Archer Materials Ltd (ASX:AXE, OTC:ARRXF) says it has detected quantum information in its 12CQ chip for the first time on-chip, at room temperature, using mobile phone-compatible technology.
The company, in collaboration with teams from EPFL, has now used a single-chip integrated electron spin resonance (ESR) detector based on high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) technology to detect and characterise the as-prepared 12CQ qubit material in a controlled atmosphere at room temperature.
Signal detected
Signal characteristics were consistent with repeatable and scientifically published results obtained from room temperature measurements performed on macroscopic (bulk) quantities of qubit material using continuous wave ESR instruments.
The un-optimised ESR chip devices were of sufficient sensitivity to detect the electron spin in a few picolitres (a trillionth of a litre) of qubit material at room temperature. The quantum information in the qubit material is in the form of an electron’s ‘spin’ states.
The quantum states were found to be sufficiently well preserved when operating in an on-chip environment.
Use in mobile devices
The technology paves the way for the implementation of complex qubit control characteristics required in quantum circuits.
“Archer’s 12CQ chip development is unique, as we have the potential to enable quantum-powered mobile devices,” said CEO Dr Mohammad Choucair.
“Our technology advance provides direct proof to support this exciting possibility.
“HEMT technology is well established and widely used in the semiconductor industry, so its use in the development of qubit control devices is consistent with the company’s strategy to make the 12CQ chip compatible with modern electronics.”
Single-chip resonator
The single-chip resonator was developed by EPFL and manufactured by semiconductor company OMMIC using existing foundry processes and facilities in France.
HEMT devices are widely used in integrated circuits, for example in mobile phones, and are favoured for their low power consumption – the HEMT-based ESR detector chip device used in this discovery consumed around 90 µW of power at room temperature operation.
The HEMT technology was initially used for the ESR chip in part to confirm the advantages of low power consumption offered by a HEMT for the qubit measurements.
Archer is the only ASX-listed company and one of a few players in the world developing qubit processor chip technology in the semiconductor industry.