Discuss the challenges and potential strategies for achieving fault-tolerant quantum computation. What role do quantum error correction codes play in this context?

Achieving fault-tolerant quantum computation is critical for the practical use of quantum computers, given their susceptibility to errors from decoherence and quantum noise. Quantum error correction codes are essential for protecting quantum information against errors without destroying the quantum state. Strategies for fault tolerance involve using topological quantum codes, such as the surface codes, which spatially encode quantum information to create redundancies that allow for error correction while maintaining quantum coherence over longer durations.