Australian engineers from UNSW have created a functional quantum bit based on the nucleus of a single atom in silicon
A team of Australian engineers at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) has demonstrated a quantum bit based on the nucleus of a single atom in silicon, promising dramatic improvements for data processing in ultra-powerful quantum computers of the future.
Quantum bits, or qubits, are the building blocks of quantum computers, which will offer enormous advantages for searching expansive databases, cracking modern encryption, and modelling atomic-scale systems such as biological molecules and drugs.
The world-first result, to be published in Nature on April 18, brings these machines one-step closer, describing how information was stored and retrieved using the magnetic spin of a nucleus.
“We have adapted magnetic resonance technology, commonly known for its application in chemical analysis and MRI scans, to control and read-out the nuclear spin of a single atom in real time,” says Associate Professor Andrea Morello from the School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications at UNSW.
The nucleus of a phosphorus atom is an extremely weak magnet, which can point along two natural directions, either “up” or “down”. In the strange quantum world, the magnet can exist in both states simultaneously – a feature known as quantum superposition.
The natural positions are equivalent to the “zero” and “one” of a binary code, as used in existing classical computers. In this experiment, the researchers controlled the direction of the nucleus, in effect “writing” a value onto its spin, and then “reading” the value out – turning the nucleus into a functioning qubit.
“We achieved a read-out fidelity of 99.8 per cent, which sets a new benchmark for qubit accuracy in solid-state devices,” says UNSW Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, who is also Director of the Australian National Fabrication Facility at UNSW, where the devices were made.
The accuracy of the UNSW team’s nuclear spin qubit rivals what many consider to be today’s best quantum bit – a single atom in an electromagnetic trap inside a vacuum chamber. The development of this “Ion Trap” technology was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize in physics.
“Our nuclear spin qubit operates at a similar level of accuracy, but it’s not in a vacuum chamber – it’s in a silicon chip that can be wired up and operated electrically like normal integrated circuits,” says Morello. “Silicon is the dominant material in the microelectronics industry, which means our qubit is more compatible with existing industry technology and is more easily scaleable.”
Morello’s PhD student Jarryd Pla is the lead experimental author of the work, which was conducted in collaboration with the groups led by Dzurak and Professor David Jamieson at the University of Melbourne. Morello, Dzurak and Jamieson are all Program Managers in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology.
In September 2012, the same UNSW team reported in Nature the first functional quantum bit based on an electron bound to a phosphorus atom embedded in silicon, “writing” information onto its spin and then “reading” the spin state back out.
With their latest result, the team has dug even deeper into the atomic structure to manipulate and measure the spin of its nucleus. This is the core of an atom, containing most of its mass, but its diameter is only about one-millionth that of the atom’s diameter.
“This means it’s more challenging to measure, but it’s almost completely immune to disturbances from the outside world, which makes it an exceptional quantum bit,” says UNSW engineering PhD student Jarryd Pla. “Our nuclear spin qubit can store information for longer times and with greater accuracy. This will greatly enhance our ability to carry out complex quantum calculations once we put many of these qubits together.”
Electron spin qubits will likely act as the main “processor” bits for quantum computers of the future, coupled with other electrons to perform calculations. But nuclear spin qubits could also be integrated and could provide a useful memory function or help implement two-bit logic gates between the electronic qubits, the researchers say.
The Latest Bing News on:
Quantum computing
- What is quantum computing and how does it work?on May 18, 2024 at 10:35 am
Quantum computing has long felt like a never-ending episode of Tomorrow’s World — a sci-fi future of incredibly high-performance computing that never actually arrives. Well, it’s definitely not ...
- Is the Australian Government’s Quantum Computing Gamble Good for the Local IT Industry?on May 17, 2024 at 5:09 pm
The Australian government has made significant bets on quantum computing. Now the IT industry needs to prepare for total transformation in the coming decade.
- AI Lexicon: Q is for qubits and quantum computingon May 17, 2024 at 8:06 am
Today's digital computers are fast, much faster — as we are often reminded — than the computers that got humans to the moon in 1969. Supercomputers are incredibly fast — their processors use what's ...
- Bizarre device uses 'blind quantum computing' to let you access quantum computers from homeon May 17, 2024 at 4:00 am
Quantum computers historically required massive amounts of space, but a new system will allow home users to access quantum computers via the cloud.
- IBM builds out Qiskit quantum computing platformon May 16, 2024 at 2:01 pm
IBM is extending its quantum development software into a full stack that includes middleware, serverless functions, and AI coding assistance.
- Wall Street Favorites: 3 Quantum Computing Stocks With Strong Buy Ratings for May 2024on May 16, 2024 at 1:11 pm
InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips Quantum computing has the potential to usher in a new era of computing power.
- The 3 Best Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy in May 2024on May 16, 2024 at 11:00 am
InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips Quantum computing stocks on the whole took a generous hit in April, mostly due ...
- Scientists prove 'quantum theory' that could lead to ultrafast magnetic computingon May 16, 2024 at 4:00 am
Superfast magnetic memory devices are possible after scientists engineer way to use lasers to magnetize non-magnetic materials.
- Spooky states and figure eights: Stepping into the quantum computing 'ring'on May 15, 2024 at 9:58 am
Deep in outer space, invisible hands mold the universe. One is dark matter, an unseen substance thought to bind distant galaxies. The other is dark energy, a force believed to push stellar structures ...
- How close is quantum computing to revolutionising medicine? | Europe's Health Tech Pioneerson May 15, 2024 at 5:02 am
Quantum, the smallest amount of something in the universe, could spark the most significant revolution in medicine ever. How? By accelerating the discovery of new drugs through quantum computing.
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Quantum computing
[google_news title=”” keyword=”quantum computing” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”] [/vc_column_text]The Latest Bing News on:
Quantum computers
- What is quantum computing and how does it work?on May 18, 2024 at 10:35 am
Quantum computing has long felt like a never-ending episode of Tomorrow’s World — a sci-fi future of incredibly high-performance computing that never actually arrives. Well, it’s definitely not ...
- Is the Australian Government’s Quantum Computing Gamble Good for the Local IT Industry?on May 17, 2024 at 5:09 pm
The Australian government has made significant bets on quantum computing. Now the IT industry needs to prepare for total transformation in the coming decade.
- Bizarre device uses 'blind quantum computing' to let you access quantum computers from homeon May 17, 2024 at 4:00 am
Quantum computers historically required massive amounts of space, but a new system will allow home users to access quantum computers via the cloud.
- IBM builds out Qiskit quantum computing platformon May 16, 2024 at 2:01 pm
IBM is extending its quantum development software into a full stack that includes middleware, serverless functions, and AI coding assistance.
- The 3 Best Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy in May 2024on May 16, 2024 at 11:00 am
InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips Quantum computing stocks on the whole took a generous hit in April, mostly due ...
- Scientists prove 'quantum theory' that could lead to ultrafast magnetic computingon May 16, 2024 at 4:00 am
Superfast magnetic memory devices are possible after scientists engineer way to use lasers to magnetize non-magnetic materials.
- 3 Secret Quantum Computing Stocks Flying Below Wall Street’s Radaron May 16, 2024 at 3:42 am
InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips Using quantum computing, humans can solve huge, complex problems much faster ...
- Spooky states and figure eights: Stepping into the quantum computing 'ring'on May 15, 2024 at 9:58 am
Deep in outer space, invisible hands mold the universe. One is dark matter, an unseen substance thought to bind distant galaxies. The other is dark energy, a force believed to push stellar structures ...
- Physicists demonstrate first metro-area quantum computer network in Bostonon May 15, 2024 at 8:00 am
It's one thing to dream up a quantum internet that could send hacker-proof information around the world via photons superimposed in different quantum states. It's quite another to physically show it's ...
- Nvidia launches quantum computer centers with CUDA-Q platformon May 13, 2024 at 6:00 am
Nvidia will accelerate quantum computing efforts at supercomputing centers around the world with the open-source Nvidia CUDA-Q platform.
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Quantum computers
[google_news title=”” keyword=”quantum computers” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]