  Given the effectiveness of semiconductor devices for classical computation
one is naturally led to consider semiconductor systems for solid state quantum
information processing. Semiconductors are particularly suitable where local
control of electric fields and charge transport are required. Conventional
semiconductor electronics is built upon these capabilities and has demonstrated
scaling to large complicated arrays of interconnected devices. However, the
requirements for a quantum computer are very different from those for classical
computation, and it is not immediately obvious how best to build one in a
semiconductor. One possible approach is to use spins as qubits: of nuclei, of
electrons, or both in combination. Long qubit coherence times are a
prerequisite for quantum computing, and in this paper we will discuss
measurements of spin coherence in silicon. The results are encouraging - both
electrons bound to donors and the donor nuclei exhibit low decoherence under
the right circumstances. Doped silicon thus appears to pass the first test on
the road to a quantum computer.
