Quantum computing is a fascinating new field at the intersection of computer science, mathematics, and physics, which strives to harness some of the uncanny aspects of quantum mechanics to broaden our computational horizons. This book presents some of the most exciting and interesting topics in quantum computing. Along the way, there will be some amazing facts about the universe in which we live and about the very notions of information and computation.

The text you hold in your hands has a distinct flavor from most of the other currently available books on quantum computing. First and foremost, we do not assume that our reader has much of a mathematics or physics background. This book should be readable by anyone who is in or beyond their second year in a computer science program. We have written this book specifically with computer scientists in mind, and tailored it accordingly: we assume a bare minimum of mathematical sophistication, a first course in discrete structures, and a healthy level of curiosity. Because this text was written specifically for computer people, in addition to the many exercises throughout the text, we added many programming drills. These are a hands-on, fun way of learning the material presented and getting a real feel for the subject.