Jellybeans Could Be Important for Quantum Computer Chips in the Future—How?

(Image credit- Phys.org) Engineers at the University of South Wales (UNSW) Sydney have found a novel solution for quantum computers in the quest to create powerful quantum computers: jellybeans. No, not the colorful and flavorful sugary delights that we indulge our sweet tooth in, but rather the jellybean-shaped quantum dots that are precisely positioned between pairs of qubits, the basic building blocks of quantum information. Associate Professor Arne Laucht, the study's primary author, explains that silicon is particularly beneficial because it already has a manufacturing infrastructure and because silicon chips are frequently utilized in traditional computers. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Image credit- Chief IT[/caption] Additionally, silicon chips have the benefit of being able to hold a lot of qubits, which makes them a perfect choice for quantum computing. The proximity of qubits presents a special challenge to scientists and engineers. These quantum units need to be placed together to enable information exchange, but they also need enough room to integrate connecting wires. In the traditional method, qubit interactions would end as they were separated to create a place for wiring. The jellybean method, however, strikes a wonderful balance in this delicate dance. A string-like arrangement resembling a jellybean is created by collecting additional electrons in the space between the qubits. The electrons within the jellybean dot maintain an influence between the paired qubits even when they are separated by distance, whereas only the electrons at the ends of the jellybean structure actively participate in computations. The co-author of the study, Zeheng Wang, emphasizes the importance of the additional electrons found inside the jellybean quantum dot. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="563"] Image credit- Phys.org[/caption] They discovered that fewer electrons cause the production of smaller puddles within the dot, but more electrons—roughly 15 to 20—lead to the formation of a more continuous and uniform jellybean structure. The well-defined spin and quantum states made possible by this well-ordered electron configuration make the coupling of qubits easier. Also read: To expand the developer ecosystem, Intel releases the Quantum Software Development Kit version 1.0 The interactions between the paired qubits are not hampered by the inclusion of wiring provided by these quantum dots in the microchip circuitry. Although jellybean quantum dots have been studied in the past in materials like gallium arsenide, this study is the first to show that they are viable in silicon, a substance that is extremely important in the realm of quantum computing.