Linked Rings for Quantum Information Processing

量子信息处理听起来像科幻小说。在传统的计算机中，信息存储在可以是0或1的位中，处理信息涉及将0变为1或将1变为0。在量子计算机中，信息将以量子比特的形式存储，量子比特是0和1的叠加。一个类比是，一个经典比特就像一个灯的开关，它要么开要么关，而一个量子位是一个同时设置到所有可能位置的调光开关。这个提议包括使用磁性金属配合物作为量子比特，并寻找将它们连接在一起以执行量子操作的方法。关键问题是引入易于修改的链路，从而形成双量子位量子门。修改链接的两种方法是：如果它们具有光活性，就用光照射它们；如果它们具有氧化还原活性，就给它们添加或除去电子。该提议建立在曼彻斯特先前的磁性金属配合物和光/氧化还原活性化合物的工作基础上。结合这两个领域的专业知识，使我们有可能在创造分子量子门原型方面取得重大进展。尽管IBM等公司在这一领域做出了巨大的科学努力，但目前还没有有效的方法来执行量子信息处理，如果成功，这个项目将改变世界。

Quantum information processing sounds like science fiction. In a conventional computer information is stored in a bit which can either be a 0 or a 1, and processing information involves changing 0 to 1 or 1 to 0. In a quantum computer information would be stored as a Qubit which is a super-position of 0 and 1. An analogue would be that a classical bit is like a light switch, which is either on or off, while a Qubit is a dimmer switch set simultaneously to all possible positions. This proposal involves using magnetic metal complexes as Qubits , and looking at methods for linking them together to perform quantum operations. The key problem is to introduce links which can be modified easily and thus make a two Qubit quantum gate . Two means of modifying links are by shining light on them - if they are photo-active - or adding or removing electrons from them - if they are redox-active. The proposal builds on previous work in Manchester in making the magnetic metal complexes and photo/redox-active compounds. Combining these two areas of expertise makes it possible for us to make significant progress towards creating a prototype molecular quantum gate. As no efficient means for performing quantum information processing presently exists - despite large scientific effort in this area from companies such as IBM - if successful this project would change the world.