Projects / Programmes
Diamond-assisted quantum processing of fullerene qubits
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.02.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Physics |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 1.03 |
Natural Sciences |
Physical sciences |
fullerenes, NV centres in diamonds, qubits, quantum processing, quantum sensors, magnetic resonance, pulse sequencies, optical magnetometry, quantum computing
Data for the last 5 years (citations for the last 10 years) on
April 24, 2024;
A3 for period
2018-2022
Data for ARIS tenders (
04.04.2019 – Programme tender,
archive
)
| Database |
Linked records |
Citations |
Pure citations |
Average pure citations |
| WoS |
560 |
13,417 |
11,523 |
20.58 |
| Scopus |
561 |
14,179 |
12,310 |
21.94 |
Researchers (11)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
Spins provide quantum states with discrete energy levels that can be coherently manipulated by means of external magnetic fields. This concept is today extensively used in every magnetic resonance experiment. However, spins can also be looked at as one of the simplest objects to encode a quantum bit (qubit), the elementary unit of future quantum computers. Molecules with unpaired spin are highly versatile nanoscopic objects, which can be in solids arranged in lattices and then replicated to integrate them in complex qubit circuits for storing and processing information. Fullerene molecules with their high symmetry and the ability to accept up to six electrons to form spin-active molecular radicals thus seem to be ideal for building such molecular solid-state qubit circuits. However, their inherent drawback – known since their discovery in early 90s – is the instability of the charge/spin state when their frontier molecular orbitals are exposed to the surroundings. Recently we solved this problem by encapsulating spin-1/2 azafullerene (C59N) cages into [10]cycloparaphenylene ([10]CPP) nanoloops thus yielding C59NI[10]CPP. The spin-active state can be initiated either by thermal or green-light illumination and turns remarkably stable due to supramolecular shielding facilitated by the [10]CPP hosts. In this project we propose to explore such tailor made spin-active fullerene structures alone or when coupled to NV centres in diamonds aiming to find (i) physical pairs of quantum levels which are addressable to form a qubit, (ii) the ability to couple multiple qubits, and (iii) a way to measure the state of the qubits, all while maintaining quantum coherence, such that the quantum information is not degraded and lost. We will first use conventional electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques to determine C59N qubit coherence times and their coupling to the local environment. In collaboration with our partner institutions we will optimise qubit packing and the qubit interactions with the environment by diluting C59N with non-magnetic C60 or by chemically modifying [10]CPP nanoloops. In the next step, we will investigate possibilities for the single-qubit manipulations in the ensemble of C59NI[10]CPP qubits using advanced pulsed EPR sequences. In particular we will search for qubit Rabi oscillations and develop concepts for error correction of the corruption of superposition in a qubit. In the final stage of the project, the best C59NI[10]CPP-based qubit platform will be selected for the two-qubit manipulations with double-resonance techniques. This should finally lead us to the high-risk-high-gain part of the project where local readout of an individual C59NI[10]CPP qubit will be realised on the surface of diamond with shallow NV centers as highly sensitive magnetometers. This ambitious project is expected to have important impacts to the field of quantum computing, as novel fullerene-based platforms for qubit networks will be developed, original concepts in quantum information processing will be implemented and versatile quantum sensor devices will be developed. The involvement of research groups from the Institute Jožef Stefan and University of Ljubljana will set an ideal training environment for your research interested in quantum technologies. The project will thus boost the research and development of quantum technologies, which is in full alignment with Slovenian and EU top priorities.
