Save
Email
Print
ShareDec. 1, 2010 — Quantum information processing is arguably one of the most fascinating facets of modern quantum physics. A quantum computer operates with quantum bits (qubits) as units of information. Obeying the laws of quantum mechanics, such a computer would be capable of addressing several of the most difficult computational tasks unsolvable with present technology. In the past few decades, scientists learned to perform room-sized experiments to optically control and read out a small number of qubits.
Now, researchers in Germany have successfully fabricated a rudimentary quantum computing hybrid system using electronic excitations in nano-diamonds as qubits and optical nanostructures, so-called photonic crystals with tailored optical properties. This architecture may allow integration of multi-qubit systems on a single micrometer-sized chip for future quantum computers.
"Our results suggest a strategy for scaling up quantum information to large-scale systems, which has yet to be done," says Janik Wolters, researcher, at Humboldt Universität in Berlin. "We regard our experiment as a milestone on the long road toward on-chip integrated quantum information processing systems, bringing the dream of a quantum computer closer to reality."
Wolters and colleagues present their research in the American Institute of Physics' Applied Physics Letters.
Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:
Story Source:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by American Institute of Physics, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- Janik Wolters, Andreas W. Schell, Günter Kewes, Nils Nüsse, Max Schoengen, Henning Döscher, Thomas Hannappel, Bernd Löchel, Michael Barth, Oliver Benson. Enhancement of the zero phonon line emission from a single nitrogen vacancy center in a nanodiamond via coupling to a photonic crystal cavity. Applied Physics Letters, 2010; 97 (14): 141108 DOI: 10.1063/1.3499300
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
more 
