This short and concise primer takes the vantage point of theoretical physics and the unity of physics. It sets out to strip the burgeoning field of quantum information science to its basics by linking it to universal concepts in physics. An extensive lecture rather than a comprehensive textbook, this volume is based on courses delivered over several years to advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students, but essentially it addresses anyone with a working knowledge of basic quantum physics. Readers will find these lectures a most adequate entry point for theoretical studies in this field.

This concise primer combines the twin vantage points of theoretical physics and the unity of physics. It strips quantum information science to its basics by linking it to universal concepts in physics. Designed as an extensive lecture rather than a textbook, the book is based on courses delivered over several years to advanced undergraduate and beginning graduate students, and addresses anyone with a working knowledge of basic quantum physics.

Foundations of classical physics.- Semiclassical-semi-Q-physics.- Foundations of q-physics.- Two-state q-system: qubit representations.- One-qubit manipulations.- Composite q-system, pure state.- All q-operations.- Classical information theory.- Q-information theory.- Q-computation.