
Quantum Computing from Colossus to Qubits
The History, Theory, and Application of a Revolutionary Science
John Gribbin(Author)
Penguin (Transworld) (Publisher)
Published on 26. January 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-1-80499-118-3 (ISBN)
Description
The revolution is here. In breakthrough after breakthrough, pioneering physicists are unlocking a new quantum universe which provides a better representation of reality than our everyday experiences and common sense ever could. The birth of quantum computers - which, like Schroedinger's famous dead-and-alive cat, rely on entities like electrons existing in a mixture of states - is starting to turn the computing world on its head.
In his fascinating study of this cutting-edge technology (first published as Computing with Quantum Cats and now featuring a new foreword), John Gribbin updates his previous views on the nature of quantum reality, arguing for a universe of many parallel worlds where 'everything is real'. Looking back to Alan Turing's work on the Enigma machine and the first electronic computer, Gribbin explains how quantum theory developed to make quantum computers work in practice as well as in principle. He takes us beyond the arena of theoretical physics to explore their practical applications - from machines which learn through 'intuition' and trial and error to unhackable laptops and smartphones. And he investigates the potential for this extraordinary science to allow communication faster than light and even teleportation, as we step into a world of infinite possibility.
In his fascinating study of this cutting-edge technology (first published as Computing with Quantum Cats and now featuring a new foreword), John Gribbin updates his previous views on the nature of quantum reality, arguing for a universe of many parallel worlds where 'everything is real'. Looking back to Alan Turing's work on the Enigma machine and the first electronic computer, Gribbin explains how quantum theory developed to make quantum computers work in practice as well as in principle. He takes us beyond the arena of theoretical physics to explore their practical applications - from machines which learn through 'intuition' and trial and error to unhackable laptops and smartphones. And he investigates the potential for this extraordinary science to allow communication faster than light and even teleportation, as we step into a world of infinite possibility.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Transworld Publishers Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
College/higher education
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 196 mm
Width: 125 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
226 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-80499-118-3 (9781804991183)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

John Gribbin
Quantum Computing from Colossus to Qubits
The History, Theory, and Application of a Revolutionary Science
E-Book
08/2023
Transworld Digital
€10.99
Available for download
Person
John Gribbin gained a PhD from the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge (then under the leadership of Fred Hoyle) before working as a science journalist for Nature and later New Scientist. He is the author of several bestselling popular science books, including In Search of Schroedinger's Cat, Science: A History, In Search of the Multiverse, Quantum Computing, and Six Impossible Things. He is a Senior Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Sussex and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.