Safest place for storing quantum data might be atom's nucleus
A groundbreaking study by researchers at the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), has demonstrated the potential of storing quantum information within an atom's nucleus, keeping it safe from all kinds of external disturbances. The team used a Titanium atom (Ti-47) for their experiment, successfully storing and retrieving quantum data from its nucleus. "This experiment gives humans influence on the state of matter on an unimaginably small scale," said Sander Otte, a physics professor at TU Delft.
Quantum information and atomic nucleus
The researchers believe that the spin state or direction of a nucleus' spin can be used to store quantum information. "This magnetism, the 'spin' in quantum language, can be seen as a sort of compass needle that can point in various directions," explained the study authors. However, they also acknowledged the challenges associated with reading and manipulating this stored information due to its minuscule size and influence from surrounding particles.
Overcoming challenges to access stored information
The team found a way to overcome these challenges by controlling the interaction between the nucleus and orbiting electrons of an atom, known as the hyperfine interaction. "Accessing the coherent dynamics involving the nucleus remained challenging, due to its weak coupling to the tunneling electrons," noted the study authors. To read quantum information, they matched electron spin with that of nucleus by creating a wobble inside atom using voltage pulse.
Innovative method for reading data
"We used a voltage pulse to push the electron spin out of equilibrium, after which both spins (of electron and nucleus) wobbled together for a fraction of a microsecond," said Lukas Veldman, first author of study and PhD candidate at TU Delft. The team then used scanning tunneling microscope's needle to read stored information, from interacting electron and nucleus. This innovative approach allowed them to successfully access quantum data stored within an atom's nucleus.
