European scientists are harnessing the power of diamonds to build a new generation of quantum computers that can operate at room temperature. This eliminates the need for ultra-cold temperatures and paves the way for more practical and scalable devices.
The €10 million SPINUS project, funded by the European Commission and supported by the Quantum Flagship, is using synthetic diamonds and silicon carbide to develop quantum simulators and computers that can tackle complex problems in fields such as materials science and finance.
Researchers can create programmable quantum bits or qubits without extreme cooling by exploiting natural imperfections in diamonds, known as nitrogen-vacancy centers. Project coordinator Martin Koppenhöfer says the team is working towards demonstrating quantum simulators with over 50 qubits and quantum computers with more than ten qubits, with the potential to scale up to over 1000 and 100 qubits, respectively, within five years.
The consortium involves leading research institutions and companies, including Fraunhofer Institue for Applied Solid State Physics IAF, Universities of Ulm and Stuttgart, and Quantum Brilliance GmbH in Germany.
Harnessing Diamonds for Quantum Computing
Diamonds are not typically associated with cutting-edge technology, but a team of European scientists uses these precious stones to build a new quantum computer that can operate at room temperature. This innovation promises to make quantum computers more practical and scalable, leading to breakthroughs in medicine and finance.
The €10 million SPINUS project, funded by the European Commission and supported by the Quantum Flagship, is leveraging diamonds and silicon carbide to develop quantum computers and simulators that can function at room temperature. This approach eliminates the need for ultra-low temperatures, making these devices more user-friendly and opening up new avenues for hybrid computing applications.
The Power of Nitrogen-Vacancy Centres
The key to harnessing diamonds for quantum computing lies in a specific type of microscopic imperfection called a nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centre. This defect is formed by removing two adjacent carbon atoms from the diamond’s crystal structure and replacing one with a nitrogen atom, leaving a vacancy next to it. By sending laser pulses into the diamond, scientists can control the spin of an electron trapped in the NV centre, effectively creating a programmable quantum bit or qubit.
The SPINUS team is using synthetic diamonds engineered specifically for quantum technologies to create these NV centres. This allows them to control the amount and position of the defects, creating a unique setup with special properties for quantum computing. The NV centres behave like tiny trapped atoms where electrons and nearby nuclear spins can be controlled, enabling the storage and processing of quantum data in more efficient ways than conventional computers.
Scaling Up Quantum Computing
The SPINUS project aims to demonstrate quantum simulators with over 50 qubits and quantum computers with more than ten qubits. The team expects that their research will provide a strategy to scale up to over 1000 and 100 qubits, respectively, within five years post-project.
One of the significant advantages of using diamonds in quantum computing is their ability to store quantum information for extended periods compared to other architectures. Additionally, these devices can be highly miniaturized. To build such a miniaturized quantum processor, current approaches to control and read out the NV centres need to be improved. The SPINUS project is developing a novel modular strategy to build scalable diamond-based quantum computers, along with cutting-edge electrical readout techniques.
Unlocking New Possibilities
The potential impact of this technology is vast. “Making a quantum simulator with more than 50 qubits and a room-temperature quantum computer opens the door to scaling up to a higher number of qubits, like 100 or 1000, which would be a game-changer for areas like cryptography, AI, and materials science,” says Dr. Koppenhöfer, coordinator of the SPINUS project.
This capability would allow scientists to discover life-saving drugs faster, solve hard optimization problems, or develop energy-saving technologies more efficiently. The SPINUS project brings together a consortium of Europe’s leading research institutions and quantum technology experts, setting the stage for a new era in quantum computing.
About the SPINUS Project and the Quantum Flagship
The SPINUS project is a collaborative effort between European research institutions and quantum technology experts, coordinated by the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF. The project partners include universities and research centers from Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic.
The Quantum Flagship is a large-scale initiative funded with €1 billion from the EU over a 10-year timescale. It consists of a coherent set of research and innovation projects selected through a thorough peer-review process. The goal is to consolidate and expand European scientific leadership and excellence in quantum technologies, kick-start a competitive European industry, and make Europe an attractive region for innovative research, business, and investments.
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