Quantum computation

Quantum computation is the design of computers in the regime of quantum mechanical phenomena. For those in engineering, the structure of quantum mechanics is most easily grasped as an extension of classical probabilistic processes. To describe the behavior of a classical probabilistic system, we need to define a physical system and specify the probabilities of each state. For example, a coin that is lying flat on the ground can be in one of two states: either the head or the tail is facing up. Quantum mechanical systems have a deeper structure. As a result, quantum mechanical systems, besides having a certain probability of being in each state, also have a phase associated with each probability. This leads to a wave like interference.