Quantum computers, as yet undeveloped, are believed to be able to efficiently solve strategically important problems like number factorization, database search, and the Schrodinger equation itself. The staggering potential of these and other applications has led to a worldwide race to build the first working quantum computer. The state of experimental quantum computation is primitive--neither quantum bits (qubits) nor quantum gates (qugates) have been demonstrated in a scalable form. In this talk, I will give an overview of the new field of quantum information science and technology, and will describe a proposal to create a quantum information processor using ferroelectrically coupled electron spins in silicon. This approach combines the latest advances in nanostructure and heterostructure design, ultrafast optical control, measurement science and signal processing. Progress toward these goals, pursued within the Center for Oxide-Semiconductor Materials for Quantum Computation (COSMQC), will be described.

This work is supported by DARPA QuIST through ARO contract number DAAD-19-01-1-0650.