In a recent paper published in Physical Review B, a UC Riverside-led research team introduced a novel concept for advancing quantum computing. The team proposed a chain of quantum magnetic objects, known as spin centers, that, when exposed to an external magnetic field, can simulate various magnetic phases of matter and the transitions between them.
“We are designing new devices that house the spin centers and can be used to simulate and learn about interesting physical phenomena that cannot be fully studied with classical computers,” said Shan-Wen Tsai, a professor of physics and astronomy, who led the research team. “Spin centers in solid-state materials are localized quantum objects with great untapped potential for the design of new quantum simulators.”
Tsai also mentioned that they have many ideas for improving spin-center-based quantum simulators compared to the initial proposed device. By employing these new ideas and considering more complex arrangements of spin centers, they hope to create quantum simulators that are easy to build and operate while still being able to simulate novel and meaningful physics.
Troy Losey, Tsai’s graduate student and the paper’s first author, highlighted the potential of these devices in revolutionizing information storage and transfer, as well as paving the way for the development of room temperature quantum computers. Unlike traditional quantum computers that rely on qubits and universal gate operations, these quantum simulators are specifically designed to solve unique problems by exploiting the complex behaviors of quantum mechanics.
“This device utilizes the unusual behaviors of quantum mechanics to simulate intricate physics that are too challenging for conventional computers to compute,” Tsai elaborated. “By prioritizing the rich interactions and geometrical arrangements of quantum simulators over the universal programmability of quantum computers, we can implement them more easily and explore new applications for quantum technology.”
A spin center, an atom-sized quantum magnetic object placed in a crystal, can store quantum information, communicate with other spin centers, and be controlled with lasers. These properties make them ideal for simulating exotic magnetic phases and the critical transitions between them. These phase transitions are particularly intriguing because they reveal underlying physical phenomena that connect seemingly disparate systems.
The techniques used to construct this quantum simulator also have implications for spin-center-based quantum computers, which are leading candidates for developing room temperature quantum computing — an area where current quantum computers, which require extremely cold temperatures, fall short. Additionally, while the current proposal assumes a linear arrangement of spin centers, future configurations could extend to three-dimensional arrangements, potentially leading to more efficient spin-based information devices.
Although quantum simulators are more feasible to build and operate than full-fledged quantum computers, significant challenges remain. Researchers are only now honing their skills in manipulating spin centers, growing pure crystals, and working at low temperatures to make this proposed quantum simulator a reality. Despite these hurdles, the promise of quantum simulators in addressing problems beyond the capabilities of conventional computers marks a significant step forward in the field of quantum computing.
