Long lived correlations between waves in atomic systems at ultralow temperatures can be exploited for efficient quantum computing

What is the news?

According to a study, Correlations between waves in atomic systems or spin coherences are long-lived at ultralow temperatures.

Background

Spin is a fundamental quantum property of atoms and elementary particles such as electrons and protons. 

As atoms are cooled to lower temperatures, their quantum nature is manifested more prominently. However, the measurements on spins at ultralow temperatures were not available. 

This is because most of the detection techniques in cold atom experiments are destructive and disturbs the atomic sample during detection.

About the study

The study was done to measure spin properties of atoms at ultralow temperatures.The scientists have found that the correlations between waves in atomic systems or spin coherences are long-lived at ultralow temperatures.

What is the significance of this study?

Firstly, ​​system with long-lived spin coherences is a better resource as a quantum computer. It allows quantum operations and logic gates to be more efficiently implemented so that the system becomes a better quantum sensor compared to systems where coherence is short-lived.

Secondly, this newly explored property of atomic systems at low temperature can be exploited for efficient quantum sensing and quantum information processing for application in quantum computation and secure communication. 

Thirdly, this technique can also help us study the real-time dynamics of quantum phenomena such as quantum phase transitions in a non-invasive manner.

Source:This post is based on the article ‘Long lived correlations between waves in atomic systems at ultralow temperatures can be exploited for efficient quantum computing’ published in PIB on 31^st Dec 2021.