1.   Among other things, that allows quantum computers to be based on units that can represent several states at once.

2.   Among other things, that allows quantum computers to be based on units that can represent several states at the same time.

3.   And in the physics labs, experimenters are playing with simple quantum computers in which individual atoms manipulate bits of data.

4.   And though the physicists involved are still primarily focused on the basic science, the distant hope of quantum computers is not the only possible application.

5.   Because of this peculiarity, the bits in a quantum computer are called quantum bits, or qubits, for short.

6.   A major difficulty with running a quantum computer, the experts say, is correcting the errors that build up during a calculation.

7.   A quantum computer, however, stores information by using the states of elementary particles.

8.   A quantum computer might be able to do the factoring in a reasonable period of time, thereby putting a powerful tool in the hands of thieves.

9.   A working quantum computer, he said, is likely to perform each operation more slowly than a classical computer.

10.   But a quantum computer, if one could be constructed, would perform the task in minutes.