Quantum computers and quantum coherence

If the states of spins in solids can be created, manipulated, and measured at the single-quantum level an entirely new form of information processing, quantum computing, will be possible. We first give an overview of quantum information processing, showing that the famous Shor speedup of integer factoring is just one of a host of important applications for qubits, including cryptography, counterfeit protection, channel capacity enhancement, distributed computing, and others. We review our proposed spin-quantum dot architecture for a quantum computer. and we indicate a variety of first generation materials, optical, and electrical measurements which should be considered. We analyze the efficiency of a two-dot device as a transmitter of quantum information via the propagation of qubit carriers (i.e. electrons) in a Fermi sea. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.