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Journal of Physics Condensed Matter

Limitations of silicon devices for quantum computing

Robert W. Keyes

Published Apr 9, 2004• 3 citations
Publisher

Abstract

There is considerable interest in the use of silicon devices as qubits for quantum computing. The existence of nuclear spin in a silicon isotope and the complex band structure of silicon are unfavourable for this application of silicon devices.
DOI
10.1088/0953-8984/16/16/n01

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Abstract Some of the stable isotopes of silicon and carbon have zero nuclear spin, whereas many of the other elements that constitute semiconductors consist entirely of stable isotopes that have nuclear spins. Silicon and diamond crystals composed of nuclear-spin-free stable isotopes (28Si,30Si, or12C) are considered to be ideal host matrixes to place spin quantum bits (qubits) for quantum-computing and -sensing applications, because their coherent properties are not disrupted thanks to the absence of host nuclear spins. The present paper describes the state-of-the-art and future perspective of silicon and diamond isotope engineering for development of quantum information-processing devices.
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Silicon, a semiconducting material is extensively used in quantum computers. Kane added an impurity of phosphorus (31) in a regular pattern in crystal of pure silicon which was later used as quantum bits (qubits). At low temperatures when one rotation of qubit has completed we introduce a gate named J gate which reduces the barrier potential between nearby qubits and cause their nuclear and electronic spins to interact with each other, the phenomenon known as qubit-qubit interaction. These qubit-qubit interactions control the exchange of interactions between electronic and nuclear spins. The atomic size qubit interactions are easier to measure because their orbital radius is small but if orbital radius is greater than we convert the spin state of electrons into charge state to measure them. Donor impurities should deep and hollow to trap the electrons to produce nuclear spins. Cite this Article: Tahir Iqbal, Hajira Kanwal, Aqsa Tehseen, Almas Bashir. Silicon Qubits used in Quantum Computers. International Journal of Mechanical Dynamics & Analysis. 2019; 5(2): 37–52p.
Quantum computers are based on the theory of quantum mechanics, and their powerful parallel data processing capability is expected to solve many mathematical problems that too are difficult to be handled by classical computers. Especially with the increase of data processing volume, the quantum advantage is more obvious. Among the many physical systems for quantum computers, superconducting quantum circuit and semiconductor quantum dot computers show amazing potential due to their compatibility with traditional integrated circuit process technology and ultrashort gating time of nanoseconds. Superconducting qubits consisting of Josephson junctions and superconducting coplanar capacitors are easily integrated into a large scale for their simple circuit structure and conventional semiconductor process compatibility. Semiconductor qubits made from isotopically purified silicon (Si)-based materials greatly suppress nuclear spin noise, and decoherence times of ultralong milliseconds can be achieved. In this article, we systematically describe the challenges faced by superconducting qubits and semiconductor qubits in hot issues such as error correction and decoherence and look into the future development of superconducting quantum computers and Si-based semiconductor quantum computers.
There is a worldwide race to build a computer which exploits the counterintuitive principles of quantum mechanics. Silicon is one of the most promising platforms for emerging quantum information technologies for two reasons: one, it possesses many of the key desirable criteria for low-error quantum information processing, and two, the microelectronics industry has decades of experience with producing ultrapure silicon and nanoscale silicon devices, which makes silicon-based quantum devices attractive for future commercial integration. This paper reviews a selection of silicon-based quantum computer design proposals, their technological requirements, and explores recent experimental progress towards their realisation.
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.