Fault-tolerant quantum computation in realistic physical scenarios

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Quantum computation promises a much faster processing of information than is possible classically. Specifically, a drastically better scaling of computational resources such as run-time and number of elementary operations can be achieved with a quantum computer. In some cases the speed-up is exponential which e.g. enables Shor's factoring algorithm to break the RSA crypto system. However, a quantum computer as a physical device is necessarily imperfect and susceptible to noise resulting from uncontrolled interaction with its environment. If not counteracted, these decoherence effects within a short period of action jeopardize any quantum mechanical processing of information. In response, methods to counteract decoherence have been developed, leading to the theoretical viability of quantum error-correction and fault-tolerant quantum computation. The ability to perform quantum error correction is critical to building a scalable quantum computer. The devised methods now need to be brought into the realm of experimental reality.