Control and manipulation of quantum mechanical systems using electromagnetic
fields is a widely studied subject in areas of physics and chemistry, including spectroscopy, atomic
molecular, and optical physics, and quantum chemistry. This article attempts to provide a glimpse
into the rich class of bilinear control systems that are ubiquitous in these problems. In this article,
we use control of spin systems in magnetic resonance as a model system to highlight characteristic
feature of problems in quantum control. Background information is provided to enable the reader
to appreciate new results and developments, where principled use of ideas from control theory have
provided new insights into finding optimal ways to control and manipulate quantum mechanical
systems. The study of deterministic and stochastic models that arise in problems in measurement
and manipulation of quantum mechanical systems may foster new developments in control.