Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize our world. With the ability to perform exponentially faster computations than traditional binary technology, quantum computers could create massive advancements in fields ranging from supercomputing to smartphones. However, the development of stable qubits, the building blocks of quantum computers, remains a challenge.
Yet, existing qubit platforms are delicate and easily influenced by external disturbances. Even a stray photon can disrupt their operations. The key to overcoming these challenges lies in developing fault-tolerant qubits that are resilient to external perturbations.
A team of scientists and engineers at the University of Washington has made significant progress in this area. In two groundbreaking papers published in Nature and Science, the researchers report the detection of “fractional quantum anomalous Hall” (FQAH) states in flakes of semiconductor materials. These FQAH states have the potential to host anyons, unique quasiparticles with only a fraction of an electron’s charge. Certain types of anyons can be used to create “topologically protected” qubits that are stable against local disturbances.
According to Xiaodong Xu, the lead researcher behind these discoveries, this marks a new paradigm for studying quantum physics with fractional excitations. FQAH states, which are related to fractional quantum Hall states, offer stable properties even without the need for massive magnetic fields, making them suitable for quantum computing applications.
To achieve these FQAH states, the researchers built an artificial lattice using atomically thin flakes of molybdenum ditelluride (MoTe2). By creating a synthetic honeycomb lattice for electrons through a twist in the stack of flakes, they were able to induce intrinsic magnetism in the system. This intrinsic magnetism replaced the need for a strong external magnetic field typically required for fractional quantum Hall states. Using lasers as probes, the researchers detected signatures of the FQAH effect, a significant step towards harnessing the power of anyons for quantum computing.
The team envisions this system as a platform to further explore and understand anyons, which exhibit unique properties compared to traditional particles like electrons. In particular, they hope to discover “non-Abelian” anyons, an even more exotic form of quasiparticles that can be used as topological qubits. By braiding these non-Abelian anyons, entangled quantum states can be generated, providing resistance to local disturbances and surpassing the capabilities of current quantum computers.
The emergence of FQAH states in the researchers’ experimental setup is attributed to three key properties: magnetism, topology, and interactions. These properties together enabled the detection and manipulation of these unique quantum states.
Overall, the team’s approach paves the way for further investigation and manipulation of FQAH states, providing accelerated progress in the field of quantum computing.
More information:
Jiaqi Cai et al, Signatures of Fractional Quantum Anomalous Hall States in Twisted MoTe2, Nature (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06289-w
Eric Anderson et al, Programming correlated magnetic states with gate-controlled moiré geometry, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adg4268
Provided by University of Washington
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