Researchers at the University of New South Wales are touting another breakthrough in quantum computing. They have encoded quantum information in silicon using simple electrical impulses. It’s one of many advances the UNSW team has been working on over the past few years as they endeavour to bring the construction of affordable large-scale quantum computers a step closer to reality. Associate professor, Andrea Morello from UNSW’s School of Engineering and Telecommunications, said his team had realised a new control method for future quantum computers. The researchers demonstrated that a highly coherent qubit – like the spin of a phosphorous atom in isotopically-enriched silicon can be controlled using electric fields instead of using pulses of oscillating magnetic fields. Professor Morello said the method works by distorting the shape of the electron cloud attached to the atom using a very localised electric field. “This distortion at the atomic level has the effect of modifying the frequency at which the electron responds,” said Professor Morello. “Therefore, we can selectively choose which qubit to operate. It’s a bit like selecting which radio station we tune to by turning a simple knob. Here, the knob is the voltage applied to a small electrode placed above the atom.” UNSW said the key to the success of this electrical control method is the placement of qubits inside a thin layer of specifically purified silicon, containing only the silicon-28 isotope. This isotope is perfectly non-magnetic and unlike those naturally occurring in silicon, does not disturb the quantum bit, Professor Morello said. The findings suggest that it would be possible to locally control individual qubits with electric fields in a large-scale quantum computer using only inexpensive voltage generators rather than expensive high-frequency microwave sources, the researchers said. This specific type of quantum bit can be manufactured using a similar technology to that employed for the production of everyday computers, reducing time and cost of development. Follow CIO Australia on Twitter and Like us on Facebook… Twitter: @CIO_Australia, Facebook: CIO Australia, or take part in the CIO conversation on LinkedIn: CIO Australia Follow Byron Connolly on Twitter:@ByronConnolly Related content BrandPost The future of trust—no more playing catch up Broadcom: 2023 Tech Trends That Transform IT By Eric Chien, Director of Security Response, Symantec Enterprise Division, Broadcom Mar 31, 2023 5 mins Security BrandPost TCS gives Blackhawk Network an edge with Microsoft Cloud In this case study, Blackhawk Network’s Cara Renfroe joins Tata Consultancy Services’ Rakesh Kumar and Microsoft’s Nilendu Pattanaik to explain how TCS transformed the gift card company’s customer engagement and global operati By Tata Consultancy Services Mar 31, 2023 1 min Financial Services Industry Cloud Computing IT Leadership BrandPost How TCS pioneered the ‘borderless workspace’ with Microsoft 365 Microsoft’s modern workplace solution proved a perfect fit for improving productivity and collaboration, while maintaining security of systems and data. By Tata Consultancy Services Mar 31, 2023 1 min Financial Services Industry Microsoft Cloud Computing BrandPost Supply chain decarbonization: The missing link to net zero By improving the quality of global supply chain data, enterprises can better measure their true carbon footprint and make progress toward a net-zero business ecosystem. By Tata Consultancy Services Mar 31, 2023 2 mins Retail Industry Supply Chain Green IT Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe