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Quantum computers possess the capability to transform the landscape of solving complex computational challenges that would demand classical computers numerous years to address. However, for these devices to realize their capabilities, they require operational quantum bits, or qubits. The pursuit of an improved qubit represents a significant undertaking for scientists worldwide, who are experimenting with various materials and techniques in their exploration.
In a research article published in Progress in Quantum Electronics, scholars from the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering investigated an unusual and promising method for constructing qubits through the utilization of quantum fluids and solids. Their paper evaluated how electrons confined just above the surfaces of ultraclean quantum fluids and solids, such as liquid helium and solid neon, provide a combination of chip-level governance and ultra-clean, defect-free environments, presenting a hopeful route towards scalable, high-fidelity qubits that could surpass crucial limitations of current quantum technologies.
“This platform combines the strengths of both realms,” stated Wei Guo, a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and co-author of the publication. “The electron is situated in high vacuum above a flawless material surface, and concurrently, we can employ chip-based microwave technologies to manipulate and read out its state. That’s an immensely powerful combination.”
To ensure effective qubit performance, engineers aim to optimize a few significant parameters. One such parameter is coherence time, an indication of how long a qubit can sustain its intricate quantum state. Other crucial parameters encompass gate fidelity, or the likelihood that qubit operations will function correctly, and scalability, denoting the simplicity with which substantial quantities of qubits can be produced.
Present leading platforms, including superconducting qubits and trapped-ion qubits, have disadvantages. Superconducting qubits align with existing chip fabrication and are optimal for scaling, yet material imperfections restrict their fidelity, necessitating multiple physical qubits to construct a single dependable logical qubit. Trapped ions, conversely, provide lengthy coherence times and high gate fidelities due to their vacuum isolation, but enlarging these systems is limited by intricate control hardware.
The review article emphasizes an emerging alternative: employing electrons confined above the surface of quantum fluids or solids, exotic materials that only exist at cryogenic temperatures. These electrons can be meticulously controlled via on-chip microwave circuits — similar to superconducting qubits — while also reaping the benefits of a vacuum-like setting devoid of material defects — akin to trapped ions. This hybrid advantage presents a plausible avenue toward high-fidelity, scalable qubits without the trade-offs of current systems.
The article builds upon an expanding array of research in the field, including significant contributions from Guo’s team. In 2022, a group involving Guo achieved quantum bit operation utilizing electrons on solid neon, a breakthrough that gained substantial attention. More recently, his team unveiled how electrons can spontaneously attach to surface structures on solid neon, forming novel quantum states that influence qubit behavior.
The review also integrates pivotal advancements in electron-on-helium qubits and other quantum fluids and solids-based platforms by researchers internationally. It acts as a consolidated and accessible reference for scientists, particularly those beyond the limited quantum materials community, eager to investigate these novel strategies for quantum device development. By merging quantum materials science with quantum information engineering, the article lays down the foundation for new avenues in qubit design, which could assist in unlocking the full potential of quantum computing.
“Without quantum bits, any algorithm you create becomes redundant,” Guo remarked. “The quantum fluids and solids domain is relatively minor. The individuals in this sphere are well-versed in the characteristics of quantum fluids and solids. However, for the significantly larger quantum information science domain, practitioners may not be acquainted with materials like superfluid helium and solid neon, and how they could be harnessed to develop qubits. Now, even researchers and engineers beyond this area can utilize this knowledge for their design initiatives.”
The notion for the review emerged during a workshop organized by the FSU Quantum Initiative. Co-authors consist of Denis Konstantinov from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology and Dafei Jin from the University of Notre Dame. The research was backed by the National Science Foundation, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Julian Schwinger Foundation for Physics Research, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
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