New Discovery of Quantum Electronics for Ultra-Sensitive Measurements and Quantum Information Processing
Key Highlights :
The world of nanoelectronics has been revolutionized with the new discovery of quantum electronics. Scientists have found a way to use one electron to precisely modify the trajectory of another electron through their mutual Coulomb interaction. This breakthrough has been demonstrated by three independent research teams and published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
The operating principle of this electron collider circuit is similar to hitting one fast-moving projectile with another well-timed shot. The challenge is to precisely synchronize two individual electrons to exploit their interaction. For this purpose, scientists at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) have developed a nanoscale collider on a semiconductor chip. This device integrates two single-electron sources that can be triggered to picosecond accuracy. Single-electron detectors record every outcome of the collision.
An electron pair is generated by two separate sources and placed on intersecting paths such that a collision can occur. If the sources are precisely synchronized, the interaction between the electrons of the pair will determine which final signaling path will be reached by which individual particle. Despite the brevity of the encounter, the theoretical models developed at the University of Latvia with inputs from the Technical University of Braunschweig made it possible to infer electron trajectories from the experimental data and devise ways to control two-electron interaction for future applications.
This demonstration of time-resolved interaction not only shows that such a flying electron can be used as an ultrafast sensor or switch, it also proves a mechanism to generate quantum entanglement —a key component of quantum computing. This new fundamental circuit element has the potential to make significant advances in ultra-sensitive measurements and quantum information processing.
The consistent findings of the research teams led by NEEL and NPL have been published and introduced by a "News & Views" commentary by Fredrik Brange and Christian Flindt in Nature Nanotechnology. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize the world of nanoelectronics and open up new possibilities for ultra-sensitive measurements and quantum information processing.
The implications of this remarkable discovery are far-reaching. It could pave the way for new technologies and applications that can take advantage of the quantum properties of electrons. It could also lead to the development of new types of sensors and switches that can be used in a wide range of applications.
This breakthrough opens the door to a new era of quantum electronics and provides exciting opportunities for further research and development. It is now up to scientists and engineers to make use of this new technology and explore its potential.
