Readable Nuclear Spins Advance Quantum Computing

eldavojohn writes, "A University of Utah researcher and his team of German colleagues have shown that it is possible, using electronics, to read data stored as nuclear 'spins'. The lead researcher in the experiment was Dr. Christoph Boehme and his team's letter is available via Nature Physics (at a cost of $18 unless you are a subscriber). This is looking to be a large advance in quantum computing because prior to this, measuring the number of spins of a single phosphorus nucleus was very difficult." From the article: "The researchers used a piece of silicon crystal about 300 microns thick — about three times the width of a human hair — less than 3 inches long and about one-tenth of an inch wide. The silicon crystal was doped with phosphorus atoms. Phosphorus atoms were embedded in silicon because too many phosphorus atoms too close together would interact with each other so much that they couldn't store information. The concept is that the nuclear spin from one atom of phosphorus would store one qubit of information. The scientists used lithography to print two gold electrical contacts onto the doped silicon. Then they placed an extremely thin layer of silicon dioxide — about two billionths of a meter thick — onto the silicon between the gold contacts. As a result, the device's surface had tiny spots where the spins of phosphorus atoms could be detected."

Comments

Readable Nuclear Spins Advance Quantum Computing

[Anonymous Coward]

Easy for you to say.

Charmed, I'm sure.

[Tackhead]

Cue the strange jokes. I'm charmed. You're Bohred. And the cat is both.

quantum this quantum that

[Anonymous Coward]

when we finally get one built, we'll realize that we spent vast amounts of time and resources into doing something that doesnt matter, and we will wish that we could go back and correct all our past mistakes.

and thats how quantum leap really started.

3x as wide as a human hair?

[r_jensen11]

The researchers used a piece of silicon crystal about 300 microns thick -- about three times the width of a human hair -- less than 3 inches long and about one-tenth of an inch wide.

3x the width of a human hair? Maybe, for you. But me, I use *insert name brand* Volumizing Shampoo! Now, my hair is 3x stronger, smoother, and thicker than before!

Er...

[Anonymous Coward]

The silicon crystal was doped with phosphorus atoms. ... The scientists used lithography to print two gold electrical contacts onto the doped silicon. Then they placed an extremely thin layer of silicon dioxide -- about two billionths of a meter thick -- onto the silicon between the gold contacts. As a result, the device's surface had tiny spots where the spins of phosphorus atoms could be detected.

The seek time for that device sounds horrible.

Ah!

[dkf]

So this is what spin doctors do all day!

Re:Rimshot

[zevans]

They built the first one and measured the speed exactly... but afterwards they could no longer find it...

Heat?

[morgan_greywolf]

Then the device was chilled with liquid helium to 452 degrees below zero Fahrenheit

And here I thought AMDs had cooling problems...

I mock theeeee

[Impy the Impiuos Imp]

> Then they placed an extremely thin layer of silicon
> dioxide -- about two billionths of a meter thick

Holy crap! That's about 2 trillionths of a kilometer thick!