Condensed Matter Physics Seminar
2 p.m., Thursday, October 4, 2001
Room 1201, Physics Building
How to Make a Quantum Computer in 5 Easy* Steps
Jeremy Levy
(Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh)
Abstract: Quantum computers promise to exploit the fundamental laws
of quantum mechanics to produce staggering speedups of certain kinds of
calculations. However, the physical realization of quantum computers is still in
its infancy. In this talk, I will describe a proposal to construct a quantum
information processor using ferroelectrically coupled Ge/Si quantum dots. The
spin of single electrons form the fundamental qubits. Small (<10 nm diameter) Ge
quantum dots are optically excited to create spin polarized electrons in Si. The
static polarization of an epitaxial ferroelectric thin film confines electrons
laterally in the semiconductor; spin interactions between nearest neighbor
electrons are mediated by the nonlinear process of optical rectification. Single
qubit operations are achieved through "g-factor engineering" in the Ge/Si
structures; spin-spin interactions occur through Heisenberg exchange, controlled
by ferroelectric gates. A method for reading out the final state may be achieved
using single electron transistors, as described by Kane et al. Initial steps
toward the realization of such a system will also be described.
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Host: Dennis Drew
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