A method for quantum computing using a quantum system comprising a plurality of qubits is provided. The system can be in any one of at least two configurations at any given time including one characterized by an initialization Hamiltonian H.sub.O and one characterized by a problem Hamiltonian H.sub.P. The problem Hamiltonian H.sub.P has a ground state. Each respective first qubit in the qubits is arranged with respect to a respective second qubit in the qubits such that they define a predetermined coupling strength. The predetermined coupling strengths between the qubits in the plurality of qubits collectively define a computational problem to be solved. In the method, the system is initialized to H.sub.O and is then adiabatically changed until the system is described by the ground state of the problem Hamiltonian H.sub.P. Then the state of the system is read out by probing an observable of the .sigma..sub.X Pauli matrix operator.