This book demonstrates that a quantum communication system using the coherent light of a laser can achieve performance orders of magnitude superior to classical optical communications Quantum Communications provides the Masters and PhD signals or communications student with a complete basics-to-applications course in using the principles of quantum mechanics to provide cutting-edge telecommunications. Assuming only knowledge of elementary probability, complex analysis and optics, the book guides its reader through the fundamentals of vector and Hilbert spaces and the necessary quantum-mechanical ideas, simply formulated in four postulates. A turn to practical matters begins with and is then developed by: development of the concept of quantum decision, emphasizing the optimization of measurements to extract useful information from a quantum system; general formulation of a transmitter–receiver system particular treatment of the most popular quantum communications systems—OOK, PPM, PSK and QAM; more realistic performance evaluation introducing thermal noise and system description with density operators; consideration of scarce existing implementations of quantum communications systems and their difficulties with suggestions for future improvement; and separate treatment of quantum information with discrete and continuous states. Quantum Communications develops the engineering student’s exposure to quantum mechanics and shows physics students that its theories can have practically beneficial application in communications systems. The use of example and exercise questions (together with a downloadable solutions manual for instructors, available from http://extras.springer.com/) will help to make the material presented really sink in for students and invigorate subsequent research.

With the fast pace of developments in quantum technologies, it is more than ever necessary to make the new generation of students in science and engineering familiar with the key ideas behind such disruptive systems. This book intends to fill such a gap between experts and non-experts in the field by providing the reader with the basic tools needed to understand the latest developments in quantum communications and its future directions. This is not only to expand the audience knowledge but also to attract new talents to this flourishing field. To that end, the book as a whole does not delve into much detail and most often suffices to provide some insight into the problem in hand. The primary users of the book will then be students in science and engineering in their final year of undergraduate studies or early years of their post-graduate programmes.

This book provides a tutorial on quantum communication networks. The authors discuss current paradigm shifts in communication networks that are needed to add computing and storage to the simple transport ideas of prevailing networks. They show how these ‘softwarized’ solutions break new grounds to reduce latency and increase resilience. The authors discuss how even though these solutions have inherent problems due to introduced computing latency and energy consumption, the problems can be solved by hybrid classical-quantum communication networks. The book brings together quantum networking, quantum information theory, quantum computing, and quantum simulation.

The book provides an overview of the most advanced quantum informational geometric techniques, which can help quantum communication theorists analyze quantum channels, such as security or additivity properties. Each section addresses an area of major research of quantum information theory and quantum communication networks. The authors present the fundamental theoretical results of quantum information theory, while also presenting the details of advanced quantum ccommunication protocols with clear mathematical and information theoretical background. This book bridges the gap between quantum physics, quantum information theory, and practical engineering.

Quantum computers will revolutionize the way telecommunications networks function. Quantum computing holds the promise of solving problems that would be intractable with conventional computers by implementing principles from quantum physics in the development of computer hardware, software and communications equipment. Quantum-assisted computing will be the first step towards full quantum systems, and will cause immense disruption of our traditional networks. The world’s biggest manufacturers are investing large amounts of resources to develop crucial quantum-assisted circuits and devices. Quantum Computing and Communications: Gives an overview of basic quantum computing algorithms and their enhanced versions such as efficient database searching, counting and phase estimation. Introduces quantum-assisted solutions for telecom problems including multi-user detection in mobile systems, routing in IP based networks, and secure ciphering key distribution. Includes an accompanying website featuring exercises (with solution manual) and sample algorithms from the classical telecom world, corresponding quantum-based solutions, bridging the gap between pure theory and engineering practice. This book provides telecommunications engineers, as well as graduate students and researchers in the fields of computer science and telecommunications, with a wide overview of quantum computing & communications and a wealth of essential, practical information.

All current methods of secure communication such as public-key cryptography can eventually be broken by faster computing. At the interface of physics and computer science lies a powerful solution for secure communications: quantum cryptography. Because eavesdropping changes the physical nature of the information, users in a quantum exchange can easily detect eavesdroppers. This allows for totally secure random key distribution, a central requirement for use of the one-time pad. Since the one-time pad is theoretically proven to be undecipherable, quantum cryptography is the key to perfect secrecy. Quantum Communications and Cryptography is the first comprehensive review of the past, present, and potential developments in this dynamic field. Leading expert contributors from around the world discuss the scientific foundations, experimental and theoretical developments, and cutting-edge technical and engineering advances in quantum communications and cryptography. The book describes the engineering principles and practical implementations in a real-world metropolitan network as well as physical principles and experimental results of such technologies as entanglement swapping and quantum teleportation. It also offers the first detailed treatment of quantum information processing with continuous variables. Technologies include both free-space and fiber-based communications systems along with the necessary protocols and information processing approaches. Bridging the gap between physics and engineering, Quantum Communications and Cryptography supplies a springboard for further developments and breakthroughs in this rapidly growing area.

This book contains selected papers presented at the First NASA International Conference on Quantum Computing and Quantum Communications, QCQC'98, held in Palm Springs, California, USA in February 1998. As the record of the first large-scale meeting entirely devoted to quantum computing and communications, this book is a unique survey of the state-of-the-art in the area. The 43 carefully reviewed papers are organized in topical sections on entanglement and quantum algorithms, quantum cryptography, quantum copying and quantum information theory, quantum error correction and fault-tolerant quantum computing, and embodiments of quantum computers.