Quantum computation using many-body localization

Conventional wisdom holds that a stable quantum bit --- the building block for a quantum computer --- requires an isolated degree of freedom. Here, we explore a new approach to quantum information processing using disordered, strongly interacting systems in the many-body localized (MBL) phase. Our approach makes use of a number of unique features of an MBL phase: a lack of thermalization, a locally gapped spectrum, and slow dephasing. We illustrate our main idea using a spin-1 model, demonstrating the ability to encode, decode and perform a universal set of gates. We extend this approach to generic MBL systems and discuss both limitations and possible experimental realizations.