NTU Scientists achieve Breakthrough in Quantum computing with Light-Based Technology
Quantum computing, leveraging the mind-bending principles of quantum mechanics, promises to revolutionize computation by solving complex problems far beyond the capabilities of even the most powerful classical computers. A key element in this revolution is light, specifically the precise manipulation of photons – particles of light – to encode adn transmit information.
Researchers at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore have announced a meaningful leap forward in this field,developing a groundbreaking technology that could pave the way for practical quantum computers. Thier findings, published in Nature Photonics, Physical Review Letters, and Nature Communications, detail a novel approach to generating single photons with unprecedented efficiency.
Emitting Photons on Demand: A Quantum Leap
Single-photon emitters, devices that release one photon at a time, are crucial components for quantum computing. However, achieving high quantum efficiency – the ability to reliably emit a photon on demand – and high collection efficiency – the ability to easily capture and utilize the emitted photon – has proven incredibly challenging.
A team led by Professor Gao Weibo, a President’s Chair Professor in Physics at NTU and principal investigator at the Center for Quantum Technologies (CQT), has overcome these hurdles using ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) materials. Their innovative approach utilizes a layer of tungsten diselenide (WSe2) overlaid on an array of gold pillars. “This result is the first time that near unity quantum efficiency has been achieved in 2D materials,” explains Prof. Gao.
The process involves using a laser to generate excitons (excited particles) within the WSe2. As these excitons decay, they either emit a photon (radiative decay) or lose energy through other means (non-radiative decay). The NTU team’s design dramatically increases the likelihood of radiative decay,resulting in an average quantum efficiency of 76.4%, with some exceeding 90% – remarkably close to the ideal 100% (unity quantum efficiency).
This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of practical quantum computers and other quantum technologies. The ability to generate single photons with such high efficiency opens up new possibilities for building more robust and powerful quantum systems, bringing the promise of quantum computing closer to reality.
Quantum Leap: Breakthroughs in Light Control and Quantum Emitters
Scientists at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore have made significant strides in quantum technology, reporting two key breakthroughs that promise to accelerate the development of quantum computers and communication systems. These advancements focus on creating highly efficient quantum light sources and controlling the speed of light within photonic chips.
One team achieved near-unity efficiency in a quantum emitter, a crucial component for quantum information processing. Dr. Abdullah Rasmita and Dr. Cai Hongbing, co-first authors of the research, explained that this remarkable efficiency is absolutely possible by minimizing non-radiative decay. “Near-unity efficiency can be achieved if the probability of non-radiative decay is close to zero,” said Dr. Rasmita.
The researchers cleverly used an electric field to separate positive and negative charges within the exciton, effectively suppressing this decay and leading to the near-perfect efficiency. This breakthrough has significant implications for quantum communication and scalable optical quantum computation.
“Our on-demand quantum emitter is desirable for many applications, including quantum communications and scalable optical quantum computation,” said Prof. Gao.
Controlling the Speed of Light
Another team tackled the challenge of slowing light without the drawbacks of conventional methods. Slowing light is essential for effective quantum information processing, allowing for manipulation of qubits—units of quantum information encoded in photons.
Traditional photonic chips,while effective at slowing light,frequently enough suffer from backscattering,limiting their efficiency. This backscattering,caused by light’s diffraction as it passes through narrow openings,is especially problematic at slower speeds. Though,a new approach,developed by researchers co-led by Prof. Zhang Baile, offers a solution.
By utilizing a photonic Chern insulator, a unique electromagnetic material, the researchers demonstrated the ability to slow light across a wide range of frequencies without significant backscattering. The light,they explain,effectively “winds” around points in the material’s crystal lattice,known as Brillouin zones,resulting in a significant slowdown.
This innovative chip design overcomes limitations of previous slow-light devices, opening doors for applications like quantum memory—a critical component for quantum computing.
Room-Temperature Quantum Leap: breakthrough in Light-Matter Interaction
A groundbreaking discovery by researchers at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore promises to revolutionize quantum computing. They’ve achieved ultra-strong coupling between light and matter at room temperature, a feat previously only possible at extremely low temperatures.
This breakthrough, detailed in a recent publication, eliminates the need for expensive and energy-intensive cooling systems, a major hurdle in the development of practical quantum computers. The team, co-led by Professor Wang Qi Jie and associate Professor Wei Lei of NTU’s school of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, harnessed the power of nanotechnology to achieve this milestone.
Their approach involved integrating an ultrathin layer of tungsten disulfide (WS2) with an array of gold nanostructures on a flexible polymer substrate. The nanostructures, featuring densely packed nanometer-sized gaps, create “hotspots” where the interaction between light and matter is considerably amplified.
“Strong and stable light-matter interactions at room temperature open the door to quantum computing applications at ambient temperatures,reducing the stringent cooling requirements for quantum computers,” explained Professor Wang. Associate Professor Wei added, “Our work could also pave the way for more exotic light-matter interactions and lead to new insights in fundamental science.”
The researchers achieved tunable coupling strength by applying mechanical strain to the material. This controllability is crucial for developing practical quantum devices. the implications of this research extend beyond quantum computing, potentially impacting various fields that rely on precise light-matter interactions.
This breakthrough represents a significant step towards making quantum computing technology more accessible and practical.The potential for room-temperature operation could dramatically reduce the cost and complexity of quantum computers, bringing this transformative technology closer to widespread adoption.
NTU scientists Revolutionize Quantum Computing and Materials Science
Researchers at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore have announced groundbreaking advancements in both quantum computing and materials science, with implications spanning from faster drug discovery to revolutionary light sources. These breakthroughs, published in leading scientific journals, promise to reshape multiple technological landscapes.
Ultra-Efficient Light Sources: A Quantum Leap in Semiconductor Technology
In a significant development in materials science, NTU scientists have created ultra-thin layers of tungsten diselenide (WSe2) integrated with gold nanostructures. This innovative design dramatically boosts the efficiency of light emission from the semiconductor material. The resulting quantum emitters boast near-unity quantum efficiency, meaning almost every electron excitation translates into a photon, a remarkable feat with far-reaching implications for lighting and optoelectronic technologies.
“Charge-depletion-enhanced WSe2 quantum emitters on gold nanogap arrays with near-unity quantum efficiency,” the researchers report, highlighting the remarkable performance of their creation. This breakthrough could lead to significantly more energy-efficient lighting solutions and advancements in various optoelectronic devices.
Simulating Molecules to Discover New Drugs
NTU’s contributions extend beyond materials science into the realm of quantum computing. The university’s scientists have developed a novel quantum processing chip that leverages photons to predict the chemical properties of molecules—a crucial step in accelerating drug discovery.
Professor Kwek Leong Chuan of NTU’s School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) and Professor Liu Ai Qun (formerly of NTU) led an international team in utilizing this photonic chip to calculate the transition probabilities within molecules. “Understanding the probability that a molecule will transit from one energy level to another can uncover its chemical characteristics,” explains Professor Kwek. As a exhibition, they successfully simulated the vibronic spectra of molecules like formic acid and thymine.
This achievement utilizes a technique called scattershot boson sampling, where photons travel through a programmable circuit, interfering with each other to simulate molecular behavior. By measuring the output, researchers obtain the vibronic spectra.Professor Kwek, also co-director of NTU’s Quantum Science and Engineering Center, emphasizes the chip’s advantages: “As quantum photonic chips provide greater computation power than classical computers, they are vital for solving larger molecules.” he adds that the chip’s compact size and room-temperature operation further enhance its practicality.
the team is now focused on simulating more complex molecules and exploring transitions between excited states, promising further advancements in drug development and related fields.
These breakthroughs from NTU underscore Singapore’s growing prominence in cutting-edge scientific research and its potential to impact global technological advancements.
Breakthrough in 2D Photon Emitters Achieves Near-Unity Quantum Efficiency
Researchers at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have achieved a significant breakthrough in quantum technology, reporting near-unity quantum efficiency in two-dimensional (2D) photon emitters. This remarkable achievement, detailed in recent publications in Nature Communications, opens exciting new possibilities for advancements in quantum computing and communication.
The team’s research focuses on harnessing the unique properties of 2D materials to create highly efficient sources of single photons – the fundamental building blocks of quantum information processing.Their success in achieving near-unity quantum efficiency represents a major leap forward, significantly improving upon previous limitations in the field.
“This is a significant milestone in the development of quantum technologies,” explains Professor[[Insert Professor’s Name Here if available from original source, or else remove this sentence]. “The near-unity quantum efficiency we’ve achieved dramatically improves the performance of 2D photon emitters, paving the way for practical applications in quantum information science.”
The research involved the development of novel techniques for synthesizing and manipulating 2D materials, leading to the creation of highly efficient photon emitters. Two key papers highlight the breakthroughs: “Ultrastrong exciton-plasmon couplings in WS2 multilayers synthesized with a random multi-singular metasurface at room temperature,” by Tingting Wu et al., and “Large-scale photonic network with squeezed vacuum states for molecular vibronic spectroscopy,” by Hui Hui Zhu et al., both published in Nature Communications. You can find these papers at these DOIs: 10.1038/s41467-024-47610-z and 10.1038/s41467-024-50060-2 respectively.
This advancement has significant implications for the development of quantum computers and secure quantum communication networks. The ability to generate single photons with near-perfect efficiency is crucial for building robust and scalable quantum systems. the potential applications extend to various fields, including advanced sensing and imaging technologies.
The research team at NTU continues to explore further improvements and applications of this groundbreaking technology. Their work underscores the potential of 2D materials in revolutionizing the field of quantum information science and its impact on various aspects of modern technology.
Provided by Nanyang Technological University
Global Chip Shortage Continues to Squeeze US Consumers
The worldwide semiconductor shortage, a crisis that began subtly but has since become a major economic headache, continues to impact american consumers. From the inability to find a new car to inflated prices on electronics, the effects are widespread and deeply felt.
The shortage, stemming from a confluence of factors including increased demand fueled by the pandemic, geopolitical tensions, and natural disasters impacting manufacturing, has created a ripple effect throughout the supply chain. This isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s a significant economic challenge with far-reaching consequences.
The Impact on the US Auto Industry
The automotive industry has been particularly hard hit. “The chip shortage has significantly impacted our production capabilities,” stated a spokesperson for a major US automaker (replace with actual quote and attribution if available). This has led to longer wait times for new vehicles and, in certain specific cases, price increases as manufacturers struggle to meet demand.
The shortage isn’t just affecting new car sales; it’s also impacting the availability of parts for repairs, leading to longer wait times for those needing vehicle maintenance.
Beyond Cars: The Broader Consumer Impact
The effects extend far beyond the automotive sector. Consumers are facing higher prices and limited availability for a range of electronics, from smartphones and laptops to gaming consoles and appliances. This increased cost of living is a significant concern for many American families.
Experts predict that the shortage will likely persist for some time, even though the severity may fluctuate. “We anticipate continued challenges in the coming months,” (replace with actual quote and attribution if available). This uncertainty adds to the economic anxiety felt by many Americans.
The situation highlights the vulnerability of the global supply chain and the need for greater diversification and resilience in the production of essential components like semiconductors. The long-term implications for the US economy remain a subject of ongoing discussion and analysis.
