Australia: qubit as a single silicon atom

Peter F. has pointed out the following intriguing experimental advance in quantum computing:

Australians Create 1-Atom Silicon Quantum Computing Bit (quBit) (Daily Tech)

How does it work?




Well, they take an ordinary single silicon atom, rotate its electron spin (bound to a phosphorus donor atom) in the desired direction by a 1-tesla magnetic field, and then cool it (at least the electrons) down to 0.3 kelvins or so. They're able to manipulate with the electron spin by some clever microwave pulses.



The coherence time is a quarter of a millisecond so far which is pretty good but in their Nature paper,

A single-atom electron spin qubit in silicon,

they hope to get to a second by a tighter control over the phosphorous doping.

Equally optimistically, the electrodes etc. almost look like they are already preparing a commercial implementation of the technology. I believe that if the main element behind classical computers and artificial breasts is used, some if not many existing technologies may be be perhaps recycled to produce a working quantum computer for the first time.

Lazaridis goes into quantum computing

In this article about quantum computing, it may be sensible to point out that they're opening the Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre at the University of Waterloo. Links: first, second, third. Hat tip: Joseph S.