When the carriers of information are quantum systems, the laws of quantum mechanics lead to the possibility of designing new algorithms. Quantum algorithms are implemented via quantum gates, which are the building blocks of a quantum computer.

An essential ingredient in quantum information processing is quantum entanglement - a correlation between the subsystems of composite quantum systems which is stronger than classical correlations.

In this lecture fundamental concepts of quantum computing will be presented, and essential features of quantum entanglement will be explained. In particular, the question of the power of entanglement in the context of quantum computing will be addressed.