Quantum spins in molecules

分子定义了工程对象执行特定功能的最小尺度。这也是量子属性在多大程度上主导着行为。这个项目将探索几种利用分子(特别是它们的自旋)作为分子、电子和量子设备的基本组件的实验方法。短期影响将是学术的，产生新的基础科学成果和实验方法。从长远来看，我们的新方法可能会为商业上可行的分子器件技术提供途径。目标和目标：1.使用脉冲电子自旋共振来：(A)表征和帮助优化分子自旋系统中的自旋相干时间；(B)研究多自旋分子中的自旋间相互作用，并优化用于中介多量子比特量子逻辑操作；(C)执行两量子比特纠缠操作，并使用密度矩阵层析成像验证结果；(D)研究分子自旋哈密顿参数与外加电场的关系，并确定电场是否可以用于操纵分子自旋量子比特。2.参与EPSRC项目EP/P000479/1《带DNA的自旋电子电路的分子组装》：(A)参与分子器件的设计(由其他项目参与者组装)；(B)使用基于洁净室的纳米光刻技术与组装的分子器件进行电接触；(C)在低温和强磁场下对接触的分子器件进行电传输实验。研究方法的新颖性：脉冲电子自旋共振(支持目标1)是探索磁性分子系统性质的既定方法。在研究可以传播多量子比特量子门的分子内相互作用时，使用已建立的脉冲序列以新的方式。执行两个量子比特门及其验证将是非常新颖的。测量哈密顿参数的电场灵敏度是一项成熟的技术，但将其应用于自旋量子比特是非常新颖的。支持目标2的方法学是全新的；建立使用DNA组装分子电子器件是这一研究领域的一个全新方向。与EPSRC的战略和研究领域保持一致：该项目属于EPSRC的以下研究领域：物理科学(生物物理和软物质物理、凝聚态物质：电子结构、凝聚态物质：磁性和磁性材料)；量子技术；制造未来。

Molecules define the smallest scale for engineering objects to perform particular functions. This is also the scale on which quantum properties dominate the behaviour. This project will explore several experimental approaches to harnessing molecules (and in particular their spins) as the basic components of molecular electronic and quantum devices. The short-term impact will be academic, generating new basic science results and experimental methodologies. In the longer term, our new approaches may offer routes to commercially viable molecular device technologies.Aims and Objectives: 1. Use pulsed electron spin resonance to: (a) characterise and help optimise spin coherence times in molecular spin systems; (b) investigate inter-spin interactions in multi-spin molecules and optimise for mediating multi-qubit quantum logic operations; (c) perform a two-qubit entangling operation and verify the result using density matrix tomography; (d) investigate the dependence of molecular spin Hamiltonian parameters on externally-applied electric fields and determine whether electric fields can be used to manipulate molecular spin qubits. 2. Participate in EPSRC project EP/P000479/1 "Molecular assembly of spintronic circuits with DNA": (a) participate in design of molecular devices (to be assembled by others project participants); (b) use cleanroom-based nanolithography techniques to make electrical contact to assembled molecular devices; (c) perform electrical transport experiments on the contacted molecular devices at low temperatures and at high magnetic fields. Novelty of the research methodology: Pulsed electron spin resonance (underpinning objective 1) is an established methodology for probing the properties of magnetic molecular systems. Investigating intra-molecular interactions that could propagate multi-qubit quantum gates uses established pulse sequences in novel ways. Performing a two-qubit gate and its verification will be highly novel. Measuring electric field sensitivity of Hamiltonian parameters is an established technique, but applying it to spin qubits is highly novel. The methodology underpinning objective 2 is entirely novel; establishing the use of DNA to assemble molecular electronic devices is a completely new direction for this field of research. Alignment to EPSRC's strategies and research areas: This project falls within the following EPSRC research areas: Physical sciences (biophysics and soft matter physics, condensed matter: electronic structure, condensed matter: magnetism and magnetic materials); Quantum technologies; Manufacturing the future.