A New Spin on Quantum Electronics

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A New Spin on Quantum Electronics by Prof. Michel Pioro-Ladrière, PhD in Physics Institut Quantique, Université de Sherbrooke The interaction of a particle's spin to its motion gives rise to fascinating phenomena in physics, such as a particle becoming its own antiparticle. This so-called spin-orbit interaction is also a basis of exploration towards several novel technological applications from the spin transistor to the quantum computer. Most investigations use specific materials in which the spin-orbit interaction arises naturally. Alternatively, tailored magnetic fields force the spin to couple to its motion. This approach allows for greater flexibility in the control and design of the spin-orbit interaction, because it is applicable to a wide class of materials. Using this advantage, researchers recently achieved one of the highest performing benchmarks in quantum computing by enabling fast spin-orbit control in an ultra-high coherence material of otherwise inefficient spin-orbit properties. Moreover, it allowed the first quantum superposition of an object being both microscopic and macroscopic at the same time. This Discovery research program builds on this powerful approach, pioneered by the principal investigator for semiconductor spins, and expands it to larger-scale systems. This multi-length scale investigation of artificial spin-orbit coupling offers a new research direction in quantum physics, whose forecasted and fascinating outcomes at the end of the 5-years of research are 1) The demonstration that an electron travelling freely inside a semiconductor can be in a quantum superposition of two possible paths by forcing its spin to interact with its motion; 2) The observation that binding electrons together into superconducting pairs and forcing their spin to interact with their motion inside a one-dimensional semiconductor creates new particles that are their antiparticles; 3) The demonstration that these extraordinary devices can be manufactured atom by atom or from silicon technology, effectively creating a quantum physics lab on a chip. This lab on a chip is an interface in quantum information science, quantum materials and quantum engineering. It will contribute to the advancement of the strong science being conducted in Canada and the development of new quantum technologies that are gradually transforming our society with massing investments from major corporations, several start-ups and companies such as Microsoft, Intel and Canada-own D-Wave Systems. This inherently multidisciplinary research program will train a team of young theorists, experimentalists, engineers and entrepreneurs. The forward-thinking approach to training and exceptional research infrastructure at Institut Quantique will provide them with much more than the sought-after skills of the growing quantum industry, it will train the leaders that will accelerate the quantum revolution.