Many friends have also written enthusiastic book reviews. One of them, I think, is worth introducing to you. The book review from the famous popular science writer, doctor of physics @ 个个个个个个个个个个个 20 14 is itself a very wonderful article (/5097 174964/LcKb4m5yA.
Arthur clarke, a famous British science fiction writer and author of 200 1 A Space Odyssey, once put forward a well-known "law" about science and culture: any sufficiently advanced technology is tantamount to magic.
When I read Mr. Yuan Lanfeng's new popular science book "Introduction to Quantum Information: A Universal Reading of the New Scientific and Technological Revolution", I often feel this magical feeling of surprise and admiration: I can see the houses 1.43 kilometers away through the partition wall; The quantum system of 8 particles can store the total amount of data generated by the world in one year and fill 47 billion hard disks; Using the quantum computing prototype "Nine Chapters" to do boson sampling, the advantage is 100 trillion times that of the most advanced supercomputer at that time; The quantum teleportation of a single photon with multiple degrees of freedom is realized for the first time. Photons are emitted from the ground to the Mozi satellite crossing the border at high speed, only one at a time, and its accuracy is equivalent to "throwing a dime into a mineral water bottle on a high-speed train running at full speed 50 kilometers away", realizing quantum secure communication; Wait a minute. Interestingly, many protagonists in the story are from China, especially a group of physicists who are active in the frontier of quantum information in China University of Science and Technology. The author is also their colleague. This is a wonderful reading experience.
As the name implies, quantum information is the product of the combination of quantum mechanics and information science. For its main branches-quantum computing, quantum communication and quantum precision measurement, this book gives a detailed introduction, which belongs to strategic science and technology with the potential to change the world.
Judging from the results, quantum information does focus on technical applications, but if it is judged as an applied science, its potential and status will be greatly underestimated. Because in recent years, a magical phenomenon is that the theoretical framework and conceptual methods of quantum information are entering the most basic and core fields of theoretical physics on a large scale, such as quantum field theory and quantum gravity theory (according to the holographic duality of string theory, the two are sometimes the same thing). This makes people think that the symmetry breaking mechanism in condensed matter physics was introduced into particle physics, which led to the change of the latter. Exporting ideas and methods to other fields is a sign of the important influence of a field.
The author accidentally entered this field, as if he had entered the grand view garden of the quantum world. He saw beautiful trees and strange flowers shining, and he was surprised everywhere. This book is a great effort made by the author to accurately convey all kinds of surprises he feels to ordinary readers. The surprises listed at the beginning of the article are only part of it. Magic often becomes dull after being revealed, but the principle behind the miracle of physics is even more fascinating after being revealed. This is an iceberg under water. This effort is reflected in the richness of the book level and the accuracy of the content. As the author said: "Readers only need the mathematics level of middle school or even primary school to understand most of the contents of this book. No matter how high the reader's level is, you can find unexpected gains in the book. "
In order to clarify the scientific and technological progress in the frontier of quantum information, based on years of popular science experience, the author thinks of readers' thoughts, tries to be easy to understand and clarify cognitive misunderstandings, and at the same time touches on various disciplines (including computer, mathematics, thinking cognition, and even literature, history, philosophy, science fiction) and faces the most fundamental first principles when necessary.
For example, the author has the courage to try to use very elementary mathematics (the mathematical memory left by nine-year compulsory education is enough) to tell the most basic and quintessential principles of quantum mechanics, such as the three meanings of quantum mechanics: quantum superposition, quantum measurement and quantum entanglement. To cook such an authentic meal, you need to have a strategic understanding of quantum physics. This itself also reflects the simplicity and elegance of quantum physics at the basic principle level. As simple as possible, but not simple.
For example, in order to clarify the "Nine Chapters" of quantum computer, the author starts with Feynman's genius thought and analyzes the basic principles of computer step by step from two levels of operation and theory, which lays a good foundation for readers to finally understand the "Nine Chapters" principle.
For another example, in order to explain quantum cryptography clearly, the author got up the courage and dedicated a chapter to clearly show the dilemma of traditional cryptography from the most basic principles: symmetric cryptography will definitely not be cracked by mathematics, but the key messenger is a loophole; Asymmetric cryptosystems can be cracked mathematically without messengers. It's difficult everywhere. This dilemma leads to a natural question: is there anything in the towering scientific and technological system that can absorb the advantages of both and overcome their shortcomings? This is a very demanding requirement. At the key nodes in the history of scientific development, we can often see similar requirements. Strangely, it is quantum mechanics that fills the missing bricks in traditional cryptography buildings. "Only by understanding the dilemma of traditional cryptography can we understand what problems quantum cryptography has solved."
In this detachment of quantum mechanics from the dilemma of traditional cryptography, the inheritance and inseparable integrity of the scientific and technological system are unobstructed, and the thinking of ordinary readers has also been tempered. This quenching is of great benefit. The development history of science and the cognitive process of individual thinking seem to have the same melody. Without difficulties, there will be no real progress in science; There is no confusion and doubt, and there is no personal understanding. No anger, no anger. The key to understanding new knowledge is to keep asking questions and express confusion clearly.
For students interested in quantum mechanics and quantum information, this book is worth reading again. The basic elements are really simple and elementary, and readers should actively try to combine these elements into a logically complete image. The author has set up a series of steps to make the content self-consistent and complete. Even if you come across a technical term that sounds bluffing, please always remember that it is just a man-made term. It is no problem to understand the basic connotation of these concepts and their preliminary important relations, especially the required reading content. The requirements for reading content are slightly higher.
This book is beautifully typeset, with a large number of vivid illustrations for easy understanding, and all the selected readings are intimately marked. When reading for the first time, in order to have a smoother reading experience, it is recommended to skip all the selected parts. To further deepen our understanding, we need to make some extra efforts, but the gains will be extraordinary.
There are many impressive places in the book:
"The style of quantum password attack and defense is: the other party is omnipotent and he is a fool. Only on this premise can they prevent it, and they think they have found a solution. I have never seen such a loose study of the enemy, such a harsh study of myself, and never seen such inequality in another field. "
"The confidence and ambition of quantum cryptography researchers: they hope to rely on the principles of quantum mechanics to stop all possible attacks once and for all, not just attacks at the current level of science and technology."
After reading this, people can't help but sigh: What is self-confidence? This is confidence! What is sexy? This is so sexy.
Gloria, an Israeli mathematician, predicted that boson sampling would never achieve quantum superiority. He said this: "Imagine that an alien army much more powerful than us landed on the earth and asked us to show five photon boson samples, otherwise it would destroy the earth. In this case, we should mobilize all our quantum engineering forces and strive to realize it. But if aliens need boson sampling, such as 10 photons, then our best choice is to try to attack aliens. "
In the "Nine Chapters" of China scientists, boson sampling of up to 76 photons has been realized. What is power? This is power! What is sexy? This is so sexy.
In a word, this book well conveys the fascinating spiritual connotation of quantum information science. It also shows the charming style of scientists. Among them, there are many scientists from China, who have torn a hole in the weak basic physics field in China today, and gathered into an irresistible trend, leading the world and setting an example. Perhaps it contains the most precious things for China today.