CAREER: Tunable superconductor materials for quantum information processing using pairs of Majorana zero modes

职业：使用马约拉纳零模式对进行量子信息处理的可调谐超导材料

• 批准号: 2046648
• 负责人: Peng Wei
• 金额: $ 80.47万
• 依托单位: University of California-Riverside
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2021-07-01 至 2026-06-30
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2046648&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Tunable; superconductor; materials; quantum

Non-technical abstract:Quantum computing, which leverages quantum mechanical processes for information storage and manipulation, is expected to surpass classical computing schemes. Recently, prototypes of quantum computers have demonstrated computing power on tasks that are difficult or impossible to be carried out by a conventional computer. However, to achieve a full-scale quantum computer which can carry out universal computation tasks, the critical issue of quantum decoherence – a process that causes the loss of quantum information and the generation of errors, needs to be addressed first. One promising way to tackle this challenge is to utilize a kind of exotic quantum particles, known as Majorana fermions, that are indistinguishable from their antiparticles. Such unique property allows one to construct the basic element of quantum computing, i.e. a quantum bit or qubit, using a pair of coupled Majorana fermions, which can give rise to a new type of qubit that is naturally protected from decoherence. This project aims to integrate the needed elements to build prototypes of such qubit using new superconductor materials. The project emphasizes on the education and outreach program for graduate and undergraduate students, and K-12 students and schoolteachers, which are combined with the research endeavors to build a next generation quantum-literate workforce.Technical abstract:The project establishes the material and device foundation for building a topological qubit – the kind of qubit that is protected against decoherence. The research exploits new materials known as topological superconductors, which have superconducting energy gap in their interiors and harbor Majorana zero modes at their boundaries. The candidate materials are two-dimensional (2D) systems and heterostructures, in which superconductivity, magnetism and spin-orbit coupling co-exist, such as the surface state of (111)-oriented gold coupled to a superconductor and a magnetic insulator. Such materials feature a high degree of tunability and allow the control of Majorana zero modes by manipulating the properties of the superconductor materials themselves. At the same time, the focused materials are scalable, which allows them to be easily fabricated into the needed nano structures/devices by following standard fabrication procedures. The research follows the “measurement-based” scheme for quantum information processing, which utilizes the concept of quantum state teleportation through a pair of Majorana zero modes. The project aims to achieve several milestones towards achieving a topological qubit, which includes: 1. prove the quantum non-locality of a pair of coupled Majorana zero modes; 2. control Majorana zero modes using tunable superconductor materials; and 3. demonstrate interferometer devices for topological qubit. The success of the project offers a path towards understanding the novel quantum phases emerging in material heterostructures and will stimulate quantum information sciences. The outcome will advance both basic science and information technology, paving the way for the next generation computation.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

非技术摘要：利用量子机械过程进行信息存储和操纵的量子计算有望超越经典计算方案。最近，量子计算机的原型已经证明了在常规计算机难以或不可能执行的任务上的计算能力。但是，为了实现可以执行通用计算任务的全尺寸量子计算机，量子反应的关键问题是导致量子信息丢失和产生错误的过程，需要首先解决。应对这一挑战的一种承诺方法是利用一种被称为Majorana fermions的外来量子颗粒，它们与它们的反粒子无法区分。这种独特的属性允许人们使用一对耦合的Majorana fermions构建量子计算的基本元素，即量子位或量子，这可以产生一种自然保护的新型量子，从而不受折磨。该项目旨在将所需的元素整合起来，以使用新的超导体材料来构建此类定量的原型。该项目强调研究生和本科生的教育和外展计划，以及K-12学生和学校老师，这些学生和学校老师与研究努力结合起来，以建立下一代量子量子 - 网格工作人员。技术摘要：该项目建立了材料和设备的基础，用于建立拓扑设备的基础 - 这种拓扑基础，该基础是针对抗胶质保护的拓扑基础。该研究利用了称为拓扑超导体的新材料，在其边界处具有超导能量差距，并在其范围内具有零模式。候选材料是二维（2D）系统和异质结构，其中超导性，磁性和自旋轨道耦合共存，例如（111）面向超导体和磁性绝缘体的面向（111）面向的金的表面状态。此类材料具有高度的可线性性，并通过操纵超导体材料本身的性质来控制Majorana零模式。同时，聚焦材料是可扩展的，可以通过遵循标准制造程序轻松地将它们制成所需的纳米结构/设备。该研究遵循用于量子信息处理的“基于测量的”方案，该方案通过一对Majorana零模式利用了量子状态传送的概念。该项目旨在实现几个里程碑来实现拓扑量子，其中包括：1。 2。使用可调超导体材料来控制Majorana零模式；和3。演示用于拓扑值的干涉仪设备。该项目的成功为理解材料异质结构中出现的新型量子阶段提供了途径，并将刺激量子信息科学。该结果将促进基础科学和信息技术，为下一代计算铺平道路。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并使用基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛的影响评估标准，被视为通过评估而被视为珍贵的支持。