1 简介及概述

Edward O. Wilson

Science offers the boldest metaphysics of the age. It is a thoroughly human construct, driven by the faith that if we dream, press to discover, explain, and dream again, thereby plunging repeatedly into new terrain, the world will somehow come clearer and we will grasp the true strangeness of the universe. And the strangeness will all prove to be connected, and make sense.

科学提供了这个时代最大胆的形而上学。它完全是由人类构建的，被这样一种信念所驱动:如果我们梦想，努力去发现，去解释，然后再梦想，从而不断地进入新的领域，世界将以某种方式变得更加清晰，我们将掌握宇宙真正的奇异之处。所有的美妙都将被证明是有联系，并且是有意义的。

Rolf Landauer

Information is physical.

信息是有形的.

What are the fundamental concepts of quantum computation and quantum information? How did these concepts develop? To what uses may they be put? How will they be presented in this book? The purpose of this introductory chapter is to answer these questions by developing in broad brushstrokes a picture of the field of quantum computation and quantum information. The intent is to communicate a basic understanding of the central concepts of the field, perspective on how they have been developed, and to help you decide how to approach the rest of the book.

量子计算和量子信息的基本概念是什么？ 这些概念是如何形成的？它们有什么用途呢？它们将如何在本书中呈现？本导论章的目的，是通过对量子计算和量子信息领域的粗略描绘来回答这些问题。旨在传达对该领域核心概念的基本理解，对它们如何发展的看法，并帮助你决定如何阅读本书的其余部分。

Our story begins in Section 1.1 with an account of the historical context in which quantum computation and quantum information has developed. Each remaining section in the chapter gives a brief introduction to one or more fundamental concepts from the field: quantum bits (Section 1.2), quantum computers, quantum gates and quantum circuits (Section 1.3), quantum algorithms (Section 1.4), experimental quantum information processing (Section 1.5), and quantum information and communication (Section 1.6).

我们的故事从1.1节开始，讲述量子计算和量子信息发展的历史背景。本章剩下的每一节都简要介绍了该领域的一个或多个基本概念：量子比特(第1.2节)、量子计算机、量子门和量子电路(第1.3节)、量子算法(第1.4节)、实验性量子信息处理(第1.5节)和量子信息与通信(第1.6节)。

Along the way, illustrative and easily accessible developments such as quantum teleportation and some simple quantum algorithms are given, using the basic mathematics taught in this chapter. The presentation is self-contained, and designed to be accessible even without a background in computer science or physics. As we move along, we give pointers to more in-depth discussions in later chapters, where references and suggestions for further reading may also be found.

在本章中，我们通过所教授的基础数学知识，介绍了一些说明性的、易于理解的发展，如量子隐形传态和一些简单的量子算法。这些内容的呈现是自成一体的，旨在使没有计算机科学或物理学背景的读者也能够理解。随着我们的深入，我们还会在后续章节中提供指向更深入讨论的指引，在那里也可以找到参考文献和进一步阅读的建议。

If as you read you’re finding the going rough, skip on to a spot where you feel more comfortable. At points we haven’t been able to avoid using a little technical lingo which won’t be completely explained until later in the book. Simply accept it for now, and come back later when you understand all the terminology in more detail. The emphasis in this first chapter is on the big picture, with the details to be filled in later.

如果在阅读过程中，你发现某些部分难以理解，可以先跳过这些部分，继续阅读感到舒适的章节。在书中有些地方，我们不得不使用一些专业术语，这些术语可能要到后面章节才会详细解释。目前，你只需暂时接受这些术语，等到对所有术语有更深入理解后再回过头来看。本章的重点在于把握整体框架，细节部分将在后续章节中逐步补充。