New Development Could Improve
The Big Picture
Researchers have made a breakthrough in finding a way to produce special quantum states without the use of powerful magnets, a major building block in the development of quantum computers. This will make quantum computers of the future more viable and much easier to build.
What’s New?
Three groups of researchers have theoretically predicted that simply twisting two ultra-thin layers of a semiconductor material called molybdenum ditelluride can obtain special quantum states, so-called “non-Abelian states.” Such states are expected to allow quantum computers to operate in a much more robust fashion and solve more complex problems.
How It Works
Scientists stack two single layers of the semiconductor;
They twist them at a specific angle-about 2 degrees
- When they added just the right number of electrons to a particular energy level, which they call the “second moiré band”
- That gives rise to the special quantum states they were looking for.
What Different Groups Found
- MIT Team led by Aidan Reddy
- The effect may also work with other semiconductor materials
- South Korean Team lead Gil Young Cho
Found connections between these new states of matter and other, more familiar quantum phenomena - University of Tennessee Team led by Yang Zhang
- Built a detailed model of how electrons behave in these twisted layers
Why This Matters
At present, creating these particular quantum states requires formidable magnetic fields that make quantum computers hard to build and operate. However, this new discovery suggests that it may be possible to get the same effect without magnets, bringing the quantum computer closer to practical reality for everyday use.
What’s Next?
While these findings are still theoretical, scientists already have ideas about how to use these states to build more reliable quantum computers. The next step will be testing these predictions in real experiments.
Note: This research represents predictions from computer models and theoretical work – it still needs to be proven in actual experiments.
