Scientists prove diamond and lithium niobate for advancing quantum tech

29/01/2024 Quantum computing shows promise in developing healthcare-based applications for improving medications, diagnostics, and other techniques, Dr Shohini Ghose told Interesting Engineering in a podcast interview while addressing the future of the technology. 
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Scientists proved diamond and lithium niobate for advancing quantum tech bpawesome / iStock 


The science realm has recently observed several breakthroughs in this field, including the discovery of the latest material combination that could form a core component for future quantum technologies, according to a statement by the scientists. 

Amalgamation of diamond and lithium niobate

Diamond and lithium niobate are two compounds demonstrated by scientists to show proof for developing quantum technologies.
Quantum information scientists and researchers from Stanford University led by Amir Safavi-Naeini and Jelena Vuckovic, supported by Hope Lee, paper co-author and a Ph.D. student, and Jason Herrmann, paper co-author, and a Ph.D. student, demonstrated the potential of the materials.

They combined nanosized structures made of diamond and lithium niobate onto a single chip, according to the study. 

After that, researchers directed light from the diamond towards the lithium niobate and estimated the proportion of light that effectively traversed between the two materials.

This successful transfer of light demonstrated a more effective connection between the materials, signifying a promising aspect for utilizing this combination in quantum devices.

92 percent jump

The experiment's outcome depicted an impressive transition of light by over 90 percent from the diamond to the lithium niobate. Scientists stating the results expressed: "An extraordinary 92 percent of the light made the jump from diamond to lithium niobate."

"By putting these two material platforms together and channeling light from one to the other, we show that, instead of working with just one material, you can really have the best of both worlds, stated Hope Lee from Stanford University.

"It was an exciting result to get 92% efficiency from this device," added Lee. ​"It showed the advantages of the platform."

This integration enables the manipulation of light's properties, such as frequency modulation and shaping, which are beneficial for various experiments and applications in quantum information processing. 

The statement emphasized that qubits, which are units of quantum information, are the carriers of information in quantum systems. 

In quantum computing, qubits are fundamental in transmitting information as particles of light between the diamond and lithium niobate materials. 

The research team designed a new chip that serves as a foundation for a stable stationary qubit. A strong stationary qubit ensures reliable quantum networks. 

With dependable qubits, these networks can cover greater distances, potentially spanning continents, enabling the secure transmission of quantum information over vast geographical areas.

Material successfully supports stationary qubit chip

Scientists say that diamonds are one such resource sought after to support such transmissions due to their easily manipulable molecular structure, which has the potential to support stationary qubits. 

Therefore, these diamond-hosted qubits show potential for high accuracy. Furthermore, lithium niobate also depicted versatile properties by allowing quantum information to change the frequency of the light passing through it, said the statement. 
"You can use these properties of the lithium niobate to convert and change the light coming from the diamond, modulating it in ways that are useful for different experiments," stated Herrmann.

​"For instance, you can basically convert the light into a frequency used by existing communications infrastructure. So those properties of lithium niobate are really beneficial."

This combination also allowed the scientists to devise a base where all components could be positioned on one chip without requiring bulky equipment and long cables. 

"There's an advantage to having as many of your devices and your functionalities as possible on a single chip," Lee emphasized. ​"It's more stable. And it really allows you to miniaturize your setups."

Additionally, due to the connection between the two devices through an exceptionally thin filament—only 1/100th the width of a human hair—the quantum light is compressed into the narrow pathway directed toward the lithium niobate. 
The study noted that this compression enhanced the interaction of light with the material, simplifying the manipulation of light's characteristics.

Hermann stated: "When all the different light particles are interacting together in such a small volume, you get a much higher efficiency in the conversion process. Being able to do this in the integrated platform will hopefully give rise to much higher efficiencies compared to the setup with fibers or free space."

The study was published on December 4 in the journal – ACS Photonics.

Source: https://tinyurl.com/3xmkdjjn via Interesting Engineering.