Quantum Computing Unveiled: A Concise Course with Topological Extensions

Aimed at advanced undergraduate and graduate-level students, this textbook covers the core topics of quantum computing in a format designed for a single-semester course. It will be accessible to learners from a range of disciplines, with an understanding of linear algebra being the primary prerequisite. The textbook introduces central concepts such as quantum mechanics, the quantum circuit model, and quantum algorithms, and covers advanced subjects such as the surface code and topological quantum computation. These topics are essential for understanding the role of symmetries in error correction and the stability of quantum architectures, which situate quantum computation within the wider realm of theoretical physics. Graphical representations and exercises are included throughout the book and optional expanded materials are summarized within boxed 'Remarks'. Lecture notes have been made freely available for download from the textbook's webpage, with instructors having additional online access to selected exercise solutions.

Yidun Wan is a tenured Full Professor of Physics at Fudan University. He has a diverse educational background, with degrees in computer science, economics, and physics. He gained his PhD in Theoretical Physics from the University of Waterloo and the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. His research interests include topological orders, quantum information and computation, cosmology, and quantum gravity. He has taught a broad range of courses, including General Relativity, Quantum Computation, Differential Geometry, Mathematical Methods in Physics, and Scientific English Writing.