A new Type of Quantum Bit

In the computers of the future, information will be stored in the form of quantum bits, or qubits for short. Qubits are based on the principles of quantum physics and can adopt additional states besides the binary states of zero and one, paving the way for entirely new possibilities.

In approaches using conventional semiconductor materials, scientists typically created qubits in the form of individual electrons. However, this caused dephasing, and the information carriers were difficult to program and read. Now, researchers from the University of Basel, Ruhr University Bochum, and the Université de Lyon have overcome this problem by using holes – instead of electrons – to create qubits.

Electrons as qubits

In order to create qubits in the form of electrons, an electron is placed within an enclosed area of a semiconductor; these areas are known as quantum dots. The spin – that is, the intrinsic angular momentum – causes the electron to behave as a small permanent magnet. By applying an external magnetic field, researchers can influence the spin and cause it to rotate. They can then use the direction of this rotation to encode information.

The problem is that the nuclear spins of the surrounding atoms also generate magnetic fields, which distort the external magnetic field in a random, unpredictable way. This interferes with the way the qubits are programmed and read. The team thus began searching for an alternative method. Their solution: instead of locking a single electron inside the quantum dot, the researchers led by Prof. Richard Warburton from the University of Basel's Department of Physics removed a specific electron. This creates a positively charged hole in the collection of electrons.

Advantages of electron holes

A hole also has a spin, and the researchers were able to manipulate this using magnetic fields in order to encode information. As a hole is positively charged, it avoids the surrounding atoms’ nuclei, which are also positively charged. Holes are thus effectively immune to the dephasing effects of the nuclear spins.

In their experiments, the Basel-based physicists enjoyed access to new types of semiconductor chips from researchers at Ruhr University Bochum. These chips are able to trap not only individual electrons but also individual holes to quantum dots.