The mathematics of quantum information focus of new book

Thursday, April 26, 2018

A new textbook exploring fundamental concepts in quantum information is now available online or for free download.

John Watrous
The Theory of Quantum Information, written by IQC faculty member John Watrous, is aimed at graduate students and researchers in mathematics, computer science, and theoretical physics seeking to develop a thorough understanding of key results, proof techniques, and methodologies.

“The mathematical theory that underlies quantum information and computation is both interesting and beautiful, and it has developed tremendously in the past few decades,” explains Watrous, also a professor in the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science in the Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Waterloo. “I wanted to write a book focused exclusively on this mathematical theory – which of course is not only interesting and worthy of study in its own right, but also supports both the applications-focused and experimental aspects of the field.”

The Theory of Quantum Information book cover
The Theory of Quantum Information developed from the graduate course Watrous teaches of the same name, QIC 820 – Theory of Quantum Information.

Looking at the development of concepts and methods that are fundamental to a broad range of studies in quantum algorithms and complexity, quantum cryptography and quantum Shannon theory, the book is accessible to those with a solid background in basic mathematics.

Watrous plans to keep the draft version of the book accessible to all researchers from his website.