Carbon nanotubes can be used as quantum bits for quantum computers. Indeed, a recent study by physicists at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) proves the tubes are capable of storing information in the form of vibrations.
Up to now, researchers have experimented primarily with electrically charged particles. However, because nanomechanical devices are not charged, they are much less sensitive to electrical interference.
Using quantum mechanical phenomena, computers could be much more powerful than their classical digital predecessors. As Simon Rips, first author of the study notes, scientists all over the world are working to explore the basis for quantum computing.
“To date most systems are based on electrically charged particles that are held in an ‘electromagnetic trap.’ A disadvantage of these systems is that they are very sensitive to electromagnetic interference and therefore need extensive shielding,” he explained.
“[But we] have now found a way for information to be stored and quantum mechanically processed in mechanical vibrations.”
According to Rips, a carbon nanotube that is clamped at both ends can be excited to oscillate, and like a guitar string, it vibrates for a long time.
“One would expect that such a system would be strongly damped, and that the vibration would subside quickly,” said Rips. “In fact, the string vibrates more than a million times. The information is thus retained up to one second. That is long enough to work with.”
Since such a string oscillates among many physically equivalent states, the physicists resorted to a trick: an electric field in the vicinity of the nanotube ensures that two of these states can be selectively addressed. The information can then be written and read optoelectronically.
“Our concept is based on available technology,” added Michael Hartmann, head of the Emmy Noether research group Quantum Optics and Quantum Dynamics at the TU Muenchen. “It could take us a step closer to the realization of a quantum computer.”
