Quantum computers are machines that exploit the quantum mechanical properties of physical systems to realize an exponential speed-up in problem-solving capability compared with existing computers. Existing schemes for the realization of such machines occur in diverse areas such as atomic physics, nuclear magnetic resonance, superconductivity, quantum optics and solid state physics. We are concerned here with the experimental realization of various elements needed for quantum information processing using nuclear spin immersed in a confined electronic system in the quantum Hall regime. Some distinguishing characteristics of this approach include the application of the Overhauser effect for dynamic nuclear polarization at relatively high temperatures, spin measurement using relatively simple electrical detection techniques, spin control with microwave/radio frequency methods, the utilization of the electronic spin exciton as a possible mobile spin transfer mechanism for the eventual realization of a logic gate, and the application of semiconductor technology to device integration. Concepts involved in this approach are also illustrated with experimental results.
Quantum computers are machines that exploit the quantum mechanical properties of physical systems to realize an exponential speed-up in problem-solving capability compared with existing computers. Existing schemes for the realization of such machines occur in diverse areas such as atomic physics, nuclear magnetic resonance, superconductivity, quantum optics and solid state physics. We are concerned here with the experimental realization of various elements needed for quantum information processing using nuclear spin immersed in a confined electronic system in the quantum Hall regime. Some distinguishing characteristics of this approach include the application of the Overhauser effect for dynamic nuclear polarization at relatively high temperatures, spin measurement using relatively simple electrical detection techniques, spin control with microwave/radio frequency methods, the utilization of the electronic spin exciton as a possible mobile spin transfer mechanism for the eventual realization of a logic gate, and the application of semiconductor technology to device integration. Concepts involved in this approach are also illustrated with experimental results.
The application of the quantum mechanical properties of physical systems to realize novel computational schemes and innovative device functions have been topics of recent interest. Proposals for associated devices are to be found in diverse branches of physics. Here, we are concerned with the experimental realization of some elements needed for quantum information processing using nuclear spin immersed in a confined electronic system in the quantum Hall regime. Thus, we follow a spin-handling approach that (a) uses the Overhauser effect in the quantum Hall regime to realize a large nuclear polarization at relatively high temperatures, (b) detects the nuclear spin state by measuring the influence of the associated magnetic field on Electron Spin Resonance, and (c) seeks to apply the electronic spin exciton as the spin transfer mechanism. Some measurements examining the viability of this approach are shown, and the utility of the approach for initializing a nuclear spin system at a relatively high temperature is pointed out
Rapid developments in quantum information processing have been made, and remarkable achievements have been obtained in recent years, both in theory and experiments. Coherent control of nuclear spin dynamics is a powerful tool for the experimental implementation of quantum schemes in liquid and solid nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) system, especially in liquid-state NMR. Compared with other quantum information processing systems, the NMR platform has the advantages such as the long coherence time, the precise manipulation, and well-developed quantum control techniques, which make it possible to accurately control a quantum system with up to 12-qubits. Extensive applications of liquid-state NMR spectroscopy in quantum information processing such as quantum communication, quantum computing, and quantum simulation have been thoroughly studied over half a century. This article introduces the general principles of NMR quantum information processing, and reviews the new-developed techniques. The review will also include the recent achievements of the experimental realization of quantum algorithms for machine learning, quantum simulations for high energy physics, and topological order in NMR. We also discuss the limitation and prospect of liquid-state NMR spectroscopy and the solid-state NMR systems as quantum computing in the article.
Traditional electronic and communication devices operate by processing binary information encoded as bits. Such digital devices have led to the most advanced technologies that we encounter in our everyday lives and they influence virtually every aspect of our society. Nonetheless, there exists a much richer way to encode and process information. By encoding information in quantum mechanical states as qubits, phenomena such as coherence and entanglement can be harnessed to execute tasks that are intractable to digital devices. Under this paradigm, it should be possible to realize quantum computers, quantum communication networks and quantum sensors that outperform their classical counterparts. The electronic spin states of color-center defects in the semiconductor silicon carbide have recently emerged as promising qubit candidates. They have long-lived quantum coherence up to room temperature, they can be controlled with mature magnetic resonance techniques, and they have a built-in optical interface operating near the telecommunication bands. In this thesis I will present two of our contributions to this field. The first is the electric-field control of electron spin qubits. This development lays foundation for quantum electronics that operate via electrical gating, much like traditional electronics. The second is the universal control and entanglement of electron and nuclear spin qubits in an ensemble under ambient conditions. This development lays foundation for quantum devices that have a built-in redundancy and can operate in real-world conditions. Both developments represent important steps towards practical quantum devices in an electronic grade material.
In this work, we have been working on the concept of quantum entanglement. At first, we studied the theory of entanglement in its characterization and measurement, introducing a new scheme for detection of entanglement. The new approach links molecular-spin entities involving nuclear spins to quantum computing as more appropriate physical systems of interest. Then, we continued with the realization of entanglement in experiments. NMR has been the first choice due to its well approved advantages for quantum computing. NMR, however, has not been an appropriate system for demonstrating entangled states. Through a mathematical proof, NMR with low spin polarization has been invalidated for true implementations of non-local quantum algorithms, particularly supserdense coding. The point is that high spin polarization is inevitably required to acquire entanglement while in the current NMR it has been a formidable task to get highly polarized nuclear spins. In order to acquire high spin polarization, introducing electron spins can be much effective because of its three-order-of-magnitude larger gyromagnetic ratio compared to nuclear spins. Electron Nuclear DOuble Resonance (ENDOR) is spin manipulation technology that enables us to deal with both electron and nuclear spins. Thus, in this context, it can be more appropriate device for quantum computing. We emphasize that (pseudo)entanglement and interconversion between the entangled states have been realized with ENDOR on extremely stable organic molecular-spin entities. The required experimental conditions to obtain true quantum entanglement are also discussed. The appropriate entanglement witness for the corresponding ensemble quantum computing is introduced and examined.
The goal of this project was to improve our control over nuclear spins in the solid state, and to extend this control to coupled electron-nuclear spins. Our key results are summarized below. 1. We extended the control techniques developed in liquid state NMR quantum information processing to the control of a three-qubit solid state NMR quantum information processor. 2. To explore multi-body spin dynamics and their sensitivity to decoherence, we have measured the decay of NMR multiple quantum coherence intensities in the presence and absence of the dipolar Hamiltonian, in a cubic and a one-dimensional spin system. 3. We also studied the transport of polarization in the one-dimensional fluoroapatite system, both experimentally and theoretically, and created special states in which the polarization is localized to the ends of the chain. This enables both universal Quantum Computing and Quantum Simulation in 1-D systems. 4. We devised a novel scheme for electron-nuclear quantum information processing that exploits the anisotropic hyperfine coupling. This scheme enables universal control over a 1-electron, N-nuclear spin system, addressing only a single electron spin transition. Not having to address the nuclear spins directly significantly speeds up the control. We designed and fabricated a pulsed electron spin resonance spectrometer, along with a cryogenic probe which we used to experimentally implement this scheme on a single crystal sample of irradiated malonic acid. 5. We demonstrated the role of nuclear spin dipolar diffusion in dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) experiments, in dielectric samples with abundant nuclear spins. We achieved a 29Si polarization of 8.3% at 66 GHz and 1.1 K in single crystal P-doped, the highest ever reported, using DNP.
Spin is a quantum mechanical property that describes the magnetic orientation of elementary and composite particles such as electrons and nuclei. For spin-half particles placed in a magnetic field, two states with differing energies are defined. Proposals exist for developing a revolutionary kind of computer that encodes bits of information on the states of a simple quantum two-level system - like those of a spin in a magnetic field. These quantum computers exploit the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics in order to perform certain calculations exponentially faster than their classical counterparts. Key to the development of such a device is the identification of potential systems that are suitable for employment as a quantum bit (qubit). This thesis explores quantum bits constructed from the spin states of single atoms hosted in silicon semiconductor devices. Silicon is an exceptional platform for spin-based quantum computing - in addition to being the dominant material in the microelectronic industry, it is also predominantly composed of nuclear spin-zero isotopes, providing very little background magnetic disturbance. The donor-atom phosphorus (31P) is investigated here. It possesses a nucleus that binds an additional electron to its positive charge, providing two distinct spin qubits. Here, several world-first experimental milestones in spin-based quantum information processing are reported. First, the readout of the electron spin is demonstrated in single-shot, using a silicon device which combines implanted phosphorus donors with a sensitive nanoscale electrometer. Then, the electron spin is coherently operated as a qubit by delivering on-chip microwave excitations. Combining the electron spin detection and control capabilities enables a quantum non-demolition measurement of the single 31P nuclear spin. Experiments yield exceptional nuclear readout fidelities - the highest for any solid-state qubit. Through an application of nuclear magnetic resonance, high-fidelity quantum control of the nuclear spin qubit is demonstrated. Finally, a single spin-bearing silicon nucleus (29Si) coupled to the electron spin is detected in single-shot and operated as a qubit. These results, along with the clear pathways identified for improving device performance, illustrate that single-atom electron and nuclear spin qubits in silicon constitute an excellent basis on which to construct a quantum computer.