For Quantum Computing, an understanding of Quantum Physics (often "Quantum Mechanics") is essential. Without that, you are lost. More precisely: Quantum Physics is the most accurate description of reality, so no physical or philosophical reasoning can avoid QM.
Unfortunately, QM is also the most demanding branch of physics. You can't do without elaborate mathematics: Linear Algebra, Functional Analysis, Group Theory, to name a few. However, there are approachs to the layman, as for instance Feynman's "QED" or Deutsch's "Fabric of Reality". These are not the complete story but a good point to start with.
Quantum Computing is an entirely different paradigma as compared to classical computing. Forget the Turing Machine - for it does not exist. The theory of computation is Quantum Computation and nothing else, and Quantum Computing is the unitary evolution of quantum states. So Quantum Computing means: make different branches of reality, decoherent to each other, compute something and have the wrong answers sorted out by destructive interference. And for considering where the computing takes place, you may find the Many World Interpretation (MWI) of Quantum Physics most acceptable, or you may even take the advanced viewpoint of Julian Barbour.
If you are not frightened by the philosophical perspectives, probably nothing will frighten you, ever.
Here, I list some of those resources and texts which I found to be helpful. I also give some comments, where aprobriate, in the corresponding language. Mail me if I goofed somewhere.
These informations are by no means complete. I will categorize them if I find the time.
This is a book which David Deutsch does not intend to publish in the Web at full length. No math, very entertaining, giving some insight into how the concepts of knowledge, evolution, computation and the multiverse reality merge into a deeper understanding of reality. The philosophically discussions are sometimes hard to follow. Recommended.
You can buy the books at Amazon
Yes, he has a homepage. Many Quantum Computation Links from there.
This book is a sequel to DD's book. It is somewhat more technical, but still an easy read. You may learn some "wiring" of quantum gates, and some quantum algorithms. Recommended.
You can buy the books at Amazon
Here we have the first chapter. I am afraid no further web-publication is intended.
A most interesting view onto the world without time - and how the illusion of the existence of time emerges. Without math, but there is hard physics behind the scenery. Physical Background is helpful in understanding the book, otherwise, it is not distinguishable from magic.
Without math. Current state of the marriage between relativity and quantum-theory.
A good introduction to many worlds interpretation. Gives some taste of quantum mechanics.
Explains how reversible computers work, shows some reversible logic diagrams, and outlines a quantum algorithm. In some places some math.
Maybe not quite enough for a diploma in physics. Do you like vector spaces?
You're on the way of making feel yourself at home in Hilbert Space! Recommended.
Very hard to understand - only for the mainstream-physicist.
There are more research places about the subject in the world than this one, of course. David Deutsch works here. Many Links.
A gifted scientist and science writer. His books I may also recommend.
What physics site could be complete without him?
More Links.
Preview onto the preliminary "fourth edition". Good knowledge in physics required.
Links, and some literature evaluation.
Yes, it's the Los Alamos.
Probably many hidden treasures.
Easy.
A few physics resources at the university of Hannover in Germany.
Although the Quest for the Quantum Computer told us that the Turing Machine does not exist, this homepage deserves to be here.
Interesting view on how quantum algorithms manage to make their results available in all universes.
Sort of entertaining.
Ein Überblick über konzeptuelle Probleme.
Das ganze Buch ist gut lesbar. Die Bellsche Ungleichung wird in Kapitel 3.8 sehr eingehend diskutiert.
"Easy" is relative in non-relativistic QM.
A real implementation of a Quantum Computing Language can be found here - anyone with a Linux can try it at once. - Quantum effects, I guess, are simulated, so be prepared that you can write the algorithm to factor a 500-digit number, but probably the computation will not be finished in your lifetime.
Many links - but the design of the page is - uh - "creative".
It never hurts to know something about thermodynamics.
It never hurts to know something about thermodynamics. About the same content as the link before.
Some interesting links from there, among them:
Easy. - Regretably, James Higgo died in 2001 in a plane-crash.
Some obvious errors, but otherwise worthwhile reading.
From Quantum Physics to Buddhism. Not to my taste, but interesting.
Easy again.
Some links and some interesting papers.
© 2000 Herwig Huener 2001-01-06 00:33:00 MET
© 2000 Herwig Huener 2001-11-19 23:59:59 MET
© 2000 Herwig Huener 2002-09-02 02:59:59 MEST
Email-Adresse: webmaster@Herwig-Huener.de