Quantum Logic Gate Created Using Excitons

Roland Piquepaille writes "In this article, PhysicsWeb reports that researchers in the U.S. "have taken another important step towards making a quantum computer. [They] have created a logic gate using two electron-hole pairs -- also known as "excitons" -- in a quantum dot." According to Wikipedia, "an exciton is a combination of an electron and a hole in a semiconductor or insulator in an excited state These physicists from the University of Michigan and other labs made a quantum dot by using a thin gallium arsenide layer stuck between two aluminium gallium arsenide barriers. And electrons trapped in the middle layer were excited by light to create a quantum logical gate with four states. The group says this could be useful "in other approaches to quantum computing based on the optical control of electron-spin qubits in quantum dots.." This summary contains more details."