Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Solar Energy News .




CHIP TECH
The quantum middle man
by Staff Writers
Okinawa, Japan (SPX) Jul 09, 2015


A crystal made of manganese and other elements that provides a strong hyperfine interaction between the nucleus and electrons is just a few millimeters wide. It is shown next to a 100 Yen coin for scale. Image courtesy OIST. For a larger version of this image please go here.

Researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) have identified a system that could store quantum information for longer times, which is critical for the future of quantum computing. This study was recently published in Physical Review Letters. Quantum computing - which aims to use particles on the atomic scale to make calculations and store the results - has the potential to solve some key problems much faster than current computers.

To make quantum computing a reality, scientists must find a system that remains stable long enough to make the calculations. While this is an extremely short time frame, only thousandths of a second, the particles involved are so small that they are easily influenced by their surroundings. If the motion of the particles is disturbed, even a little, it throws off the whole calculation.

Nuclei are promising contenders for quantum memory because they are not easily influenced by their surroundings. However, that also makes them extremely difficult to manipulate. Many quantum physicists have tried with little success.

"In usual materials it is very difficult to control nuclei directly," said Prof. Denis Konstantinov, who runs the Quantum Dynamics Unit at OIST.

Instead of trying control the nucleus directly, the researchers focused on a "middle man" of sorts - the electrons orbiting the nucleus.

The nucleus has a tiny internal magnet, called a "magnetic moment," and the electrons orbiting around it also have magnetic moments that are about 1,000 times larger. Those magnets interact with each other, which is called the "hyperfine interaction."

The hyperfine interaction is stronger in some materials than others. The researchers found that a crystal made of manganese and some other elements has a strong hyperfine interaction. This enabled them to manipulate the nuclei by first targeting the electrons.

Information in quantum computing is conveyed by photons, which are individual particles of light, which also make up other nonvisible electromagnetic waves, such as ultraviolet and microwaves.

The information transmitted is actually the quantum state of the photon. The quantum state of the photon needs to be transferred to another particle so it will last long enough for the computation to take place.

In this experiment, the researchers beamed microwaves through a manganese carbonate crystal. The magnetic field of the microwaves interacted with the magnetic moments of the electrons that are orbiting around the nuclei of the manganese atoms.

The electrons' movements started to change, which in turn altered the movement of the nuclei because they are connected by the hyperfine interaction. The quantum state of the microwave photon was transferred to the nuclei when the nuclei's internal magnets flipped to point in the opposite direction.

This all has to happen very quickly before the quantum state of the photon changes. To transmit the information and flip the nuclei fast enough, there has to be a strong connection between the microwaves and nuclei via the electrons.

"To our knowledge, our experiment is the first demonstration of the strong coupling between microwave photons and nuclear spins," said Leonid Abdurakhimov, a post-doctoral scholar at OIST and first author of the paper.

Next, the team plans to cool down the system to nearly -273 C, or -500 F, to see if they can strengthen the connection and extend the time information can be stored by minimizing temperature fluctuations.

"We are making the first and important steps towards using an ensemble of nuclear spins for quantum memory," Konstantinov said. "We now have a whole class of materials that can be used for this purpose. Future experiments promise to be quite exciting."


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University
Computer Chip Architecture, Technology and Manufacture
Nano Technology News From SpaceMart.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








CHIP TECH
Spintronics advance brings wafer-scale quantum devices closer to reality
Chicago IL (SPX) Jul 09, 2015
An electronics technology that uses the "spin" - or magnetization - of atomic nuclei to store and process information promises huge gains in performance over today's electron-based devices. But getting there is proving challenging. Now researchers at the University of Chicago's Institute for Molecular Engineering (IME) have made a crucial step toward nuclear spintronic technologies. They h ... read more


CHIP TECH
How do biofuel perennials affect the water cycle?

Scientists study ways to integrate biofuels and food crops on farms

Biogas to biomethane by water absorption column at low pressure and temps

Tropical peatland carbon losses from oil palm plantations may be underestimated

CHIP TECH
Elon Musk funds major research grants on dangers of artificial intelligence

Advances in Robots Needed to Explore Icy Moons

Seahorse tails could inspire new generation of robots

Engineers develop micro-tentacles so tiny robots can handle delicate objects

CHIP TECH
Green shoots for Aussie renewables as Ararat Wind Farm moves ahead

Viaducts with wind turbines, the new renewable energy source

Successful Commissioning Of HelWin2 HVDC Grid Connection

Winds of change as Ethiopia harnesses green power

CHIP TECH
China's Uber-style taxi app raises $2 bn

A learning method for energy optimization of the plug-in hybrid electric bus

Physical study may give boost to hydrogen cars

Researchers build mini Jeep that turns tire friction into energy

CHIP TECH
Single-catalyst water splitter produces clean-burning hydrogen 24/7

Distributed technique for power 'scheduling' advances smart grid concept

Engineers break power and distance barriers for fiber optic comms

Superconductor could be realized in a broken Lorenz invariant theory

CHIP TECH
Japan reactor refuelled for restart, despite opposition

Nuclear Friendship: Kazakhstan to deliver 5K tons of uranium to India

Putin, Zuma consider development of South African nuclear energy priority

Japan increases limits on radiation exposure before nuke reactors restart

CHIP TECH
Climate: EU parliament backs reform of carbon market

Fossil fuels, low-carbon plans, in tug-of-war

New formula expected to spur advances in clean energy generation

Access to electricity is linked to reduced sleep

CHIP TECH
Timber and construction, a well-matched couple

Rumors of southern pine deaths have been exaggerated

Can pollution help trees fight infection?

In Beirut, a green paradise off-limits to Lebanese




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.