What are the best books for learning Quantum Computing?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around recommendations for books on Quantum Computing, focusing on various titles that cater to different levels of understanding and areas of interest within the field. Participants share their opinions on the best resources for learning, including introductory texts, advanced materials, and those that balance theory with practical applications.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant lists numerous books on Quantum Computing, seeking feedback on their quality and relevance, particularly for someone with a background in mathematics and classical computing.
  • Another participant suggests "Quantum Information and Quantum Computing" by Nakahara as a potential addition to the list.
  • A participant highlights "Quantum Computation and Quantum Information" by Nielsen and Chuang as a highly regarded text, recommending it as the primary choice for learners.
  • Some participants express concern about the age of certain texts, particularly Nielsen and Chuang, questioning the availability of newer editions and their updates.
  • McMahon's book is mentioned favorably for its accessible explanations and detailed calculations, appealing to those who prefer a simpler approach.
  • There is a request for categorization of the books based on their suitability for different audiences, including those looking for less mathematical content and more practical insights.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the prominence of Nielsen and Chuang's book, but there is no consensus on the best alternatives or the necessity of newer editions. Disagreement exists regarding the suitability of older texts versus newer publications.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the updates in newer editions of established texts, and there is a lack of clarity on how the suggested books compare in terms of content and approach.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals interested in learning Quantum Computing, including students, educators, and professionals seeking to enhance their understanding of the subject through recommended literature.

skanskan
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Hello.

What is a good book to learn Quantum Computing?

I've being looking for the most common ones and reading some reviews at Amazon, and created this list:

  • A Short Introduction to Quantum Information and Quantum Computation, Le Bellac, 2006
  • An Introduction to Quantum Computing Algorithms, Pittenger, 2001
  • An introduction to quantum computing, Kaye, Laflamme,Mosca, 2007
  • Classical and Quantum Computation, Kitaev, 2002
  • Elements of quantum computation and Quantum Communication, Anirban, 2013.
  • Entanglement, quantum phase transitions and quantum algorithms, Lacort,
  • Experimental Aspects of Quantum Computing, Everitt, 2005
  • Explorations in Quantum Computing, Williams, 2010
  • Introduction to Quantum Information Processing, Lucke.
  • Introduction to Information Retrieval and Quantum Mechanics, Melucci, 2015
  • Introduction to Quantum Computing, Wartrous Notes, 2006
  • Logic and Algebraic Structures in Quantum Computing, Chubb, 2010
  • Nano, Quantum And Molecular Computing, Shukla, Bahar, 2004
  • Quantum Algorithms Via Linear Algebra, Lipton, 2014
  • Quantum Computation and Quantum Communication, Theory and Experiments, Pavicic, 2006
  • Quantum Computation and Quantum Information, Nielsen, Chuang, 2011
  • Quantum Computer Science An Introduction, Mermin, 2007
  • Quantum Computer Science, Lanzagorta, Uhlmann, 2008
  • Quantum Computer. How It Works Issue 95, 2017
  • Quantum Computing, A Gentle Introduction, Rieffel, Polak, 2014
  • Quantum Computing Explained, McMahon, 2007
  • Quantum Computing for Computer Architects, Metodi, 2011
  • Quantum Computing for computer scientists, Yanofsky y Manucci, 2008
  • Quantum Computing since Democritus, Aaronson, 2013
  • Quantum Engineering, Zagonskin, 2011
  • Quantum Information Computation and Communication, Jones, 2010
  • Quantum Quenching, Annealing and Computation, Somma, 2010
  • Quantum Walks and Search Algorithms, Portugal, 2013
  • Quantum computation, Aharanov,
  • Quantum Walks for Computer Scientists, Venegas, 2008
  • Reversible Computing Fundamentals, Quantum Computing, and Applications, De Vos, 2010
  • The Temple of Quantum Computing, Perry, 2004.
  • The Limits of Quantum Computers, Aaronson
  • What Quantum Computing Means to Data Mining, Wittek, 2014

Have you read any of them?. Would you include something else (not only plain quantum physics)?. Maybe Quantum Information?
Could you rank them or at least say which one is not worth reading it or it's a good one? You can make categories.

Some people chooses Laflamme, Rieffel or Yanofsky as introductor books. But maybe nowadays there exist newer ones better than the oldies.
And they choose Nielsen as the advanced one.
It's difficult to find comparisons.

I'm looking for a book well explained without too much mathematics, mixing some theory, some details on the experimental construction and much details on the algorithms. And if possible not too old, with new topics.
For somebody with a good level of maths and classical computers who passed his exams on quantum mechanichs many years ago and forgot some things.
Maybe Quantum Computing for Computer Architects or something targeted to engineers?
 
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Quantum Information and Quantum Computing, Nakahara, 2013
 
But this book is quite old, I expected to find some kind of "new" Nielsen's book.
 
skanskan said:
But this book is quite old, I expected to find some kind of "new" Nielsen's book.
There are new editions of Nielsen Chuang, but I don't know whether they made any substantial changes in them.
 

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