Towards a fullerene-based quantum computer

Simon C. Benjamin, Arzhang Ardavan, G. Andrew D. Briggs, David A. Britz, Daniel Gunlycke, John Jefferson, Mark A.G. Jones, David F. Leigh, Brendon W. Lovett, Andrei N. Khlobystov, S. A. Lyon, John J.L. Morton, Kyriakos Porfyrakis, Mark R. Sambrook, Alexei M. Tyryshkin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

179 Scopus citations

Abstract

Molecular structures appear to be natural candidates for a quantum technology: individual atoms can support quantum superpositions for long periods, and such atoms can in principle be embedded in a permanent molecular scaffolding to form an array. This would be true nanotechnology, with dimensions of order of a nanometre. However, the challenges of realizing such a vision are immense. One must identify a suitable elementary unit and demonstrate its merits for qubit storage and manipulation, including input/output. These units must then be formed into large arrays corresponding to an functional quantum architecture, including a mechanism for gate operations. Here we report our efforts, both experimental and theoretical, to create such a technology based on endohedral fullerenes or 'buckyballs'. We describe our successes with respect to these criteria, along with the obstacles we are currently facing and the questions that remain to be addressed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberS12
Pages (from-to)S867-S883
JournalJournal of Physics Condensed Matter
Volume18
Issue number21
DOIs
StatePublished - May 31 2006

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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