The Physics of Information Technology

A companion volume to the best-selling The Nature of Mathematical Modeling from the same author.

Neil Gershenfeld (Author)

9780521580441, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 16 October 2000

388 pages
25.5 x 18.1 x 2.9 cm, 0.878 kg

Review of the hardback: 'The book is attractive for its presentation bringing together in a skillful way fundamentals of physics and technological devices … this book is very recommended for teaching the basics of electrical engineering and the simultaneous breath of coverage and conciseness is quite amazing.' Zentralblatt für Mathematik

The Physics of Information Technology explores the familiar devices that we use to collect, transform, transmit, and interact with electronic information. Many such devices operate surprisingly close to very many fundamental physical limits. Understanding how such devices work, and how they can (and cannot) be improved, requires deep insight into the character of physical law as well as engineering practice. The book starts with an introduction to units, forces, and the probabilistic foundations of noise and signalling, then progresses through the electromagnetics of wired and wireless communications, and the quantum mechanics of electronic, optical, and magnetic materials, to discussions of mechanisms for computation, storage, sensing, and display. This self-contained volume will help both physical scientists and computer scientists see beyond the conventional division between hardware and software to understand the implications of physical theory for information manipulation.

Preface
1. Introduction
2. Interactions, units, and magnitudes
3. Noise in physical systems
4. Information in physical systems
5. Electromagnetic fields and waves
6. Circuits, transmission lines, and wave guides
7. Multipoles and antennas
8. Optics
9. Lensless imaging and inverse problems
10. Semiconductor materials and devices
11. Generating, modulating, and detecting light
12. Magnetic storage
13. Measurement and coding
14. Transducers
15. Timekeeping and navigation
16. Quantum computing and communications
Appendix 1. Problem solutions.

Subject Areas: Computer science [UY], Electronics & communications engineering [TJ], Physics [PH]