ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with a short introduction to the topic of
quantum information processing. We presume only a very limited
familiarity with quantum mechanics; in fact, all the really essential
ideas, terminology and formalism will be introduced as we go along.
The introductionwill discuss classical and quantum information, the
qubit, entanglement, and the basic operations of quantum computer.
It will include a brief look at how accelerated searching can be
performed, and finally a discussion of the problem of decoherence
and how to fight it. We will then introduce endohedral fullerenes,
the key molecular building blocks that have been identified as
promising components of a quantum technology. We will describe
the synthesis of these structures, togetherwith the key experimental
demonstrations of quantum phenomena.
