This exciting, clearly written and self-contained textbook is derived from the online course (the MOOC “Quantum Cryptography” on edX) that the authors taught at the California Insitute of Technology, USA, and Delft University of Technology, Netherlands. It is an ideal way for those interested in quantum cryptography to enter the field with no prior knowledge and emerge with the understanding and the tools to progress.
This book also offers readers access to current literature and the opportunity to derive new quantum cryptography protocols. The basic problem covered is how to use quantum phenomena to develop protocols that permit communication of information with various degrees of security, which the authors provide the quantum information and the mathematical background for the reader to delve into.
Furthermore, quantum key distribution protocols are clearly explained and illustrated, and the pedagogical features of the book are outstanding. Each chapter contains a clear exposition, illustrations, worked examples, quizzes, homework exercises with answers, cheat sheets that summarize important mathematical results, chapter notes with suggested reading and online videos and exercises. Following my perusal of this book I highly recommend it to others.
Review by Barry R. Masters, Fellow of AAAS, Optica, and SPIE.
The opinions expressed in the book review section are those of the reviewer and do not necessarily reflect those of OPN or its publisher, Optica (formerly OSA).