Quantum mechanics was constructed to describe objects on atomic and subatomic scales. However, in recent decades, some regulations of quantum mechanics were revisited and extended to macroscopically distinct states, making it possible to study mesoscopic systems. We consider basic systems in mesoscopic physics, such as superconducting quantum circuits and low-dimensional structures based on a two-dimensional electronic gas. The progress of recent years allows us to study such a fundamental system as a two-level quantum system, or qubit, as an object for manipulations and applications. We will give an introduction to quantum computation and quantum information, which is a new discipline, based on quantum physics, solid-state theory, and theory of computing. We will get to know this important field and we will see how it is inseparably linked to such basic notions of physics as superposition, entanglement, and quantum dynamics. Then we will consider superconducting and mesoscopic systems, as well as a series of phenomena, where the spectra quantization, interference, and charge discreteness are important.
This book draws from the content of lectures to 5th year students of the Department of Physics and Technology in Kharkov National University. It is written for graduate and post-graduate students, who are acquainted with quantum mechanics and statistical physics.
Readership: Graduate students and researchers in the field.
"This excellent book is ideally suited for a course at the advanced undergraduate or graduate level, and also for individual study for anyone interested in entering this exciting field. The material is presented very clearly so that it may also be used for blackboard presentation in lectures. The text provides a pedagogical introduction to several important subfields of mesoscopic physics and nanophysics, covering such topics as quantum dots and superconducting qubits, quantum gates and algorithms, as well as Rabi oscillations and Landau-Zener-Stueckelberg-Majorana interferometry." -- Franco Nori, Chief Scientist, Theoretical Quantum, Physics Laboratory, RIKEN, Japan and Dept. of Physics, University of Michigan
"The textbook presents lectures on an topical subject, which is worth introducing in every university for students in physics. It is convenient both for reading by students and for use by professors of related courses. One can see that the author has aimed to deliver the content in a manner 'as simple as possible, but no simpler'. The lectures were delivered by the author to the students of the School of Physics and Technology at our university for the past few years. They have been rated highly even by our high-level students, among which, I must note, are winners of international Olympiads and tournaments in Physics." -- I O Girka, Dean of the School of Physics and Technology, V N Karazin Kharkiv National University
"This is a timely and useful book covering the quickly developing and highly relevant field of quantum technologies ... Overall, this is a good book for a grad student or an undergrad, and I certainly recommend it as a good introduction to the topic." -- Alexandre Zagoskin, Loughborough University
