Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Semiconductors & Integrated Circuits
Semiconductors Integrated Circuits
Spin Readout and Initialization in Semiconductor Quantum Dots
WARF: P04175US

Inventors: Mark Friesen, Mark Eriksson, Charles Tahan, Robert Joynt

The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is seeking commercial partners interested in developing a semiconductor-based, quantum dot scheme for enabling measurement of the spin states of individual qubits, without the need for additional external couplings that can cause decoherence.
Overview
Quantum computers use quantum particles (e.g., electrons), called qubits, to process information, instead of bits as in classical, serial computing. Unlike bits, which exist in either the 0 or 1 state, qubits can exist in more than one state at once – a characteristic that allows quantum computers to calculate all the possible solutions to a problem simultaneously instead of one-by-one like their less powerful, serial counterparts.

Previously, a team of UW-Madison scientists designed a scalable, multilayer semiconductor architecture that provides a framework for trapping individual electrons (qubits) in a solid and bringing them close to each other. The architecture also allows manipulation of the electrons’ individual spin states, while maintaining their coherence (see link below).
The Invention
UW-Madison researchers have now developed a semiconductor-based, quantum dot scheme for enabling measurement of the spin states of individual qubits without the need for additional external couplings that can cause decoherence. In this quantum dot scheme, the energy levels of trapped qubits are controlled by varying the voltages of nearby metal gates. By bringing specific energy levels into resonance with an applied microwave field, the qubits can be made to undergo spin-dependent oscillations that are detected by a single electron transistor.
Applications
  • Quantum computing
Key Benefits
  • Measures the spin states of qubits without the need for additional external couplings, as proposed in other readout schemes
  • Allows spin readout while keeping qubits isolated, thus minimizing environmental decoherence
  • Can also be used to rapidly initialize a qubit to its final state, an important requirement for quantum computing
  • Initialization by this method (as opposed to initialization by thermalization) eliminates the need for spin-polarized leads or ancillary qubits
  • Device may be incorporated into various materials systems, including GaAs/AlGaAs and Si/SiGe heterostructures.
Additional Information
For More Information About the Inventors
For current licensing status, please contact Emily Bauer at [javascript protected email address] or 608-960-9842

WARF