Lectures On Quantum Computing, Thermodynamics And Statistical Physics

This book is a collection of lecture notes from the Symposium on Quantum Computing, Thermodynamics, and Statistical Physics, held at Kinki University in March 2012. Quantum information theory has a deep connection with statistical physics and thermodynamics. This volume introduces some of the topics on interface among the mentioned fields. Subjects included in the lecture notes include quantum annealing method, nonequilibrium thermodynamics and spin glass theory, among others. These subjects were presented with much emphasis put in its relevance in quantum information theory. These lecture notes are prepared in a self-contained manner so that a reader with modest background may understand the subjects.

Contents:

• Quantum Annealing: From Viewpoints of Statistical Physics, Condensed Matter Physics, and Computational Physics (Shu Tanaka and Ryo Tamura)
• Spin Glass: A Bridge between Quantum Computation and Statistical Mechanics (Masayuki Ohzeki)
• Second Law-like Inequalities with Quantum Relative Entropy: An Introduction (Takahiro Sagawa)

Readership: Graduate students and researchers in physics, mathematics, informatics and computer science. Accessible to advanced undergraduate students.