Scientists at the University of California, Irvine, and Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a method to transform everyday materials into conductors for quantum computers. The team, led by Professor Luis A. Jauregui, used a “bending station” to change the atomic structure of materials, turning them into efficient conductors. This breakthrough could help make quantum computers, currently only found in companies like IBM, Google, and Rigetti, a more common reality. The UCI-MRSEC and the Los Alamos National Laboratory Directed Research and Development Directed Research program funded the research.
Quantum Materials Research Breakthrough at UC Irvine
University of California, Irvine, and Los Alamos National Laboratory researchers have significantly advanced quantum materials research. Their findings, published in Nature Communications, detail a novel method to transform everyday materials into conductors suitable for quantum computers. The team, led by Luis A. Jauregui, professor of physics & astronomy at UCI, has successfully converted insulating materials like glass into efficient conductors similar to copper.
The development of quantum computers, which promise to surpass the limitations of conventional silicon-based computers, relies heavily on discovering such methods. The team’s experiment was based on the unique capabilities at UCI for growing high-quality quantum materials. They applied new techniques to these materials, transforming them into good conductors.
The Role of Strain in Quantum Materials
According to Jauregui, the key to this transformation was applying the right kind of strain to materials at the atomic scale. The team designed a special apparatus, a “bending station,” that allowed them to apply large strain and change the atomic structure of a material called hafnium pentatelluride. This change turned the material from a “trivial” one into a material suitable for a quantum computer.
The strain allowed the team to “poke holes” in the atomic structure, creating materials with unique properties. Furthermore, the change in atomic structure could be controlled by adjusting the strain, potentially creating an on-off switch for the material in a quantum computer.
Theoretical Simulations and Collaborative Efforts
The team’s research was also supported by theoretical simulations, which provided valuable insights into their experimental observations. This accelerated the discovery of methods for controlling the quantum states of novel materials. Ruqian Wu, professor of physics and Associate Director of the UCI Center for Complex and Active Materials, highlighted the success of collaborative efforts involving diverse expertise in frontier research.
Implications for Quantum Computing
The team’s findings have promising implications for the development of quantum devices. Their methodology is compatible with experimentation on other quantum materials as well. Currently, quantum computers are limited to a few locations, such as the offices of companies like IBM, Google, and Rigetti. The team’s research could bring the reality of everyday quantum computers closer.
Funding and Participation
The research was funded by the UCI-MRSEC, an NSF CAREER grant to Jauregui, and Los Alamos National Laboratory Directed Research and Development Directed Research program funds. Several UCI graduate and undergraduate students participated in the study, including Robert Welser, Sebastian Yepez Rodriguez, Matthew Delmont, and Triet Ho.
