New ’Building Material’ Points Toward Quantum Computers

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At Center for Quantum Devices at NBI, focus is very much on the construction of a quantum computer. Still it is a long haul - the quantum computer is by no means just around the corner, says Fabrizio

Nichele: “Materials with Majorana-properties obviously have a number of relevant qualities in this context – which is why we try to investigate this field through various experiments”.

Some of these experiments are carried out at temperatures just above absolute zero (-273,15 C), explains Fabrizio Nichele: “When you do that – which naturally requires equipment tailored for experiments of this kind – you are able to study details related to quantum properties in various materials. When it comes to constructing a quantum computer, Majorana-particles do, however, represent just one of a number of possible and promising options. This field is very complex – and when, some day, a quantum computer has indeed been constructed and is up and running, it may very well be based on some form of integration of a number of different techniques and different materials, whereof some may be based on our research”, says Fabrizio Nichele.

Scientists working with Ettore Majoranas equations for entirely other reasons than the desire to build a quantum computer, can also benefit from the Danish-American research, explains Fabrizio Nichele:

“Our technique makes it possible to conduct experiments that have up till now not been doable – which will also facilitate the understanding of the Majorana particle itself”.

The research project has been funded by the Danish National Research Foundation, the Villum Foundation, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and – representing the commercial donor side – Microsoft; the latter joining the project as part of a well established cooperation with NBI.

In addition to cooperating with colleagues from Purdue Univcersity, the NBI-researchers have also recently studied Majorana properties working together with scientists from  University of California, Santa Barbara, USA. The results of this project are published in a separate article in Physical Review Letters.

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