Quantum computers promise vastly enhanced computational power and an uncanny ability to solve classically intractable problems. However, few proposals exist for robust, solid-state implementation of such computers where the quantum gates are sufficiently miniaturized to have nanometer-scale dimensions. Here I present a new approach whereby a complete computer with nanoscale gates might be self-assembled using chemical synthesis. Specifically, I demonstrate how to self-assemble the fundamental unit of this quantum computer---a two-qubit universal quantum gate---based on two exchange coupled multilayered quantum dots. Then I show how these gates can be wired using thiolated conjugated molecules as electrical connectors. Each quantum dot in this architecture consists of ferromagnet-semiconductor-ferromagnet layers. The ground state in the semiconductor layer is spin split because of the Rashba interaction and the spin-splitting energy can be varied by an external electrostatic potential applied to the dot. A spin polarized electron is injected into each dot from one of the ferromagnetic layers and trapped by Coulomb blockade. Its spin orientation encodes a qubit. Arbitrary qubit rotations are effected by bringing the spin-splitting energy in a target quantum dot in resonance with a global ac magnetic field by applying a potential pulse of appropriate amplitude and duration to the dot. The controlled dynamics of the universal two-qubit rotation operation can be realized by exploiting the exchange coupling with the nearest-neighboring dot. The qubit (spin orientation) is read via the current induced between the ferromagnetic layers under an applied potential. The ferromagnetic layers act as ``polarizers'' and ``analyzers'' for spin injection and detection. A complete prescription for initialization of the computer and data input/output operations is presented. This paradigm, to the best of our knowledge, draws together two great recent scientific advances: one in materials science (nanoscale self-assembly) and the other in information science (quantum computing).
Quantum computers promise vastly enhanced computational power and an uncanny ability to solve classically intractable problems. However, few proposals exist for robust, solid-state implementation of such computers where the quantum gates are sufficiently miniaturized to have nanometer-scale dimensions. Here I present a new approach whereby a complete computer with nanoscale gates might be self-assembled using chemical synthesis. Specifically, I demonstrate how to self-assemble the fundamental unit of this quantum computer---a two-qubit universal quantum gate---based on two exchange coupled multilayered quantum dots. Then I show how these gates can be wired using thiolated conjugated molecules as electrical connectors. Each quantum dot in this architecture consists of ferromagnet-semiconductor-ferromagnet layers. The ground state in the semiconductor layer is spin split because of the Rashba interaction and the spin-splitting energy can be varied by an external electrostatic potential applied to the dot. A spin polarized electron is injected into each dot from one of the ferromagnetic layers and trapped by Coulomb blockade. Its spin orientation encodes a qubit. Arbitrary qubit rotations are effected by bringing the spin-splitting energy in a target quantum dot in resonance with a global ac magnetic field by applying a potential pulse of appropriate amplitude and duration to the dot. The controlled dynamics of the universal two-qubit rotation operation can be realized by exploiting the exchange coupling with the nearest-neighboring dot. The qubit (spin orientation) is read via the current induced between the ferromagnetic layers under an applied potential. The ferromagnetic layers act as polarizers'' and analyzers'' for spin injection and detection. A complete prescription for initialization of the computer and data input/output operations is presented. This paradigm, to the best of our knowledge, draws together two great recent scientific advances: one in materials science (nanoscale self-assembly) and the other in information science (quantum computing).
Recent studies in self-assembled InAs quantum dots (QDs) for applications in quantum information processing have demonstrated initialization, readout and long decoherence time of an electron spin confined in a single QD. These arguably fulfill three out of the five DiVincenzo criteria for the physical implementation of quantum computation. Based on recent developments self-assembled InAs quantum dot molecules (QDMs), several advancements in the optical manipulation of two-electron spin states have been made. As a continuation of these studies towards a full two-qubit system, this thesis addresses one of the remaining criteria concerning a universal set of quantum gates. The physical platform for two-qubit gates is provided by two electrons confined in the QDM where the Coulomb exchange interaction gives rise to the singlet and triplet manifolds. In a transverse magnetic field, an eight-level system consisting of four singlet-triplet spin states, four optical excited states and twelve dipole allowed transitions arises. Spin initialization via multi-laser optical pumping is demonstrated with near unity fidelity for three of the spin states, while the remaining one can, in principle, be achieved by coherent optical pumping using four CW lasers. The effects of dynamic nuclear spin polarization, arising from the coupling between the electrons and the surrounding nuclei, is evident in the frequency pulling and pushing lineshapes in absorption profiles. This thesis shows that the optical nuclear spin locking that was demonstrated in a single QD earlier is effective in QDMs, yielding a long spin decoherence time of about 1 microsecond. Spectroscopic evidence suggests that this is accompanied by the first evidence of a narrowing in the Overhauser field distribution. The results reveal that stabilization of nuclear spin polarization in both QDs is achieved by optical manipulations in the top QD, demonstrating the effect of non-local nuclear spin locking. Finally, it is shown theoretically that pulsed excitation results in single spin rotations and in conjunction with the Coulomb exchange interaction, provides the ingredients for a universal two-qubit gate. A feasible experimental demonstration of the two-qubit gate is proposed, along with the methodology for the population readout of individual spin states.
Quantum computers allow to solve efficiently certain problems that are intractable for classical computers. For the realization of a quantum computer, a qubit design as the basic building block is a nontrivial starting point. Within a nanoscale ferromagnetic domain wall stabilized by achiral energy, two degenerate chirality forms exist which can be regarded as the two qubit states. Our numerical demonstration shows that the manipulation of spin configurations of the ferromagnetic domain walls is governed by magnetic and electric fields for single-qubit quantum gates, while the Ising exchange coupling facilitates the two-qubit gates. The incorporation of these quantum gates permits universal quantum computation. Furthermore, we discuss the estimation of the coherence time, as well as the initialization and readout of the qubits. Our findings show a practical implementation of quantum computing architectures based on the domain-wall qubits in ferromagnetic materials.
We propose a method for implementing a quantum computer using artificial molecules. The artificial molecule consists of two coupled quantum dots stacked along the z direction and one single electron. One-qubit and two-qubit gates are constructed by one molecule and two coupled molecules, respectively. The ground state and the first excited state of the molecule are used to encode the |0> and |1> states of a qubit. The qubit is manipulated by a resonant electromagnetic wave that is applied directly to the qubit through a microstrip line. The coupling between two qubits in a quantum-controlled NOT gate is switched on (off) by floating (grounding) the metal film electrodes. We study the operations of the gates using a box-shaped quantum dot model and numerically solving a time-dependent Schrödinger equation, and demonstrate that the quantum gates can perform quantum computations. The operating speed of the gates is about one operation per 4 ps. The reading operation of the output of the quantum computer can be performed by detecting the polarization of the qubits.
We propose a method for implementation of a quantum computer using artificial molecules. The artificial molecule consists of two coupled quantum dots stacked along z direction and one single electron. One-qubit and two-qubit gates are constructed by one molecule and two coupled molecules, respectively.The ground state and the first excited state of the molecule are used to encode the |0> and |1> states of a qubit. The qubit is manipulated by a resonant electromagnetic wave that is applied directly to the qubit through a microstrip line. The coupling between two qubits in a quantum controlled NOT gate is switched on (off) by floating (grounding) the metal film electrodes. We study the operations of the gates by using a box-shaped quantum dot model and numerically solving a time-dependent Schridinger equation, and demonstrate that the quantum gates can perform the quantum computation. The operating speed of the gates is about one operation per 4ps. The reading operation of the output of the quantum computer can be performed by detecting the polarization of the qubits.
We theoretically study a double-quantum-dot hydrogen molecule in the GaAs conduction band as the basic elementary gate for a quantum computer, with the electron spins in the dots serving as qubits. Such a two-dot system provides the necessary two-qubit entanglement required for quantum computation. We determine the excitation spectrum of two horizontally coupled quantum dots with two confined electrons, and study its dependence on an external magnetic field. In particular, we focus on the splitting of the lowest singlet and triplet states, the double occupation probability of the lowest states, and the relative energy scales of these states. We point out that at zero magnetic field it is difficult to have both a vanishing double occupation probability for a small error rate and a sizable exchange coupling for fast gating. On the other hand, finite magnetic fields may provide finite exchange coupling for quantum computer operations with small errors. We critically discuss the applicability of the envelope-function approach in the current scheme, and also the merits of various quantum-chemical approaches in dealing with few-electron problems in quantum dots, such as the Hartree-Fock self-consistent-field method, the molecular-orbital method, the Heisenberg model, and the Hubbard model. We also discuss a number of relevant issues in quantum dot quantum computing in the context of our calculations, such as the required design tolerance, spin decoherence, adiabatic transitions, magnetic-field control, and error correction.
With the help of the spin-orbit interaction, we propose a scheme to perform holonomic single-qubit gates on the electron spin confined to a quantum dot. The manipulation is done in the absence (or presence) of an applied magnetic field. By adiabatic changing the position of the confinement potential, one can rotate the spin state of the electron around the Bloch sphere in semiconductor heterostructures. The dynamics of the system is equivalent to employing an effective non-Abelian gauge potential whose structure depends on the type of the spin-orbit interaction. As an example, we find an analytic expression for the electron spin dynamics when the dot is moved around a circular path (with radius R) on the two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) and show that all single-qubit gates can be realized by tuning the radius and orientation of the circular paths. Moreover, using the Heisenberg exchange interaction, we demonstrate how one can generate two-qubit gates by bringing two quantum dots near each other, yielding a scalable scheme to perform quantum computing on arbitrary N qubits. This proposal shows a way of realizing holonomic quantum computers in solid-state systems.