Physicists Control the Spin of a Single Electron

jeeb writes "Researchers of the Delft University of Technology and the Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter have succeeded for the first time in controlling the spin of a single electron in a nanostructure. They are able to rotate the axis to every possible direction and to record it accordingly. This achievement makes it possible to use the electron's spin as a 'quantum bit,' the basis of a (still theoretical) future quantum computer. The researchers have published this scientific breakthrough in the August 17, 2006 edition of Nature."

Comments

Re:Amazing.

[Daniel_Staal]

Speed isn't important yet: First you have to actually do it, then you worry about speed. First, though, you make a prototype that works. They don't actually have that yet (just parts, of which this is one), so they don't know what the potential speed bottlenecks are. (Or what might be the best way to handle them.)

Re:Amazing.

[jpardey]

I think it has something to do with the "Pauli Exclusion Principle," which actually explains the structure of the periodic table. Something to do with no two electrons being able to share the same quantum state and position.

So I think it is only limited by the speed of the equipment, not the process.