Aleks Kissinger

I am a Professor of Quantum Computing in the Department of Computer Science at Oxford. I work on quantum software, especially related to making quantum programs run faster and fault-tolerantly. For the latest updates, check out my Oxford faculty page.

I've written two books on quantum computing with pictures:

cover art for PQP, featuring Dave the dodo
Picturing Quantum Processes: A First Course in Quantum Theory and Diagrammatic Reasoning

With Bob Coecke. Introducing the basics of quantum theory and quantum computing from scratch, purely using diagrams...and dodos!

Cambridge University Press | Amazon.

cover art for PQS, featuring Coco the crow
Picturing Quantum Software: An Introduction to the ZX-Calculus and Quantum Compilation

With John van de Wetering. A guide to state-of-the art techniques in quantum circuit optimisation, classical simulation, and error correction, using the intuitive graphical language of the ZX Calculus.

Get it for free on Github.

If you aren't quite ready for those yet, check out this book and Youtube channel, by some friends of mine:

cover art for PQS, featuring Coco the crow
Quantum in Pictures: A New Way to Understand the Quantum World

By Bob Coecke and Stefano Gogioso. A simple, friendly, and novel way to explain the magical world of quantum theory. Using pictures alone, this book will equip you with the tools you need to understand the quantum world including recent developments in quantum computing.

Amazon | Youtube


If you are interested in the ZX-calculus for quantum computing, the best place to start is zxcalculus.com. If you also like coding, head over to zxcalc on Github.