crystallized out.Ten years later it is clear such questions offer a sustained force encouraging a broad research program at the foundations of physics and computer science.Quantum information science is here to stay.Although the theoretical foundations of the field remain similar to what we discussed 10yearsago,detailed knowledge in many areas has greatly progressed.Originally,this book served as a comprehensive overview of the field,bringing readers near to the forefront of research.Today,the book provides a basic foundation for understanding the field, appropriate either for someone who desires a broad perspective on quantum information science,or an entryway for further investigation of the latest research literature.Ofcourse
Introduction to the Tenth Anniversary Edition Quantum mechanics has the curious distinction of being simultaneously the most successful and the most mysterious of our scientific theories. It was developed in fits and starts over a remarkable period from 1900 to the 1920s, maturing into its current form in the late 1920s. In the decades following the 1920s, physicists had great success applying quantum mechanics to understand the fundamental particles and forces of nature, culminating in the development of the standard model of particle physics. Over the same period, physicists had equally great success in applying quantum mechanics to understand an astonishing range of phenomena in our world, from polymers to semiconductors, from superfluids to superconductors. But, while these developments profoundly advanced our understanding of the natural world, they did only a little to improve our understanding of quantum mechanics. This began to change in the 1970s and 1980s, when a few pioneers were inspired to ask whether some of the fundamental questions of computer science and information theory could be applied to the study of quantum systems. Instead of looking at quantum systems purely as phenomena to be explained as they are found in nature, they looked at them as systems that can be designed. This seems a small change in perspective, but the implications are profound. No longer is the quantum world taken merely as presented, but instead it can be created. The result was a new perspective that inspired both a resurgence of interest in the fundamentals of quantum mechanics, and also many new questions combining physics, computer science, and information theory. These include questions such as: what are the fundamental physical limitations on the space and time required to construct a quantum state? How much time and space are required for a given dynamical operation? What makes quantum systems difficult to understand and simulate by conventional classical means? Writing this book in the late 1990s, we were fortunate to be writing at a time when these and other fundamental questions had just crystallized out. Ten years later it is clear such questions offer a sustained force encouraging a broad research program at the foundations of physics and computer science. Quantum information science is here to stay. Although the theoretical foundations of the field remain similar to what we discussed 10 years ago, detailed knowledge in many areas has greatly progressed. Originally, this book served as a comprehensive overview of the field, bringing readers near to the forefront of research. Today, the book provides a basic foundation for understanding the field, appropriate either for someone who desires a broad perspective on quantum information science, or an entryway for further investigation of the latest research literature. Of course
xviii Introduction to the Tenth Anniversary Edition many fundamental challenges remain,and meeting those challenges promises to stimulate exciting and unexpected links among many disparate parts of physics,computer science, and information theory.We look forward to the decades ahead! -Michael A.Nielsen and Isaac L.Chuang,March,2010
xviii Introduction to the Tenth Anniversary Edition many fundamental challenges remain, and meeting those challenges promises to stimulate exciting and unexpected links among many disparate parts of physics, computer science, and information theory. We look forward to the decades ahead! – Michael A. Nielsen and Isaac L. Chuang, March, 2010
