Researchers at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands have achieved a major breakthrough in quantum physics, successfully initiating controlled movement within an atom’s nucleus. By manipulating an electron in the outermost shell of a titanium atom, they were able to interact with the nucleus and read out the results using a scanning tunneling microscope. This achievement, published in Nature Communications, opens up possibilities for storing quantum information inside the nucleus, where it is protected from external disturbances.
Led by researcher Sander Otte, the team studied a single titanium-47 atom, which has one neutron less than naturally abundant titanium-48, making its nucleus slightly magnetic. They used a voltage pulse to push the electron spin out of equilibrium, causing both spins to wobble together for a fraction of a microsecond, exactly as predicted by quantum theory. The research demonstrates that no quantum information is lost during the interaction between electron and nucleus, paving the way for potential applications in storing quantum information.
Manipulating Atomic Nuclei: A Quantum Leap Forward
Researchers from Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands have made a groundbreaking discovery, successfully initiating controlled movement within the heart of an atom. By manipulating the atomic nucleus and interacting it with one of the electrons in the outermost shells, they were able to read out the electron’s state through the needle of a scanning tunneling microscope. This achievement, published in Nature Communications, opens up prospects for storing quantum information inside the nucleus, where it is safe from external disturbances.
The Quest for Quantum Control
The research team, led by Sander Otte, spent weeks studying a single titanium atom (Ti-47) with one neutron less than its naturally abundant counterpart (Ti-48). This subtle difference makes the nucleus slightly magnetic, allowing it to interact with the spin of an electron. The orientation of this spin at a given time constitutes a piece of quantum information. By precisely tuning the experimental conditions, the researchers were able to influence the nuclear spin through the extremely weak hyperfine interaction.
Harnessing the Hyperfine Interaction
The hyperfine interaction is so weak that it only becomes effective in a very small, precisely tuned magnetic field. To overcome this challenge, the researchers used a voltage pulse to push the electron spin out of equilibrium, causing both spins to wobble together for a fraction of a microsecond. This phenomenon, predicted by Erwin Schrödinger, demonstrates that no quantum information is lost during the interaction between electron and nucleus.
Storing Quantum Information
The efficient shielding from the environment makes the nuclear spin an attractive candidate for holding quantum information. The current research brings this application one step closer. However, the primary motivation behind this experiment lies in the ability to influence the state of matter on an unimaginably small scale. This level of control has far-reaching implications for quantum experiments and could lead to prolonged coherence times.
Unveiling Hyperfine Physics
The researchers employed a combination of electron spin resonance (ESR) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) to study the fundamental properties of nuclear spins of single atoms on a surface. By using the unique local controllability of the magnetic field emanating from the STM probe tip, they were able to bring the electron and nuclear spins in tune, as evidenced by a set of avoided level crossings in ESR-STM. This approach provided unprecedented insight into hyperfine physics on a single atom level, revealing complex patterns of multiple interfering coherent oscillations.
This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of quantum technologies, including molecular spin qubits, NV centers, and donors in silicon. The ability to manipulate atomic nuclei could lead to more robust and scalable quantum systems, enabling advancements in fields such as magnetic sensing, spintronics, and quantum simulation.
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