Researchers within the School of Chemistry at the University of Lincoln, in collaboration with the University of St. Andrews, University College London and University of Oxford, have developed a new material that could help to make quantum computers more energy-efficient.
In a paper recently published in the Journal of American Chemical Society, Dr Gil-Ramirez and colleagues describe how they have developed a new system based in endohedral fullerenes that can be used in the next generation of quantum computers.
Quantum computers use Quantum Bits (Qbits) instead of bits as their processing unit. Qbits require very low temperatures to maintain their quantum properties. Once they lose these properties, their advantage over normal bits is lost.
Currently technologies for quantum computers rely heavily on maintaining the whole system at temperatures close to absolute zero (~0 K). This requires instrumentation that is both very advanced and incredibly expensive to maintain, which keeps quantum computers as prototypes that only a few companies have developed.
Dr. Guzman Gil-Ramirez said, “This research could take quantum technology development to the next level creating materials that require temperatures in the range of 50-60 Kelvin, instead of milliKelvin as is currently required. We’re already looking at expanding this technology to probe one of the fundamental requirements for making a quantum computer: Spin entanglement.”
The team’s paper, titled ‘Distance Measurement of a Noncovalently Bound Y@C82 Pair with Double Electron Electron Resonance Spectroscopy’, is published in Journal of American Chemical Society and the link to record in the University of Lincoln's online repository is below.
For more details please contact Dr. Andy Gill.