Quantum Computing Explained
Chapter One
A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO
INFORMATION THEORY
In this chapter we will give some basic background that is useful in the study of
quantum information theory. Our primary focus will be on learning how to quantify
information. This will be done using a concept known as entropy, a quantity that
can be said to be a measure of disorder in physics. Information is certainly the
opposite of disorder, so we will see how entropy can be used to characterize the
information content in a signal and how to determine how many bits we need to
reliably transmit a signal. Later these ideas will be tied in with quantum information
processing. In this chapter we will also briefly look at problems in computer science
and see why we might find quantum computers useful. This chapter won't tu ... read full excerpt from Quantum Computing Explained ebook
