Quantum computing

Quantum computing is a novel paradigm for computing. Quantum mechanical systems can exist as a superposition of states and this property can be used to design computing systems that can encode several possible solutions simultaneously. Certain problems that require an exponentially large time on an ordinary computer may be solved in linear time using Quantum computers. Basic unit of information storage on a quantum computer is called the qubit.

To create a working Quantum computer, it is necessary to create

• a coherent superposition of states,
• manipulate the coherences in a manner specified by the algorithm of interest and
• read out the result

All of these operations can be implemented using a modern high resolution NMR spectrometer. Other (optical) methods have also been used to demonstrated the experimental feasibility of such a computer.